TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,180.
2011 Cadillac Cts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Cadillac Cts do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cts years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
81 reports with mileage · 20 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
2 reportsS10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENTS RE COPY OF LETTER TO MARY BARRA, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO), GENERAL MOTORS EXPRESSING DISSATISFACTION WITH AFTER SERVICE CARE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT WAS STARTED. THE DEALER INS…
Read full complaint
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENTS RE COPY OF LETTER TO MARY BARRA, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO), GENERAL MOTORS EXPRESSING DISSATISFACTION WITH AFTER SERVICE CARE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT WAS STARTED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND ASSURED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS DEPENDABLE. ON MAY 27, 2014 THE CONSUMER FELT A MILD VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED THE BALANCE WAS OFF, BUT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ON JUNE 15, 2014, WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN A ROUGH TICKING SOUND AND FELT A SHUDDER THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. HE GENTLY BRAKED AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AGAIN, AND BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE THUMPING BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE LURCHED AND A LOUD BANG AND HEAVY VIBRATION, WAS FLT THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE VIBRATION TEAR IN THE CLOTH SHIELD HE DISCOVERED, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BROUGHT TWO OF THE FOUR THAT HELD THE DRIVE SHAFT TOGETHER TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VIBRATION TEAR WAS A CIGARETTE BURN, AND THE DRIVE SHAFT BOLTS FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND BEARING FAILURE WERE ISSUES ADDRESS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS LOW PITCHED WHISTLE DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION, WHICH HE DID NOT HEAR WHEN HE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A LIGHT WEIGHT OIL/FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE AREA. HE NOTICED THE FUEL CONSUMPTION RANGE HAD DROPPED FROM 17-18 MPG TO 15 MPG. THE REAR END FELT LESS STABLE AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT SHIFT WHEN COMING OFF DRIVEWAYS OR OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. (2011 CADILLAC CTS).
Official recalls
214V394000 · 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.
14V341000 · Air Bags; Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Jun 19, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
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.
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
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.
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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