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2009 Cadillac Cts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 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

129 reports with mileage · 38 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.

  • Engine. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

26 reports
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85,000 miles · Apr 15, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, DURING A VIOLENT RAIN STORM, MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE DIC MESSAGE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON" WHICH IMMEDIATELY LIMITED THE TO APPROX. 2500 RPM. THIS ACTION CREATED A TOTALLY UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION. THE REDUCED POWER SLOWED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC,…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, DURING A VIOLENT RAIN STORM, MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE DIC MESSAGE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON" WHICH IMMEDIATELY LIMITED THE TO APPROX. 2500 RPM. THIS ACTION CREATED A TOTALLY UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION. THE REDUCED POWER SLOWED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM , WITH LOW VISIBILITY. LUCKY FOR MYSELF AND MY WIFE, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CREATING A SERIES OF COLLISIONS AND TRAVERSED ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BY IMMEDIATELY REDUCING THE ENGINE POWER CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO THAT SHOULD NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE BE CREATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705921

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2015
Electrical System

2009 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL #14172. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, HE WOULD BE PUT ON A WAITING, BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10690367

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10641956

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10640585

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10638492

74,000 miles · Jun 25, 2014
Electrical System

THIS CAR NOW HAS A REPORTED SECOND FAILURE OF AN ELECTRICAL PART THAT CONTROLS THE CORRECT OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S ENGINE. THE FAILURE RATE ON THIS ITEM NOW EXCEEDS 33%, WHICH IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RATE FOR A CRITICAL ENGINE ELECTRICAL ITEM! THE FAILURE NOTED HERE IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE LIVE OF THE PEOPLE IN T…

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THIS CAR NOW HAS A REPORTED SECOND FAILURE OF AN ELECTRICAL PART THAT CONTROLS THE CORRECT OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S ENGINE. THE FAILURE RATE ON THIS ITEM NOW EXCEEDS 33%, WHICH IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RATE FOR A CRITICAL ENGINE ELECTRICAL ITEM! THE FAILURE NOTED HERE IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE LIVE OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS VEHICLE, AS IT MAY CREATE AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE IN A CRITICAL SITUATION. AT MY AGE, I DO REQUIRE A SAFE AND OPERABLE VEHICLE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606021

45,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION, COULD NOT SHUT VEHICLE OFF. THIS OCCURRED AFTER 9PM IN THE EVENING AND THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP OR ONSTAR TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE UNATTENDED AND RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT RISKING AN ENGINE FIRE AND COULD NOT SHUT OFF FUEL SUPPLY OR RI…

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KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION, COULD NOT SHUT VEHICLE OFF. THIS OCCURRED AFTER 9PM IN THE EVENING AND THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP OR ONSTAR TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. HAD TO LEAVE VEHICLE UNATTENDED AND RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT RISKING AN ENGINE FIRE AND COULD NOT SHUT OFF FUEL SUPPLY OR RISKING THE VEHICLE POPPING INTO GEAR (OR MOVING INTO GEAR BY A CHILD) AND MOVING UNATTENDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604595

13,888 miles · Mar 28, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED INTO THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,888 AND THE CU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED INTO THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,888 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500. UPDATED 07/28/14 MA UPDATED 07/29/14

NHTSA ODI #10575332

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

2009 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIBRATION/UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS ERRATICALLY, VIBRATING AND LACKED POWER. THE CONDITION APPEARED IRREGULAR AND FOR SOME TIME, NO TROUBLE LIGHT APPEARED. ONCE…

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2009 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIBRATION/UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS ERRATICALLY, VIBRATING AND LACKED POWER. THE CONDITION APPEARED IRREGULAR AND FOR SOME TIME, NO TROUBLE LIGHT APPEARED. ONCE A LIGHT FINALLY APPEARED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CADILLAC DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT ALL THE IGNITION COILS ON ONE SIDE OF THE ENGINE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN ONE OR MORE IGNITION COILS FAIL, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE A GREATER VIBRATION AND LACK OF POWER. IN ADDITION, THE COIL FAILURE WOULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO UNEXPECTEDLY DOWNSHIFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF POWER AND WITH MULTIPLE COIL FAILURES IT MAY SHIFT MULTIPLE TIMES EACH TIME MORE POWER WAS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE THROTTLE SPEED. IN JULY 2013, THE CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PERFORMANCE ISSUES. AGAIN, NO TROUBLE LIGHT APPEARED. A TRIP TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN NOTHING BEING FOUND, DESPITE THE SERVICE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONDITION CONTINUED AND IN AUGUST 2013. THE TROUBLE LIGHT APPEARED. THE DEALER FOUND AN IGNITION COIL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10568392

35,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Electrical System

VERY SPORADICALLY THE PASSENGER DOOR EITHER REFUSES TO CLOSE FROM THE OUTSIDE (DOOR BOUNCES BACK) OR YOU ARE TRAPPED IN THE CAR, WHEN THE PASSENGER DOOR REFUSES TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566342

Official recalls

5

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.

11V089000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 11, 2011

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A WAX COATING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK JAM NUTS MAY ALLOW THE NUT(S) TO LOOSEN. IF A NUT SUFFICIENTLY LOOSENS, THE TOE LINK COULD SEPARATE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. OWNERS MAY HEAR A METALLIC CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT MAY WARN OF A LOOSENING NUT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE SUDDEN CHANGES WITH VEHICLE HANDLING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN ALL WAX RESIDUE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK AND INSTALL TWO NEW JAM NUTS. IF NECESSARY THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK MAY BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

10V414000 · Equipment

Sep 13, 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CTS-V VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF LEG INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY AND, IN SOME VEHICLES MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STRUCTURE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

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.

08V582000 · Air Bags:frontal

Nov 5, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 12,662 MY 2009 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A SOFTWARE CONDITION WITHIN THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MAY DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED OR ENABLE IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED, INCREASED PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

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.