Cadillac CTS Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data

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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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.