2010 Cadillac CTS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other CTS years
- Fewer complaints than other years 11th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Cadillac CTS. That ranks 11th out of 17 CTS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (16 complaints, 24%), typically at around 79,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 67owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2010 Cadillac CTS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 | 24% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 24% | 43,250 | — | — |
| Engine | 10 | 15% | 35,250 | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 13% | 41,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 12% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 10% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 10% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 7% | 34,883 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 7% | 37,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 3% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% | 44,243 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 3% | 21,877 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 3% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 3% | 25,939 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2010 Cadillac CTS recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:rear
Problem: General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 cadillac cts vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which a wax coating on the rear suspension toe link jam nuts may allow the nut(s) to loosen. If a nut sufficiently loosens, the toe link could separate and the rear wheel would be able to turn inboard or outboard. Owners may hear a metallic clanking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle that may warn of a loosening nut.
Risk: The driver may experience sudden changes with vehicle handling and may not be able to control the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will clean all wax residue from the rear suspension toe link and install two new jam nuts. If necessary the rear suspension toe link may be replaced. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 and at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Equipment
Problem: Gm is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 cadillac cts all wheel drive and cts-v vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, the front passenger may be at an increased risk of leg injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the glove compartment assembly and, in some vehicles modify the instrument panel structure. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 20, 2010. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
All of a sudden when I started my car, the lights flickered constantly, the power steering failed, and it blew my starter and fairly new battery. I was so scared; I thought it was going to catch on fire because it smelled burnt. And I was on [XXX] in Hubbard Ohio, and I was trying to get to [XXX]…
Airbag warning light and Service Air Bag on dash. Code B0087-00 Left Rear SIS. Replaced sensor, still getting warning. Sensor is in LR door. Research revealed possible known issue with bending fatigue from routine door open/close motion and subpar wire size/material causing wire failure. Opened…
I took my car 1200 Moss St., bingo alignment, and two weeks after my alignment my steering wheel shipped and I bought it over to the shop and told them that they did not talk to the school down on my control arms and the lady told me to get off of her premises and get out and I think thatâs not…
Engine warning light on. Diagnosed by Mike Maroon Cadillac, Boulder Colorado as Po008 code Bank one engine timing off. Further diagnosed as faulty engine cam chain. Advised not to drive car. Car available for inspection. Not being driven. Safety put at risk by possible major engine failure during…
Passenger presence module malfunction is intermittent. When the malfunction occurs there is a warning light plus "Service Airbag" on the instrument panel. Sometimes the light and warning go off after several minutes, sometimes stays on for days. In Virginia presence of this warning during an annual…
Other Cadillac CTS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 CTS | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 CTS | 8 | 2 |
| 2017 CTS | 27 | 2 |
| 2016 CTS | 31 | 4 |
| 2015 CTS | 48 | 3 |
| 2014 CTS | 146 | 6 |
| 2013 CTS | 73 | 2 |
| 2012 CTS | 65 | 2 |
| 2011 CTS | 101 | 2 |
| 2010 | 67 | 3 |
| 2009 CTS | 167 | 5 |
| 2008 CTS | 175 | 2 |
| 2007 CTS | 217 | 6 |
| 2006 CTS | 269 | 6 |
| 2005 CTS | 277 | 6 |
| 2004 CTS | 224 | 6 |
| 2003 CTS | 313 | 4 |
See all Cadillac CTS problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Cadillac CTS?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 16 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2010 Cadillac CTS?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2010 Cadillac CTS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other CTS model years, the 2010 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.