NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
21 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 7, 2023
Power TrainSteeringUnknown Or Other
I was driving down the road going Bout 29 miles per hour when I heard a big boom. It sounded ND felt like I had hit something . So I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road put the car in park looked underneath nothing was there . I then preceeded to my at. Which thank God was only another block away .I started going…
Read full complaint
I was driving down the road going Bout 29 miles per hour when I heard a big boom. It sounded ND felt like I had hit something . So I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road put the car in park looked underneath nothing was there . I then preceeded to my at. Which thank God was only another block away .I started going only going maybe 5 miles per hour at this point because it sounds like I'm dragging like metals on the ground . When I got to my apt. I went to park the car when I went to put it into park it would not go when I went to reverse it would nit go it still went into drive and thTs it and even getting it into driveyou really had to push it and it felt like the tires were going to wobble off , I mean bye this time it just felt like the car was gonna fall apart shaking abd wobbling all over because I kept trying g to go from drive to neutral to get it to go into park but it didn't budge I had to leave it in neutral and put on the emergency break and shut the car off leaving my key I side cause it wS stuck due to the car not going into park. When I came out of my apt. I wS just frazzled I didn't understand whT wS going on she hD been running beautifully. But I did remember when I first test drove her I had told the sales man she had felt like I wS pulling something she wS kinda hesitant to excelerate . He assured me she's had a 5 star inspection and the whole cars under warranty ND he works on cadillacs himself . Yada Yada Yada. I had called. Friend to come help me tow her home . He tried to get her to manually go into drive but it still wouldn't budge he thought maybe the shift link u til we got her home it was the drive shaft it had sheered off all the bolt one half was on the one part the other part of the bolt were broke off where it connected to the tyranny. He said you can't replace this with out trying to back our the bolts but there metric bolts and would be hard to find . And I would just be better off with a new driveshaft.
NHTSA ODI #11543065
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2023
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
Car went crazy one day while behind the wheel everything malfunctioned then car shut off and won't start again. I could of easily got into an accident had there been any other vehicles around. Kids were scared. Codes come up as U0100,U0140,U0101,C0242,B0081-0F,B0081-71,B1370-01,B1370-06,U0155-00,U0170-00,P0856-00.
NHTSA ODI #11533125
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…
Read full complaint
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
108,000 miles · Jul 18, 2018
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL, IT FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO RETRACT TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEP…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL, IT FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO RETRACT TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA ODI #11112173
180,000 miles · Mar 22, 2018
Power TrainTraction Control System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE TRACTION AND "SATELLITE OFF" INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EACH TIME. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE.…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE TRACTION AND "SATELLITE OFF" INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EACH TIME. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA ODI #11080887
86,000 miles · Sep 11, 2017
EnginePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE BEARING ON THE DRIVE TRAIN, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE BEARING ON THE DRIVE TRAIN, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS STILL BEING DIAGNOSED. THE LOCAL DEALER (ALASKA SALES AND SERVICE ANCHORAGE, 1300 E 5TH AVENUE, ANCHORAGE, AK 99501) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
NHTSA ODI #11022716
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2017
Power TrainStructureSuspension
THE PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR FOR THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. THE DRIVESHAFT BOLTS BROKE AND MAKE A "FLAPPING" NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY AND WAS TOLD BY CADILLAC THAT IT IS UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. OPERATING THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS…
Read full complaint
THE PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR FOR THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. THE DRIVESHAFT BOLTS BROKE AND MAKE A "FLAPPING" NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY AND WAS TOLD BY CADILLAC THAT IT IS UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. OPERATING THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC. I CONTACTED GM/CADILLAC ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DOOR LOCK ISSUE WAS ON RECALL IN 2013 AND HAS EXPIRED. MY CONCERN IS IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A PASSENGER, FIRST RESPONDERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAFELY REMOVE THE PASSENGER BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE EXTERIOR HANDLE.
NHTSA ODI #11015606
83,000 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Power Train
I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO AN AUDIBLE "CLUNKING" COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SHIFTED THE CAR INTO GEAR IN THE SERVICE BAY THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" TO WHICH HE STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE MY DRIVESHAFT WAS "COMING OFF." I LEFT THE CAR AND WENT TO LUNCH. 30 MINUTES LATER I WAS TOLD THAT …
Read full complaint
I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO AN AUDIBLE "CLUNKING" COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SHIFTED THE CAR INTO GEAR IN THE SERVICE BAY THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" TO WHICH HE STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE MY DRIVESHAFT WAS "COMING OFF." I LEFT THE CAR AND WENT TO LUNCH. 30 MINUTES LATER I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT WAS "STRIPPED" AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ON IT'S OWN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THAT PULLING BACK INTO THEIR PARKING LOT THERE WAS A BANG AND THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ANYMORE AND THAT THEY HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE GARAGE. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE IN OTHER 2008-2013 CADILLAC CTS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO GASKET OR BARRIER BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT AND THE TRANSFER CASE INPUT SHAFT. THIS ALLOWS WATER AND/OR MOISTURE TO GET INTO THESE COMPONENTS CAUSING CORROSION WHICH LEADS TO THE "STRIPPING" OF THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT. GM HAS CREATED REVISED COMPONENTS TO ALLOW FOR A GASKET BETWEEN THESE COMPONENTS, BUT THIS REQUIRES A COMPLETE TEAR-DOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. I AM NOW FORCED TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE ON THE VEHICLE (BECAUSE I STILL HAVE A LIEN ON IT) AND CADILLAC AND/OR GM ARE REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM OR HELP IN COVERING ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER CADILLAC OWNERS.
NHTSA ODI #10946681
80,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10930277
115,000 miles · Sep 27, 2016
Power Train
FOR THE FOURTH TIME A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND MY SPEED WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 5 MPH, PUTTING ME IN DANGER OF BEING T-BONED. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS OF THIS THE CAR FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND LIT U…
Read full complaint
FOR THE FOURTH TIME A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND MY SPEED WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 5 MPH, PUTTING ME IN DANGER OF BEING T-BONED. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS OF THIS THE CAR FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND LIT UP THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNINGS AND ALLOWED ME TO ACCELERATE AGAIN (EXACTLY AS IT'S DONE THREE TIMES BEFORE WHEN WHEEL SPEED SENSORS HAVE GONE OUT). THIS IS A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10909977
Official recalls
2Jul 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.
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 ↗