2006 Cadillac XLR: common problems and reliability

The 2006 Cadillac XLR has 9 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are power train and electrical system. Owners most often flag extremely expensive and scarce replacement parts: taillight assemblies cited as costing over $2,000 usd each, with other unique components (adaptive headlight motors, hardtop hydraulics) being rare and costly. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2006 model year

9
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
0
Crash reports
1
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2006 Cadillac XLR vehicles (US, public record).

Where owners report problems

power train
3
electrical system
2
structure
1
wheels
1
fuel/propulsion system
1

Recalls affecting the 2006 XLR

fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Campaign 11E009000

TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE,…

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is sharply divided, creating a low-volume enthusiast niche. The vehicle is widely admired for its striking, timeless design, comfortable and refined ride quality compared to the Corvette, and its status as a rare, exclusive halo…

  • Extremely expensive and scarce replacement parts: taillight assemblies cited as costing over $2,000 USD each, with other unique components (adaptive headlight motors, hardtop hydraulics) being rare and costly. Frequency: very frequent.
  • Northstar V8 engine concerns: historical reputation for head gasket failures, oil leaks, and general unreliability in early iterations; later models (post-2004) noted as improved but still a source of anxiety; widely criticized as underpowered (320 hp) compared to Corvette's LS engines. Frequency: very frequent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the XLR. See the full XLR owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used XLR listings typically run $16,995–$24,905 across 2004 to 2009 model years.

Compare the XLR against its rivals

XLR vs Cadillac AllanteXLR vs BMW 6 SeriesXLR vs Jaguar XK
Full Cadillac XLR owner reportCompare against another car