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2008 Cadillac Cts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Cadillac Cts do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

126 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
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32,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, AND MOSTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT OR TO REDUCE SPEED. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE, WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO GENERAL MOTORS, WHO INFORMED US TO TAKE IT A NUMBER OF DEALERSHIPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT ALL SE…

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SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IT STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, AND MOSTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT OR TO REDUCE SPEED. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE, WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO GENERAL MOTORS, WHO INFORMED US TO TAKE IT A NUMBER OF DEALERSHIPS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT ALL SERVICES PERFORMED HAS PROVEN FUTILE. MY FAMILY HAS HAD MANY CLOSE DEATH EXPERIENCES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE MATTER IN DEPTH. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL LAW FIRMS FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT ALL REFUSE TO HELP BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED OR DIED AS A RESULT PROBLEM. AS A DISABLED VETERAN I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE AT THIS TIME DUE TO MY INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596212

9,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

1. CAR STALLS/HESITATES ON RIGHT TURN. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE. PROBLEM STARTED AT OWNERSHIP, AND CONTINUES AT 25K MILES. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED. 2. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: CAR VIBRATES/SHAKES STANDING AT IDLE. 21 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE. 3 DEALERS; FOUR VISITS. ONE DEALER COULD NOT EXTINGUISH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER …

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1. CAR STALLS/HESITATES ON RIGHT TURN. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT REPLICATE. PROBLEM STARTED AT OWNERSHIP, AND CONTINUES AT 25K MILES. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED. 2. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: CAR VIBRATES/SHAKES STANDING AT IDLE. 21 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE. 3 DEALERS; FOUR VISITS. ONE DEALER COULD NOT EXTINGUISH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER DISASSEMBLED ENGINE AND MADE REPAIRS. (EXHAUST IS NOTICEABLY LOUDER (NOT REPAIRED) AND THE FM RADIO WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE REAR DEFROSTER IS SWITCHED ON--I SUSPECT A GROUND WIRE WAS BROKEN DURING THE REPAIR (NOT REPAIRED). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339794

7,000 miles · Feb 11, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON - DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A STRETCHED / LOOSE TIMING CHAIN. DEALER REPORTED 1,000S OF 2008 CADILLAC CTSS WITH THE 3.6L DY ENGINE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD INVEST PROBLEM SINCE HOW THE TIMING CHAIN FAILS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308784

24,000 miles · Apr 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A CADILLAC 2008 CTS WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SELLING DEALER, DON MASSEY CADILLAC. PROBLEM: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR IN. MY LOCAL DEALER,…

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I HAVE A CADILLAC 2008 CTS WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SELLING DEALER, DON MASSEY CADILLAC. PROBLEM: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR IN. MY LOCAL DEALER, ALLEN CADILLAC IN MONROE MICHIGAN STATED THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED ACCORDING TO THEN AND THE CAM AND CRANK SHAFT WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 CADILLAC CTS AND THAT DEALER HAD SEEN OVER A DOZEN CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO DON MASSEY CADILLAC (SELLING DEALER), THERE WERE SIX OTHER CTS CARS IN FOR SERVICE AT THE SAME TIME AS MINE. ALTHOUGH GM IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY, WHY HAVE THEY NOT ISSUES A RECALL? THIS IS AN OVER $50,000 CAR WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE ENGINE REBUILT. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR REPAIR TO THIS CAR. THIS PAST DECEMBER, A CLIP THAT HOLDS THE WIRING HARNESS IN PLACE SNALLED AND THE WIRING HARNESS GOT WOUND UP AROUND THE FAN AND WAS TORN TO SHREDS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITH THIS MANY MAJOR PROBLEM ON A CAR WITH 24,000 MILES (I PUT ON ALL 24,000 OF THOSE MILES), WHAT IS IN STORE FOR BE WHEN THE CAR HAS 34,000, 44,000 AND BEYOND MILES ON IT?*TR

NHTSA ODI #10265897

5,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS V6 DI AWD HAS A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION LAG WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO PASS OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A HAZARD IN ROAD. THERE IS ABOUT A 1-2 SEC LAG BETWEEN STEPPING ON PEDAL AND RPMS MOVING, AND ABOUT ANOTHER SECOND OR SO BEFORE ANY PICK UP HAPPENS. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT NO OTHER CAR I HAVE HAD, DID T…

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MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS V6 DI AWD HAS A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION LAG WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO PASS OR GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A HAZARD IN ROAD. THERE IS ABOUT A 1-2 SEC LAG BETWEEN STEPPING ON PEDAL AND RPMS MOVING, AND ABOUT ANOTHER SECOND OR SO BEFORE ANY PICK UP HAPPENS. DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT NO OTHER CAR I HAVE HAD, DID THIS. AT THE SPEED OF ONCOMING VEHICLES, A 1-2 SECOND LAG CAN MEAN A 30 - 60 YARDS OF DISTANCE BEING TRAVELED BY AN ONCOMING CAR OR TRUCK. THAT SIGHT FILLS UP REAR VIEW MIRROR FAST. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND POTENTIALLY DEATH CAUSING DEFECT. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME I NEED QUICK ACCELERATION, AND IS ALSO HAPPENING IN OTHER CARS I TRIED AT DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST MINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234780

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

@ 6,000 MILES ON MY 2008 CADILLIAC THE VEH.'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE CENTER & THEY STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD AND CAM SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW CTS'S. I HAVE NOT HEARD OR READ ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. CAN YOU ADVISE IF THERE IS A RECALL…

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@ 6,000 MILES ON MY 2008 CADILLIAC THE VEH.'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE SERVICE CENTER & THEY STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD AND CAM SHAFT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW CTS'S. I HAVE NOT HEARD OR READ ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. CAN YOU ADVISE IF THERE IS A RECALL? THANKS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222451

2,645 miles · Mar 6, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON MY 2008 CADILLAC CTS. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A CYLINDER HEAD AND CAM FAILURE. STILL NOT REPAIRED. VEHICLE STILL IN SHOP SINCE 2/26,VEHICLE HAS 2600 MILES ON IT. 4MONTHS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220331

Official recalls

2

14V394000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 2, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.