What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2011 Cadillac CTS

Typical pattern

5.4% of complaints about the 2011 Cadillac CTS came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2011 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (23 complaints), typically at 4.2 yr or about 40,000 miles.

Complaints
148
Median age at failure
4.3 yr
Median mileage
37,960 n=118
Crash / fire / tow
16.2% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
23 reports · 40,000 mi
4.2 yr
13%
Air bags
23 reports · 75,000 mi
6.8 yr
26.1%
Electrical system
20 reports · 45,000 mi
4.2 yr
20%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V394000 2014-07-02
Electrical system:ignition

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 s

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.

14V341000 2014-06-19
Air bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.

If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.

In owners’ own words

Power train 65 mi 3 mo in service
I PURCHASED A NEW 2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE. IT CONTINUOUSLY MAKES A GROANING SOUND WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE DEALER CHANGED THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I BELIEVE THIS SOUND IS PRODUCED BY A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IN THE DRIVE TRAIN (DIFFERENTIAL, BEARINGS ETC.), WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A COMPONENT FAILURE THAT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Power train 23,698 mi 2.1 yr in service
WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALER, THE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED IN TWO. THIS HAPPENED WHEN A TECHNICIAN WAS MOVING THE CAR AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. ALUMINUM DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED AT A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD IN DRIVE SHAFT PIPE. *TR
Power train 10,000 mi 2.8 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IT SEIZED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE APPROACHED SPEEDS UP TO 80 MPH AND ONLY STOPPED AFTER HE CRASHED INTO A HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Electrical system 429 mi 9 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS DISPLAYING A SPEED THAT WAS 4 MPH LESS THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED THAN HE WAS TRAVELING AT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SPEED DISPLAYED WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SPEED DISPLAYED WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 429. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 09/16/11

Other CTS model years

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