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⚑ NHTSA Official DataUpdated: May 2026Methodology

Cadillac CTS Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β€” NHTSA Data

Comparing used Cadillac CTS options? We analyzed 10 model years (2010–2019) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

πŸ“‹
513
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
πŸ””
24
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
πŸ’₯
35
Crash-Related
crash complaints
πŸ”₯
6
Fire-Related
fire complaints
πŸ₯
28
Injuries Reported
across all years
πŸ“ˆ
Poor
Reliability Signal
overall trend

Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Cadillac CTS you plan to buy.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Cadillac CTS has 513 owner complaints and 24 safety recalls across model years 2010–2019. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2014 drew the most complaints; 2010 drew the fewest.

Cadillac CTS β€” key reliability facts
Make
Cadillac
Model
CTS
Model years analyzed
2010–2019 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
513
Safety recall campaigns
24
Crash-related complaints
35
Fire-related complaints
6
Worst model year (by complaints)
2014 (143 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2010 (1 complaints)
Top reported issue area
POWER TRAIN
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed May 25, 2026
This CTS has 24 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free β†’

Cadillac CTS: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

⚠ Years to Avoid
2014 Cadillac CTS143 complaints2011 Cadillac CTS108 complaints2013 Cadillac CTS72 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

βœ“ Best Years to Buy
2010 Cadillac CTS1 complaints2018 Cadillac CTS8 complaints2019 Cadillac CTS10 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

2019
2019 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
2018
2018 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
2017
2017 Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
How to Read NCAP Stars
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5 stars - Excellent
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4 stars - Good
β˜…β˜…β˜…3 stars - Average
β˜…β˜…2 stars - Below average
β˜…1 star - Poor
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the Complaint Data Suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

The CADILLAC CTS has 513 NHTSA complaints and 24 recalls on record. 35 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key Findings
  • 513 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 24 federal recall campaigns
  • 35 crash-related complaints on record
Top Concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
⚠️ Worst Years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

βœ… Best Years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to Check Before Buying Used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

πŸ“… Problems by Model Year (Best vs. Worst Years)

2010
1
2011
108
2012
67
2013
72
2014
143
2015
47
2016
31
2017
26
2018
8
2019
10
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: May 2026

πŸ”” NHTSA Safety Recalls

24 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Campaign #19V086000July 2, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Campaign #19V086000July 2, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Campaign #19V086000July 2, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Campaign #18V595000July 9, 2018

Safety Recall

Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Campaign #18V595000July 9, 2018

Safety Recall

Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Campaign #18V595000July 9, 2018

Safety Recall

Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Campaign #15V358000September 6, 2015

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
Campaign #14V394000February 7, 2014

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Campaign #14V394000February 7, 2014

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Campaign #14V394000February 7, 2014

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Campaign #14V394000February 7, 2014

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Campaign #14V614000January 10, 2014

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Campaign #11V089000November 2, 2011

Safety Recall

Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Campaign #11V536000February 11, 2011

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
Campaign #25V175000

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Campaign #25V175000

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Campaign #25V175000

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Campaign #10V414000

Safety Recall

Component: EQUIPMENT
Campaign #14V341000

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS
Campaign #14V253000

Safety Recall

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2010–2019. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

πŸ”§ Most-Reported Problem Areas

Based on component keywords extracted from all 513 NHTSA complaints.

1
POWER TRAIN
169 complaints
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
89 complaints
3
STEERING
52 complaints
4
AIR BAGS
52 complaints
5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
50 complaints
6
ENGINE
45 complaints
7
SUSPENSION
42 complaints
8
SERVICE BRAKES
34 complaints

πŸ“‹ NHTSA Complaint Reports

513 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGOct 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts Store and was diagnosed with catalytic converter failure. The contact stated that upon cleaning the catalytic converter and driving for 50 miles, the warning light turned off. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,990.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINEApr 2025

I believe it’s the transmission it’s not changing gears like it supposed to only have 52,000 miles on the dash. It’s have to be defective. No Incident

STEERINGJan 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the trim on the steering wheel had started to peel off. Due to the failure, the edges of the steering wheel where the trim was located had started peeling off and were sharp, causing serious concerns while driving the vehicle. The local dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was scheduled for an appointment; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

POWER TRAINNov 2024

The rear differential started making noise and growling. Upon draining the differential, we found a lot of metal debris. Upon reading on this issue, we found that Cadillac has had this issue with past models. It seems that the original G.M. part is no longer available. This could be a safety risk if the rear wheels are to lock up due to debris. It has not been confirmed by the dealer, the vehicle is out of warrantee at 91,000 miles.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTIONFeb 2023

The backup camera grid on our 2019 vehicle disappears most of the time when we start in reverse after turning on the engine. We have taken our vehicle into local Cadillac dealership service departments over the past 3 years and they have replaced cables, backup camera, radio equipment, interface screen, etc. with no resolution. This issue with the backup camera grid also seems to be tied to a problem with loading profiles upon startup, radio issues, etc. We are writing to NHTSA because we feel that the backup camera grid disappearing is a safety issue.

POWER TRAINJul 2022

The vehicle hard shifts in low gear and at low speeds. The hard shifting makes the car hard to handle in slow speed situations such as parking lots. Because the car lurches forward unexpectedly, it poses a safety concern toward nearby pedestrians.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS,ENGINEJul 2021

Seat is adjusting during driving. Moving between presets. Setting position 1 automatically all the way forward. Heat in the seat turning on.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2021

My 2019 CTS Cadillac CUE screen shattered for no reason. I was not driving the car. I went out to the car on Thursday, May 27, 2021 and the screen had shattered over night. The system is still working but it is hard to see the screen. The car is leased and only has 20,586 miles. I have only had it 2 years and 5 months. Is this my responsibility to repair or is it covered by warranty?

SUSPENSION,WHEELS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMDec 2019

BOUGHT A USED CAR FROM AUTO BOUTIQUE ON 10/15/19 WITH CAR FAX REPORT SHOWING NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. WHEN WE TEST DROVE THE CAR WE NOTICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND A VIBRATION. WE WERE TOLD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WENT ON 10/18/19 FOR MY APPT, WAS THERE 8 HOURS TO NO AVAIL, WAS TOLD VIBRATION WAS FROM A BENT RIM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CAR TO A CADILLAC DEALER FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH RITCHEY'S CADILLAC ON 10/25/19 AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, THE GAS TANK ISN'T SAFE, 3 BENT RIMS, THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND WERE NOT RESET PROPERLY, AND THIS WAS ONE CAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VIBRATION AND NOISE CAME FROM REAR SUSPENSION BENT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS, ETC. I HAVE A REPORT FROM RICHIE'S CADILLAC STATING ABOVE, PLUS PICTURES AND A ESTIMATE TO FIX. I NOTIFIED AUTO BOUTIQUE THAT I WANTED TO RETURN CAR FRO REFUND BUT GOT THE RUN AROUND, ALL THEY SAID WAS ALL THERE CARS ARE SOLD AS IS, THE HAVE THE BUYERS GUIDE THAT IS SIGNED WITH NO BOXES CHECKED. THERE ARE NO SIGNS STATING CARS ARE SOLD AS IS. WE TRADED THE CAR IN ON A NEW VEHICLE AND ASKED FOR A REFUND FOR THE DIFFERENCE, $18,000, I WAS TOLD TO RETURN THE CAR AND THEY WOULD FIX THE ISSUES AND CALL ME WHEN IT WAS DONE, I STATED IT WAS TOO LATE FOR THAT BECAUSE I HAD TRADED IT FOR A NEW ONE BECAUSE IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE TO FIX, PHOTOS AND ALL PAPER WORK FROM THE SALE.

UNKNOWN OR OTHEROct 2019

I LEASED A CADILLAC 2019 CTS IN DECEMBER 2018. THE CAR'S ENGINE ACCELERATES SPORADICALLY ON ITS OWN. IT HAPPENED TO ME APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED, DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND AS I WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPOT. THREE SUCH EVENTS OCCURRED WITHIN TEN MINUTES WHILE INCHING MY WAY TO MERGE AND ENTER THE QUEEN'S MIDTOWN TUNNEL IN NY. EACH TIME I MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR BY LEANING VERY HEAVILY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE DEALER UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE CAR WAS IN HIS SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR OVER 20 DAYS. CADILLAC CLAIMS THAT THEY UNAWARE OF ANY SUDDEN ENGINE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE LATEST PROPOSAL THAT CADILLAC OFFERED IS TO INSTALL A DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE IN THE CAR WITH THE HOPE THAT THE FAULT WILL SHOW UP. IN THE MEANWHILE CADILLAC EXPECTS ME TO DRIVE THE CAR, ENDANGERING MYSELF, INNOCENT PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER FELLOW DRIVERS.

STEERINGDec 2025

The contact owns 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 93,942.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJun 2025

Message "Shift to Park" even though the car is already in Park, preventing shutting down the car.

πŸ₯ 1 InjurySTRUCTUREApr 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the carbon fiber-optic piece on the rear passenger door was fractured. The contact stated the occupant was exiting the rear passenger's door when the occupant was stabbed by the carbon fiber-optic piece. The contact stated that the occupant was stabbed in the back of the right arm. No medical attention was needed. The contact stated that the carbon fiber optic pieces on all four of the door panels and the glove compartment had been replaced several times. The contact stated the glove compartment carbon fiber optic piece was replaced three times. In addition, the contact stated that the carbon fiber optic pieces on each door panel had been replaced twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and several cases were filed. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

AIR BAGSMar 2025

The passenger side airbag stays illuminated after the vehicle is started and continues to stay on as the vehicle is driven, never going off. General Motors have not issued a recall on this safety problem with the 2016 Cadillac CTS. My [XXX] address [XXX] . My phone number is [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGSFeb 2025

The contact's relative owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side air bag inflator needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 49,790.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAug 2024

Center console screen again has stopped working, no access to settings for the car nor any way to correct settings at this point. Many of the settings can be critical to safe driving of the car and have no manual alternative. This is the second screen in 50k miles.

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAINJan 2024

Rear differential failed @ 44,600 miles. Dealer said car was unsafe to drive. Dealer unable to obtain replacement after 30 days. Internet search shows this to be a known issue.

SUSPENSIONJan 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds the rear end of the vehicle lowered. There was an abnormal roaring noise detected from the wheels. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the failure was due to the run flat tires. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the differential was not properly lubricated; and informed him not to drive the vehicle. The parts to repair the vehicle was on back order. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

POWER TRAINOct 2022

Torque converter shudders and jerks abruptly. There’s trouble slowing down at times and it has a difficult time shifting up or shifting down i gears.

POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJun 2022

I have 2 complaints. #1 The transmission shifts extremely hard in and out of gear 1. This issue a known issue, but GM has no resolution. There is a bulletin. The problem is, my car is no shifting poorly in all gears and causing a serious safety issue at all speeds and gears. It won't go into gear causing safety concerns. I have reported the transmission issue multiple times while under warranty and it is now worse outside of warranty! #2 Adaptive cruise has also been reported multiple times and I have paid to get both front sensors replaced. Only to have the issue continue. The dash will show a car is in the path, but there is a 2-3 second delay before car starts to slow down. Often brakes do not engage and the alarms just go off. I have driven a loaner car of similar years and they do not operate the same. This car is an outlier.

Showing 20 of 513 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Before You Buy, Check the Exact Cadillac CTS

These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

πŸ“– Understanding This Data

πŸ“‹

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Cadillac CTS has 513 complaints on record across 10 model years.

πŸ””

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Cadillac CTS has 24 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

πŸ’₯

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 35 of the Cadillac CTS's 513 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

🧭

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

πŸ“Š

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

πŸ”

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Cadillac CTS vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Cadillac CTS vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

πŸ”Ž

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Cadillac CTS has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

Buyers Also Compare

How does the Cadillac CTS stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.

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