ERROR CODES RELATED TO TIMING CHAIN ARE ON THEREFORE IT NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT LOOKS LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cts years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
167 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES TO MCELWAIN MOTOR CAR COMPANY CHEVROLET (812 BEAVER AVE, ELLWOOD CITY, PA 16117, (724) 824-1223) DUE TO THE WHEELS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES TO MCELWAIN MOTOR CAR COMPANY CHEVROLET (812 BEAVER AVE, ELLWOOD CITY, PA 16117, (724) 824-1223) DUE TO THE WHEELS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM CORRODING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OUT OF FEAR THAT IT MAY NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE LAST TIME THE DEALER DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR TSB: 11340C (SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT TIMING WEAR) EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE DEALER MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO COVERAGE OF THE SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT CAMPAIGN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ON IN VEHICLE, DIAGNOSIS SAYS IT IS THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. THROUGH RESEARCH, MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE MODULE NEEDS TO BE FIXED, NOT JUST REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FAULTY MODULE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TREE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE BENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AUTO STAR (4395 BUFORD HWY, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30071, (770) 446-8772) TOWED THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TREE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE BENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AUTO STAR (4395 BUFORD HWY, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30071, (770) 446-8772) TOWED THE VEHICLE AWAY AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER WAS SUING THE CONTACT FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE OWED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT PAYING THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKS FROM THE PLASTIC "PVC" 90 DEGREE ELBOW LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION WILL CAUSE THE PLASTIC "PVC" ELBOW TO CRACK WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO A PERVASIVE AND DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK. THE FUEL LEAK THEN BEGINS TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH THEN FLOWS DOWN THE FUEL TANK TOWA…
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FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKS FROM THE PLASTIC "PVC" 90 DEGREE ELBOW LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION WILL CAUSE THE PLASTIC "PVC" ELBOW TO CRACK WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO A PERVASIVE AND DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK. THE FUEL LEAK THEN BEGINS TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH THEN FLOWS DOWN THE FUEL TANK TOWARDS EXHAUST AND EVENTUALLY THE GROUND. A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IS PRESENT WHILE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF. THE LEAK BECOMES GREATER AS MORE FUEL IS SENT TO THE MOTOR. THIS IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE ON MANY 2009-2015 CTS AND CTS-V VEHICLES WHICH CAN BE SEEN ON MANY MESSAGE BOARDS AND FORUMS. THIS ISSUE HAS THE HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FIRE IN WHICH INJURY OR DEATH CAN OCCUR. IN ADDITION, THIS LEAK DOES CAUSE A FUEL SHORTAGE TO THE MOTOR AFFECTING DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT LEAKS IS INFERIOR AND SHOULD BE REPLACED TO AVOID ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO RESOLVE THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUE.
P0008 WARNING LIGHT ON WHEN DRIVING MECHANIC SAYS NEED TIMING CHANGE REPLACED DEALER SAYS THAT 11340CREPAIR FOR 2009 CADILLACS DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN NUMBER CAR CAR WAS RUNNING WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON
TIMING CHAIN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
IN LATE AUGUST 2018, AT OR ABOUT 66,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CAR WENT TO A CADILLAC DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. CODES THAT WERE READ WERE; P0008 & P0017 INDICATING A TIMING CHAIN WEAR ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AT A PERSONAL COST OF $2281.83. THE DEALER AND CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER INFO…
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IN LATE AUGUST 2018, AT OR ABOUT 66,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CAR WENT TO A CADILLAC DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. CODES THAT WERE READ WERE; P0008 & P0017 INDICATING A TIMING CHAIN WEAR ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED AT A PERSONAL COST OF $2281.83. THE DEALER AND CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER INFORMED ME THAT THIS VIN # WAS NOT COVERED UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN 11340C SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT, WHICH SUPPOSEDLY COVERED 2007-2009 CADILLACE CTS VEHICLES. THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE MONUMENTAL SAFETY ISSUES IF THE TIMING CHAIN WERE TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE VEHICLE AND OCCUPANTS DANGEROUSLY EXPOSED TO A TRAFFIC COLLISION. CAR 3WAS IN MOTION WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING AT 40 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING AT 40 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (LARSON CADILLAC, 6411 20TH ST E, FIFE, WA 98424, (253) 777-0271) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
AT UNDER 90,000 MILES MY 2009 CADILLAC CTS AWD STARTED TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN I SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAPPENED FOR 3 DAYS. ON THE 4TH DAY I DROVE TO MY OFFICE, PARKED IN A PARKING RAMP. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME, THE CAR STARTED AND MOVED INTO GEAR, BUT AS I APPROACHED THE EXIT…
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AT UNDER 90,000 MILES MY 2009 CADILLAC CTS AWD STARTED TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN I SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAPPENED FOR 3 DAYS. ON THE 4TH DAY I DROVE TO MY OFFICE, PARKED IN A PARKING RAMP. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME, THE CAR STARTED AND MOVED INTO GEAR, BUT AS I APPROACHED THE EXIT GATE, WHICH IS ON A HILL IT, CAR ABRUPTLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THERE WERE CARS LINED UP TO EXIT THE PARKING RAMP BEHIND ME. I WAS FORTUNATE TO ACT QUICKLY AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER DRIVERS AND SECURITY GUARDS TO HELP PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE RAMP EXIT LANE. WITH NO NOTICE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. AS IT IS, I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE ROLLED BACK INTO OTHER CARS. I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF OVER $4,000.00. THERE WERE NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT MY MILEAGE AND USE RATE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT NO-ONE ELSE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I FIND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE. AT THE PRICE I PAID FOR THIS CAR IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED ANOTHER 10 YEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT DIE AT LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS SHOWING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR. THIS HAS TO BE A FAULTY PART AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.
Official recalls
514V394000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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