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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.

About this comparison →

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

Power Train complaints

21 reports
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85,200 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Power TrainService Brakes

ON APRIL 8 2016 MY WIFE WAS ON THE WAY TO THE BANK AT PEACH AND LIBERTY IN ERIE PA. SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN SHE HAD NO TRANSMISSION OR BRAKES. LUCKILY FOR HER THE EMERGENCE BREAK WORKED BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING BACKWARDS. HAD IT TOWED TO ROTH CADILLAC IN ERIE PA. WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND …

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ON APRIL 8 2016 MY WIFE WAS ON THE WAY TO THE BANK AT PEACH AND LIBERTY IN ERIE PA. SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN SHE HAD NO TRANSMISSION OR BRAKES. LUCKILY FOR HER THE EMERGENCE BREAK WORKED BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING BACKWARDS. HAD IT TOWED TO ROTH CADILLAC IN ERIE PA. WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE BROKE (THERE WAS NO WARNING) AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE BRAKES WENT OUT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT. SO AGAIN MY WIFE CONTACTED CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS AND MY WIFE GOT AN EMAIL FROM CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS SAYING SORRY FOR YOUR PROBLEM BUT WE WILL GIVE YOU ONE HOUR OF DIAGNOSTIC FOR FREE. AND FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT.

NHTSA ODI #10860352

83,000 miles · Apr 19, 2016
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

I BROUGHT A 2008 CADILLAC BACK IN SEPT. 2014. APRIL OF 2015 I HAD A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WENT OUT ON ME THREE TIMES ALL THREE TIMES I TOOK IT IN TO ROTH CADILLAC OF ERIE PA AND I ALSO CONTACT CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS AT THE SAME TIME. I PAY ALL THREE TIMES. THEY FIXED THE SENSOR AND REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS ALL THREE TIMES. IT SEE…

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I BROUGHT A 2008 CADILLAC BACK IN SEPT. 2014. APRIL OF 2015 I HAD A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WENT OUT ON ME THREE TIMES ALL THREE TIMES I TOOK IT IN TO ROTH CADILLAC OF ERIE PA AND I ALSO CONTACT CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS AT THE SAME TIME. I PAY ALL THREE TIMES. THEY FIXED THE SENSOR AND REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS ALL THREE TIMES. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY 3-6 MONTHS IT WOULD BREAK DOWN. WE WERE TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT ROTH CADILLAC THAT THEY GOT A MEMO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. BUT WASN'T GOING TO DO A RECALL ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10860349

70,571 miles · Dec 17, 2015
Power Train

ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 19TH, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES FROM MY HOME, AN INCREDIBLY LOUD BANGING SOUND SHOCKED ME INTO STOPPING THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH THE FLOOR AND INTO THE INTERIOR CONSOLE OF THE CAR. PANIC-STRICKEN, I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE THE CAR AGA…

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ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 19TH, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES FROM MY HOME, AN INCREDIBLY LOUD BANGING SOUND SHOCKED ME INTO STOPPING THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH THE FLOOR AND INTO THE INTERIOR CONSOLE OF THE CAR. PANIC-STRICKEN, I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE THE CAR AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED MY HUSBAND, HE INSTRUCTED ME TO DRIVE EXTREMELY SLOWLY TO THE VERY SHORT DISTANCE OF A LOCAL MECHANIC'S GARAGE.UPON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE BOLTS ON THE DRIVESHAFT CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WERE NEVER TORQUED WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT AT THE GM PLANT. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS UNSCREWED AND FELL INTO HIS HAND WITHOUT USING A WRENCH AND SEVERAL OF THE BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVESHAFT TO COME AWAY FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND ALMOST PENETRATE THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE ENTIRE DRIVESHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW DRIVESHAFT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE MILEAGE WAS ONLY 70,751 MILES. THIS SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY BLESSING'S SERVICE LLC, 19 WEST SHORE TRAIL, SPARTA, NJ 07871 AT A COST OF $1,024.39. ALL OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED ON THIS CAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WAS PERFORMED BY MECHANICS AT MY DEALERSHIP, BROGAN CADILLAC LOCATED IN TOTOWA, NEW JERSEY.

NHTSA ODI #10810993

110,500 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500.

NHTSA ODI #10679027

37,922 miles · Feb 24, 2014
Power Train

I FOUND A BOLT LAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNDER THE CAR. WHEN I GOT IN TO DRIVE IT MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE AS THOUGH SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID A BOLT FELL OUT OF THE DRIVESHAFT AND THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $900. I CALLED GM TO FIND OUT WHY A BOLT WOULD JUST FALL OUT AND WHY THE …

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I FOUND A BOLT LAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNDER THE CAR. WHEN I GOT IN TO DRIVE IT MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE AS THOUGH SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID A BOLT FELL OUT OF THE DRIVESHAFT AND THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $900. I CALLED GM TO FIND OUT WHY A BOLT WOULD JUST FALL OUT AND WHY THE DRIVESHAFT WOULD NEED REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 38K MILES AND THEY COULD NOT ANSWER ME. THEY DID AGREE TO WORK WITH DEALER AND GET MY COST DOWN TO $400, HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING SINCE THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE BOLTS JUST FALL OFF FOR NO REASON AND I'VE HAD 10 YEAR OLD CARS WITH MORE THAN 100,000 MILES ON THEM. GM DID NOT SEEM TOO INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM AND SAID I SHOULD TALK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER, OF COURSE HAD NO ANSWERS SINCE THEY DID NOT MANUFACTURE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565619

122,538 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Power TrainService BrakesSteering

WHILE TRYING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND IT COST ME $2,558.35 TO REPLACE STEERING PUMP AND TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. A WEEK LATER I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR NOISES AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND STABILIZER L…

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WHILE TRYING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND IT COST ME $2,558.35 TO REPLACE STEERING PUMP AND TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. A WEEK LATER I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR NOISES AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND STABILIZER LINKS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THAT JOB COST ME $1,362.93. IN APRIL 2013, MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DIDN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HOUSING SPLIT, TRIM PAD AND HANDLE HOUSING. THIS JOB COST ME $1,376.99. NOT SURE WHY I'M HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I GET ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND ALL JOBS ARE DONE AT A GM CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533143

29,000 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE CARS ENGINE RUNS AWAY WITH MY CAR WHEN I AM SITTING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR AT VERY SLOW IDLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MILEAGE,( 29,000-32,000 MILES ). I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE MY CAR IS AT THE DEA…

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THE CARS ENGINE RUNS AWAY WITH MY CAR WHEN I AM SITTING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR AT VERY SLOW IDLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MILEAGE,( 29,000-32,000 MILES ). I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I REFUSE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK AT THIS POINT. I PAID CASH FOR THIS CAR AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON I PULLED INTO MY BANK WITH CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND BESIDE ME. I CAME TO A STOP, HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD, MY ENGINE WAS SCREAMING, MY SPEEDOMETER SAID 80 MPH, I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT THE WOMAN IN FRONT, MY REAR WHEELS WERE SMOKING AND SCREAMING AND MY CAR WAS JUMPING SIDE TO SIDE BECAUSE OF THE SPINNING WHEELS AND NOWHERE TO GO BECAUSE AT THIS POINT I AM STANDING ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET. SOMEONE SCREAMED TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THE MOMENT WAS OVER. COURTESY CHEVROLET IN SALISBURY MD, JUST CALLED TO SAY THE PROBLEM DIDN'T THROW A CODE SO CADILLAC WON'T PAY THEM TO LOOK AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THEY WON"T FIX WHAT'S WRONG THEY CAN KEEP THE VEHICLE AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK AND AS I TOLD THEM I WON'T STOP UNTIL I GET SOMEONE TO LISTEN AND WARN OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WIDESPREAD AND THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED. MY HUSBAND SAYS IT'S PROBABLY A PROBLEM IN THE COMPUTER THAT WHEN THE PRECISE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE, THE SIGNAL TO THE ENGINE IS GO NOT STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487486

56,440 miles · Nov 13, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainWheels

I WAS TRAVELING AT 25MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN VERY LOUD EXPLOSIVE/GRINDING NOISE(IT BROUGHT PEOPLE RUNNING OUT OF ADJACENT BUILDINGS). I HIT MY BRAKES IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED UNTIL I PUT IT INTO PARK. I EXITED THE CAR AND UNDER THE REAR AXLE OF MY VEHICLE WERE MULTIPLE LARGE BOLTS AND SCREWS LINED UP IN A ROW. TH…

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I WAS TRAVELING AT 25MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN VERY LOUD EXPLOSIVE/GRINDING NOISE(IT BROUGHT PEOPLE RUNNING OUT OF ADJACENT BUILDINGS). I HIT MY BRAKES IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED UNTIL I PUT IT INTO PARK. I EXITED THE CAR AND UNDER THE REAR AXLE OF MY VEHICLE WERE MULTIPLE LARGE BOLTS AND SCREWS LINED UP IN A ROW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DISABLED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THAT ALL THE REAR AXLE BOLTS JUST FELL OUT AT ONCE.THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE FOUND TO THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERNS REMAIN AS TO "WHY DID THIS HAPPEN" AND "WHAT IF I HAD BEEN GOING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE OF SPEED"? MULTIPLE EXPERIENCED MECHANICS AND SPECIALIST (INCLUDING CADILLAC) HAVE NO ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484538

9,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

1. CAR STALLS/HESITATES ON RIGHT TURN. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE. PROBLEM STARTED AT OWNERSHIP, AND CONTINUES AT 25K MILES. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED. 2. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: CAR VIBRATES/SHAKES STANDING AT IDLE. 21 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE. 3 DEALERS; FOUR VISITS. ONE DEALER COULD NOT EXTINGUISH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER …

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1. CAR STALLS/HESITATES ON RIGHT TURN. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE. PROBLEM STARTED AT OWNERSHIP, AND CONTINUES AT 25K MILES. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED. 2. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: CAR VIBRATES/SHAKES STANDING AT IDLE. 21 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE. 3 DEALERS; FOUR VISITS. ONE DEALER COULD NOT EXTINGUISH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER DISASSEMBLED ENGINE AND MADE REPAIRS. (EXHAUST IS NOTICEABLY LOUDER (NOT REPAIRED) AND THE FM RADIO WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE REAR DEFROSTER IS SWITCHED ON--I SUSPECT A GROUND WIRE WAS BROKEN DURING THE REPAIR (NOT REPAIRED). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339794

100 miles · Feb 8, 2009
Power TrainSteering

VIBRATION IN CAR ABOVE 62 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES IN YOUR HANDS. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE THEY HAVE ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES TWICE NO IMPROVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257986

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.