<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer><issuerCik>0001003929</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORAUTUS GENETICS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>CAQ</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001218647</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOBOL ROBERT E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Former Director and President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>.01</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>192225</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options issued as a part of the severance arrangements for Robert E. Sobol, M.D. pursuant to a Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims by and between Corautus Genetics Inc. and Robert E. Sobol, M.D.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Andrew J. Surdykowski, by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

