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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 →

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.

11 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

101 reports
20,000 miles · Dec 5, 2013
SteeringStructureWheels

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY, ABOUT 15 MPH. HE MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE CONTROL ARM SNAPPED IN HALF, THE WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE FRAME CAME CRASHING TO THE GROUND. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 WEEKS. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR UNDER THE MANUFAC…

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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY, ABOUT 15 MPH. HE MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE CONTROL ARM SNAPPED IN HALF, THE WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE FRAME CAME CRASHING TO THE GROUND. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 3 WEEKS. AAA TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY CLAIMING THAT THE CAR HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WE HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO HEARD THE THUD AND CAME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT/COLLISION. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. CADILLAC TOLD US WE NEEDED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIP ESTIMATES $12,000 IN DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554920

13,000 miles · Sep 17, 2013
Tires

16,000 MILES ON MY "VOGUE" TIRES AND THE TREAD FELL OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544069

10,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
Power TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IT SEIZED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE APPROACHED SPEEDS UP TO 80 MPH AND ONLY STOPPED AFTER HE CRASHED INTO A HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IT SEIZED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE APPROACHED SPEEDS UP TO 80 MPH AND ONLY STOPPED AFTER HE CRASHED INTO A HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10533623

6,000 miles · Jun 6, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED A VIOLENT VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE DRUMS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED A VIOLENT VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE DRUMS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DRUMS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515504

18,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013
Back Over PreventionElectrical System

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY REAR VIEW CAMERA WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE, HAS FAILED TO COME ON THUS CREATING A BLIND BACK-UP SITUATION. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THE DEALER DID SAY OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509391

33,000 miles · Apr 9, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

LOUD SUPERCHARGER GRINDING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505661

21,000 miles · Jan 10, 2013
Engine

THE SUPERCHARGER STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES. IT NOW IS GETTING LOUDER SOUNDING LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF. IT IS A CTS-V. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492173

60,000 miles · Jan 1, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES INTO A 40-MILE TRIP, MY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON. THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) INDICATED "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED." THE VEHICLE'S POWER WAS THEN REDUCED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 52 MPH), AND MY CAR SL…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES INTO A 40-MILE TRIP, MY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON. THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) INDICATED "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED." THE VEHICLE'S POWER WAS THEN REDUCED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 52 MPH), AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN DUE TO A LACK OF POWER, AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE 40 MPH. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE SAME WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE DIC SHOWED THE SAME INFORMATION: "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED." WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE MY TRIP HOME, THE WARNING LIGHT CLEARED, AND THE POWER IN THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL. ON 12/22/12 IN THE MORNING, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND TO HAVE THE ABOVE PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. NOTHING CAME OF THE INVESTIGATION. ON 12/26/12, AGAIN ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, ABOUT 39 MILES INTO A 40-MILE TRIP, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE DIC DISPLAYED THE SAME INFORMATION AS BEFORE: "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED." I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I ENDED UP LEAVING THE CAR THERE FOR TWO DAYS AND PICKED THE CAR UP ON 12/28/12 EVENING. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. LATER THAT EVENING, THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED, THIS TIME ABOUT 52 MILES INTO A 55-MILE TRIP. THIS SAME EVENT HAS OCCURRED ONCE MORE LAST EVENING (12/31/12), AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE MESSAGE CLEARED ONCE I PARKED THE CAR AND WAITED A LEAST A FEW MINUTES TO ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO RESET(?) THE SAME EVENT HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES SINCE 12/21/12, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT AT SOME POINT THE POWER MIGHT BE REDUCED AT A CRITICAL TIME DURING ONE OF MY TRIPS. I SEARCHED YOU DATABASE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO OTHER REPORTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490633

2,100 miles · Oct 19, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE IT DID THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE IT DID THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100. ..UPDATED 12/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD IT RAN INTO THE FRONT OF THE LOBBY'S GLASS WALL. THE CONSUMER THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, THEN REVERSE, AND BACKED UP. UPON PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT ACCELERATED AGAIN AND RAN INTO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES.THE CONSUMER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT PROCEEDED TO ACT NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWED THE ACCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN THE WAY THE CONSUMER STATED. THE CONSUMER IS ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN VIDEO RECORDINGS OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 12/12/12 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10481123

23,698 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Power Train

WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALER, THE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED IN TWO. THIS HAPPENED WHEN A TECHNICIAN WAS MOVING THE CAR AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. ALUMINUM DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED AT A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD IN DRIVE SHAFT PIPE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479441

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.