Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
925–50K
1050–75K
475–100K
9100–150K
0150K+
41 reports with mileage · 26 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.
Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
67 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I CALLED TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CALLED GM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CAR HAS …
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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I CALLED TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CALLED GM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 33,000 MILE ON IT. WE HAVE HAD ALL MAINTANCE SERVICE PROFORMED BY THE DEALER. WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? *TT
NHTSA ODI #10445738
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire
PASSANGER SIDE SUNVISOR WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT SOME OF CEILING UPHOLSTERY AND MELTED PLASTIC TRIM AROUND SUN ROOF . *TT
NHTSA ODI #10445734
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2011
Air BagsLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic
2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. IN JANUARY 2011, THE CONSUM…
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2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. IN JANUARY 2011, THE CONSUMER BECAME LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN MAY 2011. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10434491
21,000 miles · Jun 14, 2011
Tires
INCIDENT 1, DRIVING ON MAIN STREET NOT MORE THAN 40 MPH, NO CONSTRUCTION. BLOWN TIRE #1. INCIDENCE #2 2 BLOWN (NOT FLAT) TIRES SAME CAR. 2 TIRES ON R SIDE BLEW SIMULTANEOUSLY. DRIVING ON MAIN STREET UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION. TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED. IN BOTH INSTANCES, ALL 3 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10406257
22,000 miles · Oct 25, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL THROUGH THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL THROUGH THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD CRACKED AND THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD A LEAK AND WAS POURING OUT OIL WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR AND FRONT DIFFERENTIALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #10362207
1,819 miles · Oct 12, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND THEN THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHOR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND THEN THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, PISTON, FILTER AND FUEL KIT WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,819 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,324.
NHTSA ODI #10360085
44,243 miles · Oct 9, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages
MY CARS LOCKING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. TAKEN IT TO BE SERVICED TWICE PROBLEM NOT FIXED. MY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN HAD TO CLIMB IN BACK SEAT TO GET HER OUT. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!!! *TR
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.
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.
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.
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.
2010 Cadillac Cts Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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