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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

Steering complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2023
Power TrainSteeringUnknown Or Other

I was driving down the road going Bout 29 miles per hour when I heard a big boom. It sounded ND felt like I had hit something . So I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road put the car in park looked underneath nothing was there . I then preceeded to my at. Which thank God was only another block away .I started going…

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I was driving down the road going Bout 29 miles per hour when I heard a big boom. It sounded ND felt like I had hit something . So I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road put the car in park looked underneath nothing was there . I then preceeded to my at. Which thank God was only another block away .I started going only going maybe 5 miles per hour at this point because it sounds like I'm dragging like metals on the ground . When I got to my apt. I went to park the car when I went to put it into park it would not go when I went to reverse it would nit go it still went into drive and thTs it and even getting it into driveyou really had to push it and it felt like the tires were going to wobble off , I mean bye this time it just felt like the car was gonna fall apart shaking abd wobbling all over because I kept trying g to go from drive to neutral to get it to go into park but it didn't budge I had to leave it in neutral and put on the emergency break and shut the car off leaving my key I side cause it wS stuck due to the car not going into park. When I came out of my apt. I wS just frazzled I didn't understand whT wS going on she hD been running beautifully. But I did remember when I first test drove her I had told the sales man she had felt like I wS pulling something she wS kinda hesitant to excelerate . He assured me she's had a 5 star inspection and the whole cars under warranty ND he works on cadillacs himself . Yada Yada Yada. I had called. Friend to come help me tow her home . He tried to get her to manually go into drive but it still wouldn't budge he thought maybe the shift link u til we got her home it was the drive shaft it had sheered off all the bolt one half was on the one part the other part of the bolt were broke off where it connected to the tyranny. He said you can't replace this with out trying to back our the bolts but there metric bolts and would be hard to find . And I would just be better off with a new driveshaft.

NHTSA ODI #11543065

98,000 miles · Oct 24, 2018
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE CONTROL PANEL BECAME INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. KUNI CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2449 FULTON AVENUE, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95825,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE CONTROL PANEL BECAME INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. KUNI CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2449 FULTON AVENUE, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95825, (916) 538-7217) DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11142433

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2018
Steering

STEERING IS HARD HAD RACK AND PENUIN REPLACED ALONG WITH POWER STEERING PUMP NOW WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF REPAIRS BEEN IN SHOP 6 WEEKS AT DEALERSHIP LAST TWO WEEKS

NHTSA ODI #11064811

100,000 miles · Jan 25, 2018
Steering

STEERING HAS BECOME HARD TO TURN BEEN IN SHOP 6 WEEKS REPLACED RACK AND PENION AND POWER STEERING PUMP NOW WILL NOT START

NHTSA ODI #11064808

130,000 miles · Aug 25, 2017
Steering

SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGE COMES UP ON DRIVERS INFO SYSTEM AND STEERING GETS VERY HARD. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING GOT VERY TIGHT AND THE WARNING CHIME WENT OFF. I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES OR RISK HITTING A PARKED CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO SCANNED THE SYSTEM AND RESET IT.…

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SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGE COMES UP ON DRIVERS INFO SYSTEM AND STEERING GETS VERY HARD. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING GOT VERY TIGHT AND THE WARNING CHIME WENT OFF. I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES OR RISK HITTING A PARKED CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO SCANNED THE SYSTEM AND RESET IT. 2 DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER AT ABOUT 20 MPH. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT WHEN I DO TAKE THE CAR IN, I'M TOLD THAT I NEED TO TRADE IT.

NHTSA ODI #11019772

69,000 miles · Aug 10, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING SLUGGISH AND MONITORING MESSAGE CAME ON ON TURNS AROUND 20 MPH & ABOVE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY ARE NEEDING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM. IS THIS A KNOWN , BUT NOT COMMUNICATED ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11014281

142,000 miles · Jan 26, 2017
Steering

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AT LOW SPEEDS. I CAN TURN RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL FEEL LIKE IT IS LOCKED UP. THEN I WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES AN TURN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IT WILL RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL. TODAY BOTH SIDE AT LOCKING UP. I WILL TAKE IT TO MOORE CADILLAC ON MONDAY JAN. 30TH, 2017. I HAVE HAD MY MECHANIC ALREADY LOOK…

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MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AT LOW SPEEDS. I CAN TURN RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL FEEL LIKE IT IS LOCKED UP. THEN I WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES AN TURN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IT WILL RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL. TODAY BOTH SIDE AT LOCKING UP. I WILL TAKE IT TO MOORE CADILLAC ON MONDAY JAN. 30TH, 2017. I HAVE HAD MY MECHANIC ALREADY LOOKED AT IT. HE STATED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HE ALSO TOLD ME 2 INCIDENTS HAPPEN IN MASSACHUSETTS PLEASE CONTACT ME TO HELP WITH THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION I WOULD NEED TO TAKE PLEASE. [XXX] THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10947873

98,000 miles · Aug 26, 2016
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BUT LOOSENED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT A VERY LOW SPEEDS TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BUT LOOSENED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT A VERY LOW SPEEDS TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10898747

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

38,485 miles · Jul 27, 2011
Steering

WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A SLOW SPEED <10 MPH RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE ENGINE DID NOT STALL NOR LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER AND NO ICONS APPEARED ON DASH DISPLAY TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED WHEN BRAKES WERE SLAMMED ON TO PREVENT CRASHING INTO BUILDING.AFTER THIS CAR WAS OPE…

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WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A SLOW SPEED <10 MPH RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE ENGINE DID NOT STALL NOR LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER AND NO ICONS APPEARED ON DASH DISPLAY TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED WHEN BRAKES WERE SLAMMED ON TO PREVENT CRASHING INTO BUILDING.AFTER THIS CAR WAS OPERABLE AND ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO PARKING AREA WITHOUT INCIDENT.WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION IT WAS BENT,APPARENTLY FROM STEERING WHEEL TRYING TO GO TO LOCKED POSITION.VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO DEALER A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY TEN MILES WITHOUT REPEAT OF PROBLEM.DEALER KEPT VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK TRYING TO REPLICATE PROBLEM DRIVING IT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT.DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH BUT ADMITTED THAT THEY COULD NOT SAY THE SWITCH WAS CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.REFUSED TO ACCEPT VEHICLE FEELING IF PROBLEM REOCCURRED AGAIN AT HIGHER SPEED DANGER POSSIBLY EXISTED TO ANY OCCUPANTS OF THIS OR ANY VEHICLES NEAR IT. DEALER THEN AGREED TO BUY BACK VEHICLE.DEALER WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING BUT AGREED THAT MANUFACTURER DID NOT APPEAR SUPPORTIVE OR CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415300

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.