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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

What owners actually said

175 reports
3,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES GRAB AND SQUEAL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. 2008 CTS CADILLAC WITH 3500 MILES, 4 MONTHS OLD. THIS WAS ON 12/30/08. WAS TOLD BY DEALER ON 1/12/09 NO PARTS AVAILABLE FROM GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254733

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2008
Exterior Lighting

LED BRAKELIGHTS ON 2002-CURRENT CADILLAC MODELS ARE TOO BRIGHT AND CAUSE TEMPORARY BLINDNESS AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250848

300 miles · Dec 4, 2008
Seats

THE ARTICULATED HEADRESTS DESIGNED TO REDUCE NECK INJURIES IN A CRASH, MOVE UP OF THEIR OWN ACCORD DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS RESULTS IN A SAFETY CONCERN. IF THE HEADREST MOVES UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION, WILL IT STILL FUNCTION AS DESIGNED SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. I HAVE CONTACTED CADILLAC DIVISION TWICE WITHOUT A RESPONSE. T…

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THE ARTICULATED HEADRESTS DESIGNED TO REDUCE NECK INJURIES IN A CRASH, MOVE UP OF THEIR OWN ACCORD DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS RESULTS IN A SAFETY CONCERN. IF THE HEADREST MOVES UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION, WILL IT STILL FUNCTION AS DESIGNED SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. I HAVE CONTACTED CADILLAC DIVISION TWICE WITHOUT A RESPONSE. THE SELLING DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, BUT OTHER CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250699

5,000 miles · Nov 9, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TWICE ,WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2008 CADILLAC CTS, MY FOOT HAS WEDGED BOTH ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING ME TO PROCEED FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE FIRST @, 6 MOS AGO ,CAUSED ME TO PROCEED INTO AN INTERSECTION NARROWLY BEING MISSED BY A VEHICLE COMING FROM MY LEFT. THE 2ND OCCURRED @ 1 WEEK AGO CAUSING…

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TWICE ,WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE'S 2008 CADILLAC CTS, MY FOOT HAS WEDGED BOTH ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING ME TO PROCEED FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE FIRST @, 6 MOS AGO ,CAUSED ME TO PROCEED INTO AN INTERSECTION NARROWLY BEING MISSED BY A VEHICLE COMING FROM MY LEFT. THE 2ND OCCURRED @ 1 WEEK AGO CAUSING ME TO JUST MISS HITTING A CAR PARKED IN FRONT . MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT @ 6 MOS AGO WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. I HAVE REPORTED BOTH INCIDENTS TO CADILLAC WITH NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THEM. THEY GAVE ME THIS SITE WHEN I REQUESTED AN AGENCY TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM SO I MIGHT HELP OTHERS AVOID BEING INJURED. I WILL NOT DRIVE MY WIFE'S CAR IN THE FUTURE DUE TO THE ABOVE INCIDENTS AND THE FEAR OF A MORE ONEROUS OUTCOME WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248074

3,000 miles · Oct 15, 2008
StructureCrash

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE DRIVER CAN HIT THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEFECT CAUSED ONE ACCIDENT AND I HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. GM HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING AND HAS REFUSED TO PUT ITS REFUSAL IN WRITING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245580

2,000 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 CTS, WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE, THE ENGINE JUST DIED. IT SEEMED TO RUN OUT OF GAS. MY FUEL GAUGE READ BETWEEN 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. THIS HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALL 3 TIMES I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. ALL 3 TIMES I GOT DIFFERENT REASONS IT HAPPENED, FROM…

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 CTS, WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE, THE ENGINE JUST DIED. IT SEEMED TO RUN OUT OF GAS. MY FUEL GAUGE READ BETWEEN 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. THIS HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALL 3 TIMES I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. ALL 3 TIMES I GOT DIFFERENT REASONS IT HAPPENED, FROM BAD FUEL PUMP IN GAS TANK, TO SOME TYPE OF BAD CONNECTION, ETC. AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE 3RD TIME, I DEMANDED A NEW CAR, WHICH I RECEIVED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CTS, RUNS GREAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245423

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2008
Equipment

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ANALYSIS, NATIONWIDE, ON A MONTHLY OR MORE FREQUENT BASIS TO INSURE COMPLIANCE/INSPECTIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE REQUIRE FOR THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE HOLDER ON THE FOLLOWING AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS: (1) ELECTRICAL (2) COOLING (3) STEERING, SUSPENSION (4) TRANSMISSION (5) ENGINE (6) ENGINE (7) ALL…

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THIS IS A REQUEST FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ANALYSIS, NATIONWIDE, ON A MONTHLY OR MORE FREQUENT BASIS TO INSURE COMPLIANCE/INSPECTIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE REQUIRE FOR THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE HOLDER ON THE FOLLOWING AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS: (1) ELECTRICAL (2) COOLING (3) STEERING, SUSPENSION (4) TRANSMISSION (5) ENGINE (6) ENGINE (7) ALL FLUIDS FOR NON-CONTAMINATION (8) BRAKES (9) EXHAUST, EMISSIONS. PLEASE BEGIN THESE INSPECTIONS FOR 1990 - CURRENT YEAR MAKE, MODELS ON THE FOLLOWING: CADILLAC, ROLLS ROYCE, BENTLEY, BMW, MERCEDES BENZ. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245205

7,239 miles · Sep 17, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

DRIVING UP A HILL IN PA. WE WERE ON STATE HIGHWAY 118 NEAR SWEET VALLEY PA. CAR BUCKED AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. CAR STOPPED RUNNING IN MIDDLE OF ROADWAY WITH TRAFFIC BACKED UP BEHIND ME. EVENTUALLY CARS WORKED THEIR WAY BY ME AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT CAR BACK TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. VERY…

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DRIVING UP A HILL IN PA. WE WERE ON STATE HIGHWAY 118 NEAR SWEET VALLEY PA. CAR BUCKED AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. CAR STOPPED RUNNING IN MIDDLE OF ROADWAY WITH TRAFFIC BACKED UP BEHIND ME. EVENTUALLY CARS WORKED THEIR WAY BY ME AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT CAR BACK TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. VERY HARROWING EXPERIENCE. VERY UNSAFE. CAR WAS TOWED IN AS IT WOULD NOT RESTART. TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO TRIED TO RESTART TO MOVE CAR TO OPTIMUM PLACE TO PUT CAR ON FLATBED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT: CAR ONLY HAD 3 GALLONS OF GAS IN TANK AND THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH TO GET UP HILL. GAS GAUGE SHOWED BETWEEN 1/8 TO 1/4 OF TANK. NO LOW FUEL LIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT THAT IT COULD. AFTER RETURNING TO MY HOME IN FL I TOOK IT TO THE SELLING DEALER. THEY CALLED CADILLAC AND CADILLAC AGREED WITH BOTH DEALERSHIPS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG BUT THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE GAS TANK, THE CAR COULD STALL GOING UP A HILL AT ANY TIME UNLESS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GAS WAS IN THE TANK. THEY WOULD NOT DEFINE SIGNIFICANT. THEY SAID THAT GAS HAD SLOSHED TO THE REAR OF THE GAS TANK AND THE GAS PICKUP WAS SUCKING AIR. THEY SAY THAT AFTER CAR WAS TOWED 30 MILES ON A FLATBED GAS SLOSHED TO THE FRONT OF TANK AND ENGINE COULD BE STARTED. THEY SAID THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THIS IS A VERY, VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. THE GUY BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US AS WE DECELERATED RAPIDLY. AND THEN A WHOLE LINE OF CARS ALMOST COLLIDED. CADILLAC SAYS THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I SAY THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT DRIVERS OF ALL 2008 CADILLAC CTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242736

3,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

BRAKES SQUEALING. TECHNICIAN SAYS IT'S DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS AND GM IS AWARE. NO GET WELL DATE. RIGHT FRONT STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED, STILL MAKES THE SAME CREAKING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234882

5,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS V6 DI AWD HAS A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION LAG WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO PASS OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A HAZARD IN ROAD. THERE IS ABOUT A 1-2 SEC LAG BETWEEN STEPPING ON PEDAL AND RPMS MOVING, AND ABOUT ANOTHER SECOND OR SO BEFORE ANY PICK UP HAPPENS. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT NO OTHER CAR I HAVE HAD, DID T…

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MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS V6 DI AWD HAS A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION LAG WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO PASS OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A HAZARD IN ROAD. THERE IS ABOUT A 1-2 SEC LAG BETWEEN STEPPING ON PEDAL AND RPMS MOVING, AND ABOUT ANOTHER SECOND OR SO BEFORE ANY PICK UP HAPPENS. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT NO OTHER CAR I HAVE HAD, DID THIS. AT THE SPEED OF ONCOMING VEHICLES, A 1-2 SECOND LAG CAN MEAN A 30 - 60 YARDS OF DISTANCE BEING TRAVELED BY AN ONCOMING CAR OR TRUCK. THAT SIGHT FILLS UP REAR VIEW MIRROR FAST. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND POTENTIALLY DEATH CAUSING DEFECT. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME I NEED QUICK ACCELERATION, AND IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OTHER CARS I TRIED AT DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST MINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234780

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.