IllustrationMY 2012 SRX HAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE HEADLIGHTS. ONE OF THEM IS FOGGY WITH CONDENSATION AND EVEN BEFORE THAT THE LIGHTING WAS TERRIBLE. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S OUT OF THEIR HANDS..
2012 Cadillac Srx
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Srx years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Cadillac Srx are substantially higher than the model-year median of 192.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Srx 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
380–25K
3125–50K
6850–75K
7275–100K
57100–150K
4150K+
270 reports with mileage · 146 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.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports4 fire reports23 injury reports
What owners actually said
416 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE LIVING ROOM WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE LIVING ROOM WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 39-5355940481. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR CONSUMER STATED CAR WAS DEEMED AS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. AIRBAG DID NOT ENGAGE DURING THE INCIDENT; AIRBAG REPORT WAS SENT TO VEHICLE OWNER BY GM. GM ENGINEER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MANY BRAKE FAILURE REPORTS.*JB
MOISTURE GETS INTO THE HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURES THROUGH CONDENSATION AND/OR RAIN IMPEDING THE HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS AND DISTANCE MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY NUMEROUS CONSUMERS. THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURE IS FLAWED ALLOWING MOISTURE FROM THE HOOD AND FRONT FENDERS TO RUN DOWN THE REAR OF THE …
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MOISTURE GETS INTO THE HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURES THROUGH CONDENSATION AND/OR RAIN IMPEDING THE HEADLIGHT BRIGHTNESS AND DISTANCE MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY NUMEROUS CONSUMERS. THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURE IS FLAWED ALLOWING MOISTURE FROM THE HOOD AND FRONT FENDERS TO RUN DOWN THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURE AND ENTER THE ENCLOSURE THROUGH THE SEAM THAT FAILS ON THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURE.
MY HEADLAMPS KEEP FILLING WITH MOISTURE ALSO KNOWN AS CONDENSATION CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT OR BLOW. CADILLAC SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THAT IT WAS A ' MANUFACTURE MALFUNCTION' SINCE THEY DIDN'T LIST IT AS A RECALL THEY STATE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM. THEY GO OUT RANDOMLY SOME LAST A COUPLE WEEKS S…
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MY HEADLAMPS KEEP FILLING WITH MOISTURE ALSO KNOWN AS CONDENSATION CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT OR BLOW. CADILLAC SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THAT IT WAS A ' MANUFACTURE MALFUNCTION' SINCE THEY DIDN'T LIST IT AS A RECALL THEY STATE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM. THEY GO OUT RANDOMLY SOME LAST A COUPLE WEEKS SOMETIMES THEY LAST A COUPLE DAYS IT COULD BE WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY CITY STREET TURNING OR EVEN SITTING THERE. I PROVIDED THE QUOTE THEY REQUESTED ME TO GET. YET IT HAD TO BE PAID AND COMPLETED 90 DAYS AFTER THE LETTER. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LAYING AROUND AND 90 DAYS ISN'T ENOUGH TIME TO COME UP WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY.
DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LEADING TO MOISTURE BUILD UP. THE MOISTURE BUILDUP IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LEADS TO REDUCED LIGHTING AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNS OUT LEAVING THE CAR OWNER WITH NO LIGHTS. I JUST HAD THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED AS MY LIGHTS WENT OUT AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING IN FE…
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DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LEADING TO MOISTURE BUILD UP. THE MOISTURE BUILDUP IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LEADS TO REDUCED LIGHTING AND EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNS OUT LEAVING THE CAR OWNER WITH NO LIGHTS. I JUST HAD THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED AS MY LIGHTS WENT OUT AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING IN FEBRUARY 2019. MOISTURE IS ALREADY BUILDING IN THE NEW HEADLIGHT WHICH WILL MOST LIKELY FAIL AGAIN. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON 07/04/2019 REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE MOISTURE BUILD UP IN THE HEADLIGHT AFTER HEAVY RAINS REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT LENS IS FROSTED OVER PREVENTING HEADLIGHTS FROM PROJECTING LIGHT AT NIGHT. I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES FLASH LIGHTS AT ME ON APPROACH. I WAS WARNED ON A RECENT TRIP TO NEW MEXICO, BUT DID NOT GET A TECKET FOR NOT HAVING HEADLIGHTS. LOCAL GM/CADILLAC DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I DONT DRIV…
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THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT LENS IS FROSTED OVER PREVENTING HEADLIGHTS FROM PROJECTING LIGHT AT NIGHT. I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES FLASH LIGHTS AT ME ON APPROACH. I WAS WARNED ON A RECENT TRIP TO NEW MEXICO, BUT DID NOT GET A TECKET FOR NOT HAVING HEADLIGHTS. LOCAL GM/CADILLAC DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I DONT DRIVE AT NIGHT AS NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I BOUGHT AND REPLACED WITH STRONGER LOW BEAM BULBS, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. PLEASE ISSUE A CS EASE AND DESIST STOPPING CADILLAC SALES IN THE US UNTIL THIS SAFET DEFECT IS CORRECTED.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHTING UPON THE ROAD TO SAFELY NAVIGATE AT NIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP ANY. I HAVE ALSO INSTALLED A SET OF AFTERMARKET FOG LIGHTS WHICH HELPS A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT SO MUCH WHEN IT IS RAINING OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING GLARING LIGHTS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I …
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THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHTING UPON THE ROAD TO SAFELY NAVIGATE AT NIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP ANY. I HAVE ALSO INSTALLED A SET OF AFTERMARKET FOG LIGHTS WHICH HELPS A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT SO MUCH WHEN IT IS RAINING OR WHEN ENCOUNTERING GLARING LIGHTS FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ THAT IF YOU BUY AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE LENS ASSEMBLY THAT WILL FIX THE ISSUE OF WATER LEAKS INTO THE ASSEMBLY, BUT MINE DON'T LOOK LIKE THERE HAS BEEN ANY MOISTURE INSIDE. THE AVERAGE COSTS OF THAT ENTIRE PART IS OVER $300 EACH. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT THE ROUND LENS WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE A MAGNIFYING-TYPE LENS THAT RESEMBLES THE TYPE OF PRIVACY GLASS COMMONLY USED FOR SHOWER DOORS AND WINDOWS. I DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON UNTIL CHALLENGED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT THEN WHEN I RESPOND ACCORDINGLY I MUST COME ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP OR RISK LEAVING THE ROAD ALTOGETHER.
ACCELERATING IS STALLED. ENGINE IS GOES INTO A PULL AND TUG MODE IN ENGINE. CANT GET IN RPM SPEED IN PEDAL. ENGINE IS HEAVY. BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES STIFFENS AND SLIGHT BRAKE MAKES SRX STOP SUDDENLY. ALL THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING IN WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION . ALSO I'VE TAKING THE SRX IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS…
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ACCELERATING IS STALLED. ENGINE IS GOES INTO A PULL AND TUG MODE IN ENGINE. CANT GET IN RPM SPEED IN PEDAL. ENGINE IS HEAVY. BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES STIFFENS AND SLIGHT BRAKE MAKES SRX STOP SUDDENLY. ALL THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING IN WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION . ALSO I'VE TAKING THE SRX IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS SEVERAL TIMES. AND NO CODE ARE FOUND TO REPORT ON THE VEHICLE
BRAKES SUDDENLY GO TO FLOOR. CAUSING DELAY IN STOPPING. ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT. HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AND STILL LOSING BRAKES WITHOUT NOTICE. THEN THEY COME BACK. HAD SERVICED AND CHECKED AND THEY CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . HAS HAPPENED ON STRAIGHT DRIVING AND TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY NUMEROUS TIMES.
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM AND GETTING WORSE, REPLACED BULBS AND IMPROVED FOR SHORT TIME. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. CADILLAC DEALERS WILL ONLY FIX IF I PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR APPROX. $1,700.00 GM SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Official recalls
321V473000 · Suspension:rear
Jun 24, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.
14V571000 · Suspension:rear
Sep 19, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.
14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust
Jul 23, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
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
1PE20019 · Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation
Opened Nov 6, 2020 · Closed Dec 23, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear
On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V-571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. The remedy for recall 14V-571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V-473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V-571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov.The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V-571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. The remedy for recall 14V-571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V-473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V-571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov.The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.
Suspension:rear
On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V-571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. The remedy for recall 14V-571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V-473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V-571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov.The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.