← New search

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

What owners actually said

175 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/7/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10661797

24,500 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Air Bags

DEALER RAN DIAGNOSIS FOUND CODE THAT SAID DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS BAD. THIS IS A CAR WITH ONLY 24500 MILES ON IT . HARD TO BELIEVE IT ONLY LAST THIS LONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654853

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10653177

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIEN…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10652818

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10641624

98,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARK, FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED O…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARK, FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638157

72,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE KEY WOULD A…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE KEY WOULD ALSO NOT TURN INTO THE ON POSITION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE WINDOWS WOULD ROLL DOWN ON THEIR OWN ON THE REAR DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10637973

20,000 miles · Sep 20, 2014
Air BagsEngine

CAR W/ 95,000 MILES. PROBLEMS AT 15,000 MILES. AIRBAG SENSORS FAULTY. "ECM" (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) REPLACED BUT NO ISSUES WITH HOW THE CAR WAS RUNNING. TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP "ALOT" OF ECM'S ARE REPLACED. IS ECM FAILURE COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE OR IS IT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACING ECM'S THAT DO NOT NEED REPAIR TO MAKE MONEY? ECM WA…

Read full complaint

CAR W/ 95,000 MILES. PROBLEMS AT 15,000 MILES. AIRBAG SENSORS FAULTY. "ECM" (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) REPLACED BUT NO ISSUES WITH HOW THE CAR WAS RUNNING. TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP "ALOT" OF ECM'S ARE REPLACED. IS ECM FAILURE COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE OR IS IT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACING ECM'S THAT DO NOT NEED REPAIR TO MAKE MONEY? ECM WAS A $1,000.00 REPAIR TO FIX A GAS SMELL FROM THE CAR. NEW ECM AND GAS SMELL IS STILL THERE. THEN TOLD NOW FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE AS REASON FOR GAS SMELL. BOTH DEALER AND GM HAVE REFUSED REFUND FOR REPLACING ECM THAT DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. REPLACING ECM DID NOT FIX THE GAS SMELL! PRIOR TO "ECM " ALL SIX OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS ALSO REPLACED. ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR. I HAVE PAMPERED THIS VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT FROM FACTORY. VERY SUSPICIOUS SO MANY ISSUES NEEDING REPAIR HAVE OCCURRED WITH THIS CAR. NOW, IGNITION SWITCH IS BEING RECALLED AND WILL NEED REPAIR. I AM LEFT DRIVING MY FAMILY AROUND IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CAR. WILL MY FAMILY BE THE NEXT VICTIM OF A FAULTY GM IGNITION SWITCH? ALSO THE DOOR LOCKS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR ARE FAULTY EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. THE REAR DOOR LOCKS JAM AND THE DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS REPLACED ONE REAR DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. BEFORE I REALIZED MY WARRANTY EXPIRED THE OTHER REAR DOOR LOCK ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. GM REFUSES TO FIX IT. NOW AN EXPENSE OF > $400. HAVING AN INFANT WHO RIDES IN THE BACK THIS IS CONCERNING THAT REAR DOOR LOCK JAMS. REPAIRS ON THIS 2008 CADILLAC CTS ARE ENDLESS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SO NUMEROUS CONSIDERING I HAVE BEEN THE SINGLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE VERY WELL MAINTAINED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS? IS THERE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637688

72,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. REPAIRS FINDINGS INCLUDED A MELTED FUEL PUMP HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP INOPERATIVE AS A RESULT. I FEEL UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC RESULTING IN DAMAGE, INJURY, OR POSSIBLE DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632115

134,000 miles · Aug 27, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

EVERY TIME I PUT GASOLINE IN MY CAR, IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY START. I HAVE TO TRY 2 OR 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628801

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.