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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.

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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

Ever since I purchased this 2008 CTS vehicle, I have dumped thousands of dollars to repair the vehicle even after the "recall repairs". Problems persist and the car has become more dangerous than ever. The vehicle had inspected by the dealership a number of times the first 5 years of ownership the first 3, listed below, were …

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Ever since I purchased this 2008 CTS vehicle, I have dumped thousands of dollars to repair the vehicle even after the "recall repairs". Problems persist and the car has become more dangerous than ever. The vehicle had inspected by the dealership a number of times the first 5 years of ownership the first 3, listed below, were the replaced recalls from dealership, the rest are known safety issues that gm denies to admit to faults and recalls. *Ignition starter replacement (still have starter failure issues after 2 repairs from gm) *washer fluid warmer removal (they just snipped the wires and removed the component but left hot wires exposed in vehicle) *motherboard ecm replacement recall(ecm is still faulty and has caused dozens of electrical issues. **************** battery drains over night. On my 6th battery (just bought new one 3 days ago) gauge cluster never recalibrated and is completely disabled. Don't know how fast im going how much gas or any other info related to. sunroof constantly leaking, flooding vehicle and destroying the electrical components which fried many relays including the door lock and power window components vehicle refuses to turn but cranks on fuel often will not allow a fill up ecm throwing irrelevant codes headlight failure due to seal defect that allows moisture into headlight casing frequent oil loss. 2018: vehicle engine failure whilst driving on freeway with zero warning nearly causing a fatal crash. Purchased new alternator (Shade tree auto in san Clemente) and had to pay 2000 for tow and alternator transmission failure and near miss collision into another vehicle on a steep incline road I have taken this vehicle to a multitude of repair shops and auto supply to get a diagnosis. Even the dealership didn't have any answers. Now I am out of a car. and money. These issues had been confirmed by Rorick Cadillac, Shade tree auto, oreily, s and s auto, auto zone.

NHTSA ODI #11573886

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2022
Fuel/propulsion System

Fuel supply stops and engine stalls when I get near or below 1/4 tank. I can restart the engine and it will run for anywhere from a few seconds to sometimes a minute, but mostly only a few seconds. Limp my car this way to a gas station, fill the tank, problem solved. I know it had fuel in the tank as it only took 11 gallons with…

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Fuel supply stops and engine stalls when I get near or below 1/4 tank. I can restart the engine and it will run for anywhere from a few seconds to sometimes a minute, but mostly only a few seconds. Limp my car this way to a gas station, fill the tank, problem solved. I know it had fuel in the tank as it only took 11 gallons with my 16 gallon tank. Installed a new fuel pump, problem continues. This can put someone in a life threatening situation. The first time it happened I was passing a semi truck on a 2 lane Interstate with cars and trucks behind me. Just as I got half way on the semi's left, I'm doing about 70 mph, the engine stalls. Luckily, I kept a cool head and turned on my blinker as the car slowed down. The semi behind me took a hint and backed off so I could coast to the right shoulder. This could very easily have caused a fatal accident. It has since happened 3 or 4 other times.

NHTSA ODI #11452330

35,000 miles · Feb 29, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE MISFIRES CONSTANTLY WHEN GIVING GAS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR GOING UP HILL AND THERE IS MORE LOAD ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD $5000 WORTH OF WORK TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY COULDN'T FIX THE ISSUE SO THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. WE TOLD THEM O…

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THE CAR ONLY HAS 35000 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE MISFIRES CONSTANTLY WHEN GIVING GAS ESPECIALLY IF YOUR GOING UP HILL AND THERE IS MORE LOAD ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD $5000 WORTH OF WORK TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY COULDN'T FIX THE ISSUE SO THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. WE TOLD THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE DON'T THINK IT'S THE ENGINE BUT THEY GUARANTEED US THE NEW ENGINE WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. SO ANOTHER $5000 LATER AND STILL NOT FIXED. THE VEHICLE IDLES FINE, IT ONLY HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY COMES ON INDICATING MISFIRES IN 2 CYLINDERS

NHTSA ODI #11315350

180,000 miles · Feb 17, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

FEBRUARY 14, 2020 IS JUST THE LAST DATE IT HAS HAPPENED ON. IT'S HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 30 TIMES. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IF YOU DON'T JUST EASE ON THE GAS THE REDUCED ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 5 M.P.H. I HAVE READ SEVERAL HUNDRED ARTICLES ONLINE ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES WITH PEOPL…

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FEBRUARY 14, 2020 IS JUST THE LAST DATE IT HAS HAPPENED ON. IT'S HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 30 TIMES. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IF YOU DON'T JUST EASE ON THE GAS THE REDUCED ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 5 M.P.H. I HAVE READ SEVERAL HUNDRED ARTICLES ONLINE ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES WITH PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME THING. IT ALMOST GOT ME HIT ON THE MS. RIVER BRIDGE THE OTHER DAY. IF U HAVE TO GO UP ANY TYPE OF INCLINE IT DOES IT ALSO. I WAS ACCELERATING SLOWLY AS I POSSIBLY COULD GOING UP THE SMALL INCLINE ON THE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF TRAFFIC THAT WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY 55 M.P.H. AND MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS IN THE BACKSEAT. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT TEMPORARILY IS TO GET OFF THE BRIDGE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WHERE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. YOU HAVE TO KILL THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RECRANK IT. I'VE HAD MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND I'VE HAD IT HOOKED TO THE COMPUTER AT O'REILLYS. NO ONE CAN TELL ME ANYTHING. BUT IF IT WEREN'T A SAFETY RECALL WHY WOULD ALMOST 1,000 VEHICLES THAT I KNOW OF BE DOING THE SAME THING. YOU CAN GOOGLE IT AND SEE THAT I'M TELLING THE TRUTH. LOTS OF THESE CARS HAVE THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEWER MODEL BETWEEN 2014-2018, BUT I'M AFRAID OF HAVING THE SAME OR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A RECALL. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU ALL DO NOT WANT TO DO ANY RECALLS ON THESE CADILLACS. I'VE BEEN TO LOTS AND LOTS OF WEBSITES AND I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE WHO'S BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. EVEN THE ONES THAT HAVE HAD IT PUT IN THE DEALERSHIP HAVE STILL YET TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT HAS TO BE ELECTRICAL OR ONE OR MORE SENSORS MALFUNCTIONING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11309581

73,271 miles · Sep 10, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RITCHEY CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 932 N NOVA RD #101, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32117, (386) 675-1019) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RITCHEY CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 932 N NOVA RD #101, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32117, (386) 675-1019) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,271. *BF CONSUMER STATED GM MODELS 2006,2007 AND 2008 WERE RECALLED BUT CADILLAC SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11254435

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP. MY CAR IS A AWD AND THIS WILL BE A COSTLY REPAIR. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON A DANGEROUS COMMON PROBLEM? THANKS

NHTSA ODI #11152303

115,000 miles · Oct 5, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER (CADILLAC OF ARLINGTON, 2001 N COLLINS ST, ARLINGTON, TX 76011) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER (CADILLAC OF ARLINGTON, 2001 N COLLINS ST, ARLINGTON, TX 76011) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11133601

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

OUR VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED MULTIPLE TIMES. FIRE REPORT/INVESTIGATION LIST CAUSE AS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11021673

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE ODOR WAS AFFECTING THE CONTACT'S BREATHING. THE DEALER PROVIDED NO ODOR TESTING AND THE FAILURE WORSENED AFTER THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE ODOR WAS AFFECTING THE CONTACT'S BREATHING. THE DEALER PROVIDED NO ODOR TESTING AND THE FAILURE WORSENED AFTER THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10978523

50,000 miles · Jan 9, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10943986

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.