Illustration"CADILLAC RECALL" THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ON THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND AT TIMES THE CAR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE PRESSED. AS A RESULT, I COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO FIND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. IN ADDITION, RECALLS AND ISSUE WITH THIS CAR HAVE MADE THE NEWS.
2011 Cadillac Cts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 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
270–25K
2025–50K
1750–75K
875–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
81 reports with mileage · 20 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 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
23 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUBURBAN CADILLAC (1810 MAPLELAWN DR, TROY, MI 48084, 248-643-0070), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. BENTLEY C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. BENTLEY CADILLAC IN FLORENCE, ALABAMA 35630 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND STATED THAT AN INSPECTOR WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE BRAKES OR THE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
THE CAR AIRBAG HARNESS FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH PART 20973030 . I WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THIS FAILURE AND THE CAR HAS LIMITED MILES ON IT. IT APPEARS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE CTS HARNESS SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST WITH OTHER SIMILAR AIRBAG PROBLEMS GENERAL MOTORS CURRENTLY HAS. THANKS [XXX] INF…
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THE CAR AIRBAG HARNESS FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH PART 20973030 . I WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THIS FAILURE AND THE CAR HAS LIMITED MILES ON IT. IT APPEARS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE CTS HARNESS SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST WITH OTHER SIMILAR AIRBAG PROBLEMS GENERAL MOTORS CURRENTLY HAS. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSING MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSING MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE. AFTER DOUBLE CHECKING THE WIRING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF BUT THEN CAME BACK ON A FEW MINUTES LATER. RINSE AND REPEATED THE SCENARIO MULTIPLE TIMES. OBVIOUSLY THE SAME PROBLEN FOR WHICH OLDER MODELS WERE RECALLED.
PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN SEAT, OCCUPANT SENSOR OR PPS, IS FAULTY. CHECK AIR BAG WARNING ALERT REMAINS ON OR IS INTERMITTENT, EVEN IF NO CONTENTS OR PERSON ON PASSENGER SEAT. VERY SIMILAR TO GM RECALL 08373 FOR FIRST GENERATION CADILLAC CTS OCCUPANT SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG. IF USING THE SAME DESIGN, AND NOT CORRECTED, T…
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PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN SEAT, OCCUPANT SENSOR OR PPS, IS FAULTY. CHECK AIR BAG WARNING ALERT REMAINS ON OR IS INTERMITTENT, EVEN IF NO CONTENTS OR PERSON ON PASSENGER SEAT. VERY SIMILAR TO GM RECALL 08373 FOR FIRST GENERATION CADILLAC CTS OCCUPANT SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG. IF USING THE SAME DESIGN, AND NOT CORRECTED, THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE SECOND GENERATION CTS VEHICLES.
<A HREF="HTTP://DISCOUNTHOARDER.COM/">HTTP://DISCOUNTHOARDER.COM/</A>. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V341000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V341000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.
Official recalls
214V394000 · 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.
14V341000 · Air Bags; Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Jun 19, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
Air Bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
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.