NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
101 reports48,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Air Bags
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 …
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10875548
45,000 miles · Apr 22, 2016
Air Bags
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.
NHTSA ODI #10860924
55,000 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Electrical SystemStructure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PULL A LEVER TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PULL A LEVER TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
NHTSA ODI #10860331
66,000 miles · Feb 15, 2016
Power Train
MY CADILLAC CTS 2011 HAS HAD A FAILURE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPT 2013 AND THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND NOW JAN 2016, THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE VEHICLE OF SB11084 AND AN NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10038765. IT IS A S…
Read full complaint
MY CADILLAC CTS 2011 HAS HAD A FAILURE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. THE FIRST TIME WAS SEPT 2013 AND THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND NOW JAN 2016, THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE VEHICLE OF SB11084 AND AN NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10038765. IT IS A SAME THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN GENERATED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE OUT OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AT THE END OF FEBRUARY SO UNLESS A RECALL IS DONE, THIS WILL NOT BE COVERED ON ITS NEXT FAILURE IN A YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #10826135
20,180 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,180.
NHTSA ODI #10783675
2,700 miles · Aug 12, 2015
Unknown Or Other
PURCHASED CAR (COUPE) NEW WITH APPX. 2K MILES (HAD BEEN USED AT GOLF TOURNAMENT). A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF EMERGENCY LEVER. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY WERE ABLE TO UNLOCK IT. IN THE 3 YEARS THAT I OWED IT, THE CAR LOCKED ME IN NUMEROUS TIMES. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS COULD …
Read full complaint
PURCHASED CAR (COUPE) NEW WITH APPX. 2K MILES (HAD BEEN USED AT GOLF TOURNAMENT). A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DID NOT OPEN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF EMERGENCY LEVER. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY WERE ABLE TO UNLOCK IT. IN THE 3 YEARS THAT I OWED IT, THE CAR LOCKED ME IN NUMEROUS TIMES. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH ONE DEALER KEEPING THE CAR FOR ALMOST A WEEK TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO SERVICE ALERTS. THERE WAS ALSO AN INCIDENT WHERE I WAS ABOUT 10 FEET FROM THE CAR AND THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING FOR NO REASON AND AGAIN THE DEALERS COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT. I HAVE SINCE SOLD THE CAR BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO BE DEPENDENT ON ONSTAR OR AN EMERGENCY LEVER.
NHTSA ODI #10748011
4,085 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Air BagsSeats
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…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10745365
80,000 miles · Jul 14, 2015
StructureInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE BECAME INOPERABLE AND CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE BECAME INOPERABLE AND CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10733889
56,000 miles · Jun 25, 2015
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA ODI #10730351
95,796 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Power Train
I JUST RETURNED FROM MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER AND HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HUB AND SENSOR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TOP REPLACE THE WHEEL HUBS AS THE LAST 2 WERE THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT FRONT ONES. I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC DISCLOSED OR NON DISCLOSURE BY CADILL…
Read full complaint
I JUST RETURNED FROM MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER AND HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HUB AND SENSOR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TOP REPLACE THE WHEEL HUBS AS THE LAST 2 WERE THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT FRONT ONES. I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC DISCLOSED OR NON DISCLOSURE BY CADILLAC. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT CADILLAC AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I HANG ONTO THE DAMAGED PARTS AND INVOICES FOR THE REPAIRS. I INQUIRED FURTHER WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR IF THIS WAS AN OUTSTANDING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND HE SUGGESTED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH 2008-2012 CADILLAC WHEEL HUBS. I WANTED TO ALERT NHTSA TO THIS AND SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE SOME INPUT FROM CADILLAC WITH REGARDS TO AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FURTHER.
NHTSA ODI #10722659
Official recalls
2Jul 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.
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 ↗