Cadillac CTS Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Cadillac CTS across 14 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (37). The words owners use most often: “fell off” (8% of reports).
- 106exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fell off: mentioned in 8 of 106 complaints (8%)
- Low beam: mentioned in 7 of 106 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Cadillac CTS at $1,100, and half of them between $780 and $1,700.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 74 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 106 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Cadillac CTS exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 CTS | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2015 CTS | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2014 CTS | 4 | 3% | 38,000 |
| 2013 CTS | 5 | 7% | 30,500 |
| 2012 CTS | 10 | 15% | 28,500 |
| 2011 CTS | 8 | 8% | 40,500 |
| 2010 CTS | 7 | 10% | 56,000 |
| 2009 CTS | 3 | 2% | 31,124 |
| 2008 CTS | 6 | 3% | 104,000 |
| 2007 CTS | 5 | 2% | 110,000 |
| 2006 CTS | 7 | 3% | 50,000 |
| 2005 CTS | 5 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 2004 CTS | 7 | 3% | 82,325 |
| 2003 CTS | 37 | 12% | 68,782 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists exterior lighting for the Cadillac CTS. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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]…
The driver-side tail light lens fell off. I don't know where, but it probably fell off while I was driving, and if so, could have caused an accident. Cadillac does not stock this tail light assembly anymore, so I had to order it online, and then have it installed by a local shop. I am uploading…
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that water leaks into the vehicle from the sunroof causing mold to develop inside the vehicle which caused a respiratory illness to the owner. Also while driving approximately 20 mph the front headlights suddenly shut off causing a visibility…
Brake light system failed and had to be replaced. Infotainment screen failure.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving in the early morning, the headlights became inoperable. The contact checked the headlights and noticed both headlights were out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the mechanic was informed that both headlights…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Cadillac CTSs have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 106 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Cadillac CTS. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Cadillac CTS exterior lighting?
No recall currently lists exterior lighting for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Cadillac CTS?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $780 and $1,700), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Cadillac CTS?
The most frequent phrase is “fell off”, in 8 of 106 complaints, followed by “low beam” (7).
Other Cadillac CTS problems
- Power Train problems (462)
- Electrical System problems (383)
- Air Bags problems (378)
- Engine problems (236)
- Service Brakes problems (194)
- Steering problems (162)
- Suspension problems (119)
- Structure problems (113)
See all Cadillac CTS problems.