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2008 Cadillac Cts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Cadillac Cts do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

126 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine complaints

22 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2025
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

Vehicle Purchase Statement – Top Tier Auto I, [XXX] , purchased a vehicle from Top Tier Auto on [XXX]. The vehicle details are as follows: VIN: [XXX] Warranty: 30-day coverage for the transmission and engine After owning the vehicle for only 15 minutes, I entered the freeway, and the car began to shake violently. Shortly afte…

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Vehicle Purchase Statement – Top Tier Auto I, [XXX] , purchased a vehicle from Top Tier Auto on [XXX]. The vehicle details are as follows: VIN: [XXX] Warranty: 30-day coverage for the transmission and engine After owning the vehicle for only 15 minutes, I entered the freeway, and the car began to shake violently. Shortly after, a gentleman driving behind me alerted me that sparks and fire were falling from beneath the car. I immediately pulled over, just before the engine burst into flames. The Columbus Police Department responded to the scene and had to extinguish the fire. This incident occurred within minutes of purchasing the vehicle, despite the supposed 30-day warranty covering the transmission and engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11639210

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2023
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

Car went crazy one day while behind the wheel everything malfunctioned then car shut off and won't start again. I could of easily got into an accident had there been any other vehicles around. Kids were scared. Codes come up as U0100,U0140,U0101,C0242,B0081-0F,B0081-71,B1370-01,B1370-06,U0155-00,U0170-00,P0856-00.

NHTSA ODI #11533125

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2021
EngineForward Collision Avoidance

Cruise control will randomly turn off and will be unavailable for a few days then come back. Engine seized up out of nowhere while driving down the road and nearly caused an accident due to it locking up while moving.

NHTSA ODI #11423409

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2020
Engine

ERROR CODE KEPT OCCURING, HAD TO SPEND $3000 RECENTLY AND HAVE HEARD FRM MECANICS THIS HAPPEN OFTEN ON 2008 CTS CARS. ALVE ITIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED CAUSING CAM FAULT, ACTUATOR WAS LEAKINGING OIL CODE AS OCCRED BEFORE, BUT MECHANIC SAID TO WAIT

NHTSA ODI #11344072

35,000 miles · Feb 29, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE MISFIRES CONSTANTLY WHEN GIVING GAS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR GOING UP HILL AND THERE IS MORE LOAD ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD $5000 WORTH OF WORK TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY COULDN'T FIX THE ISSUE SO THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. WE TOLD THEM O…

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THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE MISFIRES CONSTANTLY WHEN GIVING GAS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR GOING UP HILL AND THERE IS MORE LOAD ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD $5000 WORTH OF WORK TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY COULDN'T FIX THE ISSUE SO THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. WE TOLD THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE DON'T THINK IT'S THE ENGINE BUT THEY GUARANTEED US THE NEW ENGINE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SO ANOTHER $5000 LATER AND STILL NOT FIXED. THE VEHICLE IDLES FINE, IT ONLY HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY COMES ON INDICATING MISFIRES IN 2 CYLINDERS

NHTSA ODI #11315350

55,000 miles · Feb 19, 2019
Engine

CAR HAS FAILED EMISSION TESTING FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER DRIVING FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR I TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN 2018 AND EXPLAINED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF PERSISTENTLY. THEY TESTED EMISSIONS AND SAID IT PASSED. AGAIN IN 2019 IT FAILED EMISSIONS AGAIN AND THE DEALER PROVIDED A…

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CAR HAS FAILED EMISSION TESTING FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER DRIVING FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR I TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN 2018 AND EXPLAINED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF PERSISTENTLY. THEY TESTED EMISSIONS AND SAID IT PASSED. AGAIN IN 2019 IT FAILED EMISSIONS AGAIN AND THE DEALER PROVIDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH INDICATED THAT TIME CHAINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR $3900.00. IN SHORT PROBLEMS HAVE EXISTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS. THIS COMPLAINT IS CORRECT FROM PREVIOUS FILING NUMBER:11174923

NHTSA ODI #11181232

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2019
Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. FAILED EMISSION TESTING. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING INDICATE A TROUBLE CODE 2008 AND RECOMMENDS REPLACING TIMING CHAINS. 74,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11174923

34,053 miles · Dec 4, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SOUND USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND THE "…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE SOUND USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND THE "TIMING CHAIN" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,053.

NHTSA ODI #11155972

100,000 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NUMBER: 10287. THE VEHICLE WAS LAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NUMBER: 10287. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO ELCO CADILLAC (15110 MANCHESTER RD, BALLWIN, MO 63011, (363) 227-5333) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11131471

130,000 miles · May 3, 2018
Engine

I HAD A RECALL OR 'EXTENDED PARTS WARRANTY' FOR A TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 115,000 MILES IN 2015, MY CAR NOW HAS 130,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKE AGAIN! I PUT ONLY 15,000 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN WAS 'FIXED'. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME OR G…

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I HAD A RECALL OR 'EXTENDED PARTS WARRANTY' FOR A TIMING CHAIN ON MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 115,000 MILES IN 2015, MY CAR NOW HAS 130,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TIMING CHAIN IS BROKE AGAIN! I PUT ONLY 15,000 MILES ON THE CAR SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN WAS 'FIXED'. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME OR GIVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO A GM REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO TALK ABOUT MY OPTIONS. I FEEL THE CAR WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY OR WAS FIXED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. I WOULD LIKE SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT I CAN DO TO FIGHT THIS THERE IS NO REASON A RECALLED PART SHOULD FAIL JUST 15,000 AFTER BEING FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11091636

Official recalls

2

14V394000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 2, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.