NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
65 reports65,300 miles · Jul 2, 2019
Exterior LightingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS THEN STOPED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT 2 BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ONE HAD SHEARED. HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 CTS. I HAD PURCHASED A WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018, CAR WAS REPAIRED. I DID NOTIFY CADILLAC. RIGHT FRONT …
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WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS THEN STOPED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT 2 BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ONE HAD SHEARED. HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 CTS. I HAD PURCHASED A WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018, CAR WAS REPAIRED. I DID NOTIFY CADILLAC. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT HAS MOISTURE. UNDERSTAND CADILLAC USED INFERIOR SEALS PREVIOUSLY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. LIGHT COST APPROXIMATELY $250.00.
NHTSA ODI #11228889
65,318 miles · Jul 1, 2019
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOORE CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 25450 PLEASANT VALLEY RD, CHANTILLY, VA 20152, (703) 939-9351) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO DRIVESHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOORE CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 25450 PLEASANT VALLEY RD, CHANTILLY, VA 20152, (703) 939-9351) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO DRIVESHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,318.
NHTSA ODI #11228628
27,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Exterior Lighting
I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR …
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.
NHTSA ODI #11205051
27,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Exterior Lighting
I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR …
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.
NHTSA ODI #11205045
55,000 miles · Mar 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other
DOOR OFTEN WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED TO OPEN DOOR. IF I WAS IN A ACCIDENT OR THERE WAS A FIRE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF DOOR BECAUSE IT WON'T OPEN. GM HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.
NHTSA ODI #11183840
75,000 miles · Oct 26, 2018
Power Train
BOLTS BACKED OUT OF DRIVE SHAFT
NHTSA ODI #11142901
20,000 miles · Jul 10, 2018
Exterior Lighting
MY STATION WAGON IS A 2012 THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN AUG 2013. IN ABOUT A YEAR I NOTICED CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE SEALED LED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY
NHTSA ODI #11110608
47,000 miles · Jun 29, 2018
Air BagsInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO QUANTRELL AUTO GROUP (1440 E NEW CIRCLE RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40509, (859) 266-2161) WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS COMPLETED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA ODI #11104691
86,478 miles · May 9, 2018
EngineSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DRIVESHAFT AND THE SUPPORT BEARING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC NORWOOD (700 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DRIVESHAFT AND THE SUPPORT BEARING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC NORWOOD (700 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,478.
NHTSA ODI #11092729
50,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OEM RIMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER PREVENTED THE TIRES FROM HOLDING AIR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REFILL THE AIR IN THE TIRES. THE DEALER (LOCKHART CADILLAC OF GREENWOOD, 1287 US-31, GREENWOOD, IN 46143, (317) 865-1551) HAD NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OEM RIMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER PREVENTED THE TIRES FROM HOLDING AIR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REFILL THE AIR IN THE TIRES. THE DEALER (LOCKHART CADILLAC OF GREENWOOD, 1287 US-31, GREENWOOD, IN 46143, (317) 865-1551) HAD NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT TIRE REPAIR FACILITIES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #11064230
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.
Nov 2, 2011
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. IF THE NUT IS NOT TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND ALLOW THE PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE AND a vehicle CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: CADILLAC DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT, AND IF NECESSARY, TORQUE THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗