Cadillac SRX reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 2,730 complaints about the Cadillac SRX with NHTSA since 2010, most often about exterior lights and electrical system. Cadillac has filed 4 warranty extensions and 19 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 SRX? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the SRX 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
- 2,730
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 4
- Filed by Cadillac
- Service campaigns
- 19
- 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 SRX with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | Cruise control and speed control (100%) | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 168 | Exterior lights (58%) | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 442 | Exterior lights (68%) | 4 | 7 |
| 2014 | 390 | Exterior lights (68%) | 2 | 4 |
| 2013 | 393 | Exterior lights (55%) | 5 | 9 |
| 2012 | 416 | Exterior lights (56%) | 3 | 7 |
| 2011 | 446 | Exterior lights (44%) | 7 | 11 |
| 2010 | 474 | Exterior lights (47%) | 6 | 13 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single SRX 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 SRX, in its own words. A warranty extension means Cadillac pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- 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 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 2014· Fuel system· model years 2013
14289 - special coverage. On some vehicles, equipped with E85 flex fuel capability (fhs), the flexible fuel sensor may become inoperative during normal operation due to an electrical failure caused by road salt and other environmental contaminants.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2010–2016
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- 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 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 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 campaignJun 2015· Electrical system· model years 2010–2012
13322B - customer satisfaction program (revised population and service procedure).
- 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· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010–2011
13322A - customer satisfaction program (revised service procedure).
- Service campaignJan 2015· Body and structure· model years 2010–2015
14274 - customer satisfaction program. On certain 2010-2015 Model year cadillac srx and 2011-2015 Model year chevrolet volt vehicles, the manual liftgate gas strut may detach from the liftgate when the liftgate is closed and the piston rod could separate from the strut tube.
- Service campaignJan 2015· Visibility· model years 2010–2012
14225 - customer satisfaction program. Certain 2010-2012 Model year cadillac srx vehicles equipped with a sunroof (rpo C3U) and located in certain areas, may have a condition in which the vehicles sunroof drain hose material may shrink due to changing environmental conditions.
- Service campaignDec 2014· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010–2011
Customer Satisfaction Program - Navigation Radio Loss of Customer Settings
- Service campaignSep 2014· Electrical system· model years 2012–2013
12187C - customer satisfaction program (revised expiration date).
- Service campaignMay 2013· Body and structure· model years 2013
13125 - Customer Satisfaction Program - There may be an interference condition between the outside door handle and the door handle bracket assembly.
- Service campaignMar 2013· Equipment and accessories· model years 2013
This warranty administration bulletin provide policy information on modification of policy and procedures section 1.6.2.11 for repairs performed under the customer satisfaction program.
- Service campaignFeb 2013· Electrical system· model years 2013
12293 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Software updates for the CUE system.
- Service campaignJun 2011· Visibility· model years 2011
High heat may cause the sunroof adhesive seal to move. This could allow water to enter the vehicle. 2011 Cadillac srx.
- Service campaignJul 2010· Seats· model years 2010
On certain 2010 Model year vehicles, customer may feel a slight shudder or vibration, or may hear a clunking noise during engine start up or heavy acceleration.
- Service campaignApr 2010· Engine and cooling· model years 2010
Revised ECM calibration. Certain vehicles equipped with engine rpo lau (HFV6) may exhibit the following condition. The current engine control module (ECM) calibration aigorithm increases the turbo boost pressure in response to retarded spark timing. Csc letter was rec'd.
- Service campaignFeb 2010· Engine and cooling· model years 2010
Incorrect vehicle emission control information label; install new label. Certain vehicles equipped with a 2.8L turbo charged engine (rpo lau) were built with an incorrect vehicle emission control information label. The label misidentifies the emissions test group.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every SRX model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Exterior lights1,539 (56%)
- Electrical system291 (11%)
- Suspension230 (8%)
- Other or unspecified219 (8%)
- Transmission and drivetrain157 (6%)
- Brakes128 (5%)
- Engine102 (4%)
- Body and structure69 (3%)
Safety recalls
14 recalls cover at least one SRX 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 rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
The front driver's seat may have been built with an incorrect seat track bracket. Drivers' seats with this condition may not be properly attached to the seat track.
On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification.
In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
In the affected vehicles, in certain driving situations, there may be a three to four second lag in acceleration due to the transmission control module (TCM) programming.
On the affected vehicles, the wheel lug nuts may loosen.
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012,…
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Cadillac srx vehicles manufactured from october 26, 2008, through june 23, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety…
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac srx passenger vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no 208, "occupant crash protection." the airbags…
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Buick lacrosse and cadillac srx vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac srx, chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles.
General motors is recalling certain model year 2010 Cadillac srx vehicles equipped with 2.8L gas engines (lau) or 3.0L gas engines (LF1).
General motors is recalling certain model year 2010 Cadillac srx equipped with a 2.8L V6 engine.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE20019Preliminary evaluation· opened Nov 2020, closed Dec 2021· Suspension· model years 2010–2015
Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation
Led to recall 21V473000.
NHTSA's own page for the 2019 Cadillac SRX has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Cadillac SRX 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: 2,730 owner complaints, 4 warranty extensions and 19 service campaigns Cadillac filed, and 14 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2010 (474), 2011 (446), 2015 (442). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Cadillac SRX?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name exterior lights (56%), electrical system (11%), suspension (8%). Cadillac has filed 4 warranty extensions covering the SRX, listed on this page.
Which SRX model years have the most complaints?
2010 (474), 2011 (446), 2015 (442). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the SRX with each other rather than with other models.
Has Cadillac extended the warranty on the SRX?
Yes: fuel system (model years 2015); engine and cooling (model years 2010–2011); engine and cooling (model years 2010–2011), and 1 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a SRX?
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.