Cadillac CTS Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,218 owner complaints and 27 safety recalls on file for the Cadillac CTS, across 17 model years (2003–2019). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (313). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Cadillac CTS years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical CTS year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 CTS: 313 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2005 CTS: 277 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2006 CTS: 269 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2018 CTS: 8 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2019 CTS: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2017 CTS: 27 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Cadillac CTS problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 462 | 17 | 15 |
| Electrical System problems | 383 | 17 | 19 |
| Air Bags problems | 378 | 16 | 94 |
| Engine problems | 236 | 17 | 6 |
| Service Brakes problems | 194 | 14 | 27 |
| Steering problems | 162 | 16 | 24 |
| Suspension problems | 119 | 16 | 7 |
| Structure problems | 113 | 14 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 111 | 11 | 21 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 106 | 14 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 103 | 14 | 33 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 96 | 12 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 68 | 13 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 65 | 14 | 0 |
| Tires | 48 | 12 | 3 |
| Wheels | 48 | 16 | 5 |
| Seats | 37 | 14 | 2 |
| Equipment | 32 | 9 | 1 |
| Visibility | 32 | 10 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 6 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 26 | 11 | 5 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Cadillac CTS problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2014: power train (84)
- 2007: air bags (64)
- 2006: air bags (87)
- 2005: power train (82) · air bags (74)
- 2004: power train (52)
- 2003: electrical system (56)
All Cadillac CTS model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 CTS | 10 | 0 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 CTS | 8 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | |
| 2017 CTS | 27 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 CTS | 31 | 4 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 CTS | 48 | 3 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 CTS | 146 | 6 | 5★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2013 CTS | 73 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 CTS | 65 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 CTS | 101 | 2 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 CTS | 67 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 CTS | 167 | 5 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 CTS | 175 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 CTS | 217 | 6 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 CTS | 269 | 6 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 CTS | 277 | 6 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 CTS | 224 | 6 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 CTS | 313 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Cadillac: all Cadillac models · Cadillac VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Cadillac CTS years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (313), 2004 (224), 2005 (277), 2006 (269), 2007 (217), 2008 (175) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical CTS year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Cadillac CTS?
Power Train, with 462 complaints across 17 model years.
How many recalls does the Cadillac CTS have?
27 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.