Cadillac CTS reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 576 complaints about the Cadillac CTS with NHTSA since 2010, most often about transmission and drivetrain and electrical system. Cadillac has filed 14 warranty extensions and 17 service campaigns for it, and there are 14 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Cadillac CTS? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the CTS a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 576
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 14
- Filed by Cadillac
- Service campaigns
- 17
- Filed by Cadillac
- Safety recalls
- 14
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the CTS with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 10 | Other or unspecified (30%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 | 8 | Electrical system (38%) | 2 | 7 |
| 2017 | 27 | Transmission and drivetrain (33%) | 2 | 3 |
| 2016 | 31 | Electrical system (32%) | 4 | 5 |
| 2015 | 48 | Transmission and drivetrain (42%) | 3 | 9 |
| 2014 | 146 | Transmission and drivetrain (58%) | 6 | 9 |
| 2013 | 73 | Electrical system (36%) | 2 | 9 |
| 2012 | 65 | Electrical system (15%) | 2 | 9 |
| 2011 | 101 | Airbags (23%) | 2 | 8 |
| 2010 | 67 | Airbags (24%) | 3 | 7 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single CTS model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Cadillac
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Cadillac filed with NHTSA for the CTS, in its own words. A warranty extension means Cadillac pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Body and structure· model years 2017–2019
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Warranty extensionJul 2019· Engine· model years 2014
N192210220 - Special Coverage Adjustment - Certain vehicles may have a condition that could cause bearings in the engine supercharger to emit an excessive rattling or knocking noise that is especially prominent at idle.
- Warranty extensionNov 2018· Engine and cooling· model years 2014
Special Coverage. Some vehicles equipped with a 2.0L turbo engine, may have a condition where a wire within the exhaust camshaft position actuator solenoid valve may break.
- Warranty extensionJun 2018· Fuel system· model years 2015
18029 - Special Coverage. Certain vehicles listed above, may have an inoperative purge solenoid that could lead to excessive fuel vapors entering the combustion chamber from the fuel tank.
- Warranty extensionAug 2017· Engine and cooling· model years 2012
14264B - Special Coverage - Revised Warranty Transaction Information Section.
- Warranty extensionJun 2016· Airbags· model years 2014–2016
44240 - special coverage. For vehicles equipped with a haptic seat option (rpo ufl or uhx) and a non-motorized seat belt retractor (rpo AX7), the airbag warning light may be illuminated due to a potential fault with the drivers side diagnosable buckle switch.
- Warranty extensionOct 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
14582A - Special Coverage (2012 model year Buick Enclave, Lacrosse, Regal; Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles have been removed).
- Warranty extensionSep 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
14582 - Special Coverage. On some 2008 model year (MY) Saturn Outlook; 2008-2009 MY Buick Allure, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac G8, Pontiac Montana SV6, Pontiac Torrent, and Saturn VUE; 2008-2010 MY Hummer H3 and Pontiac G6; 2008-2011 MY Cadillac CTS, Cadillac…
- Warranty extensionAug 2015· Equipment and accessories· model years 2011
15317 - special coverage. On some 2011 Model year cadillac cts-v vehicles, the pcv hose may crack. If this occurs, the malfunction indicator light (MIL) could illuminate and a diagnostic trouble code of P0171 and/or P0174 could be set. Dealers are to replace the pcv hose.
- Warranty extensionFeb 2015· Engine and cooling· model years 2012
14264A - Special Coverage (revised warranty information). Some 2012 model year Cadillac CTS vehicles equipped with 3.0L (LFW), 3.6L (LFX), or 6.2L (LSA) engines and some 2012 model year Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with 3.6L (LFX), or 6.2L (LS3, L99, LSA) engines may have…
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Engine· model years 2012
14264 - special coverage. Some vehicles equipped with 3.0L (lfw), 3.6L (lfx), or 6.2L (lsa) engines and some 2012 Model year chevrolet camaro vehicles equipped with 3.6L (lfx), or 6.2L (LS3, L99, lsa) engines may have an evaporative emission canister vent solenoid valve that may…
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Equipment and accessories· model years 2012
Special Coverage Adjustment ? Evaporative Emission Canister Vent Solenoid valve
- Warranty extensionMay 2014· Engine· model years 2010–2013
13313 - special coverage. Some vehicles, equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine (lsa), may have a condition where the engines supercharger may not function as designed.
- Warranty extensionMay 2014· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010–2013
Special Coverage Adjustment - Superchasrger Warranty Extension - Equipped with 6.2L V8 Engine (LSA)
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2019
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2019
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2010–2019
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignJun 2019· Equipment and accessories· model years 2018
Customer Satisfaction Program (revised service procedure). General Motors is expanding the mileage of Super Cruise enabled roads to include over 70,000 additional miles by the end of 2019, bringing the total number of Super Cruise enabled roads to over…
- Service campaignSep 2018· Steering· model years 2018
18276 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles, may have a condition in which the power steering assist power pack is potentially missing ?welds?
- Service campaignAug 2018· Equipment and accessories· model years 2015–2018
18025 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have been built with an owner manual and label which provide inaccurate information about one of the vehicle?s electrical centers.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Mobility equipment· model years 2015
15086A - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain passenger cars and light duty trucks, equipped with Gen 10 OnStar®, the embedded phone flash memory chip may become corrupted, causing the OnStar® system to become inoperative.
- Service campaignApr 2017· Equipment and accessories· model years 2015–2016
16197 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles have an incorrect interior electrical center label on the left side of the instrument panel.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2010–2016
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignNov 2015· Electrical system· model years 2013–2014
15404 - customer satisfaction program. Certain vehicles may have a condition that if involved in a non-deployment crash may not automatically activate any post-crash actions, including an automatic crash response (acr) call from onstar, door unlock, interior lamp illumination,…
- Service campaignAug 2015· Electrical system· model years 2011–2015
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignApr 2015· Electrical system· model years 2015
14395A - customer satisfaction program (revised labor time). On some 2015 Model year buick encore, lacrosse, regal, and verano; cadillac ats, cts, elr, escalade, srx and xts; chevrolet colorado, corvette, cruze, equinox, impala, malibu, silverado, sonic, spark, ss, suburban,…
- Service campaignFeb 2015· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010
14648 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain 2008-2010 model year General Motors vehicles have a performance issue with their OnStar modules that could impact the vehicle?s battery life.
- Service campaignFeb 2015· Electrical system· model years 2014
14189 - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain 2014 model year Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with a 3.6L twin-turbo engine (LF3), the engine control module wiring harness may rub on the metal edge of the alternator bracket or on a weld on the vehicle body rail.
- Service campaignDec 2014· Equipment and accessories· model years 2013–2014
14515 - customer satisfaction program (stop delivery expansion).
- Service campaignMar 2013· Equipment and accessories· model years 2013
Modification of Policy and Procedures Section 1.6.2.11 for Repairs Performed Under Customer Satisfaction Program 12293 (U.S. Dealers Only)
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every CTS model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Transmission and drivetrain172 (30%)
- Electrical system105 (18%)
- Airbags59 (10%)
- Engine56 (10%)
- Steering50 (9%)
- Other or unspecified47 (8%)
- Suspension41 (7%)
- Exterior lights26 (5%)
Safety recalls
14 recalls cover at least one CTS model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system.
In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
If the vehicle is turned off with wiper functionality left on and the wipers then become restricted, such as when covered in ice or snow, and the vehicle's battery goes dead and needs to be jump started, upon being jump…
GM is recalling certain model year 2012 Cadillac cts vehicles manufactured from october 21, 2011, through october 26, 2011.
General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Cadillac cts vehicles.
GM is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Cadillac cts all wheel drive and cts-v vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection.
NHTSA's own page for the 2019 Cadillac CTS has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Cadillac CTS reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 576 owner complaints, 14 warranty extensions and 17 service campaigns Cadillac filed, and 14 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2014 (146), 2011 (101), 2013 (73). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Cadillac CTS?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name transmission and drivetrain (30%), electrical system (18%), airbags (10%). Cadillac has filed 14 warranty extensions covering the CTS, listed on this page.
Which CTS model years have the most complaints?
2014 (146), 2011 (101), 2013 (73). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the CTS with each other rather than with other models.
Has Cadillac extended the warranty on the CTS?
Yes: body and structure (model years 2017–2019); engine (model years 2014); engine and cooling (model years 2014), and 11 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a CTS?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 14 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.