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2012 Cadillac Cts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Cadillac Cts do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

49 reports with mileage · 16 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Suspension complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2026
Suspension

Front subframe crack around lower control arm bushing area. Common problem that’s going to end up killing someone when it completely separates

NHTSA ODI #11710859

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2024
SteeringSuspension

A combination of the lower control arm alignment adjustment bolt, it is just a slot and standard bolt. The alignment becomes loose over time and begins to work side to side in the slot, so retightening the bolt is the only solution to keep it from moving. The main issue is the subframe being made from aluminum and the machined s…

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A combination of the lower control arm alignment adjustment bolt, it is just a slot and standard bolt. The alignment becomes loose over time and begins to work side to side in the slot, so retightening the bolt is the only solution to keep it from moving. The main issue is the subframe being made from aluminum and the machined slots for the lower arms, the "ears" for the lower arms are not machined or reenforced correctly which lead to severe fatigue cracks in the machined radius of the subframe. These cracks will cause the lower control arm to break free of the mounts and causing the front suspension to shift to the left or right and causing a crash. All it will take to break them off is a large enough bump and this WILL kill or injure someone.

NHTSA ODI #11615171

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2022
Suspension

The Sub frame has a crack where it connects with the control arm I posted a picture in the forum group for Cadillac owners of the same vehicle and over 20 owners I’ve counted have the same crack in the same location it has unfortunately failed for some members already. I fear that this was an engineering flaw that needs to be t…

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The Sub frame has a crack where it connects with the control arm I posted a picture in the forum group for Cadillac owners of the same vehicle and over 20 owners I’ve counted have the same crack in the same location it has unfortunately failed for some members already. I fear that this was an engineering flaw that needs to be taken care of or examined before some one can get seriously hurt or lose there life by having the sub frame fail causing the control arm of the front wheel to fall off I have multiple pictures of separate vehicles that have the same crack and even one that fully broke apart at the same location. Please take a look at this as this I fear could break at any time and I fear many Cadillacs are driving around with this same engineering flaw

NHTSA ODI #11491862

86,478 miles · May 9, 2018
EngineSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DRIVESHAFT AND THE SUPPORT BEARING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC NORWOOD (700 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DRIVESHAFT AND THE SUPPORT BEARING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC NORWOOD (700 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUPPORT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,478.

NHTSA ODI #11092729

70,000 miles · Apr 21, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10860647

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2016
Service BrakesSuspensionCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED COMPLETELY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND OTHER SUSPENSION SUPPORT DETACHED ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED COMPLETELY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND OTHER SUSPENSION SUPPORT DETACHED ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LOWER BACK INJURY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT SUFFERED FROM A BUMP TO THE HEAD. THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILALBE.

NHTSA ODI #10860646

27,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
SteeringStructureSuspensionCrash

AS I APPROACHED A STREET FROM A STORE PARKING LOT, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW. AS I SAW I WAS NOT GOING TO STOP, I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO TRY TO AVOID CROSSING INTO TRAFFIC. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AND SAW THE FACE OF THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT HIT ME. T…

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AS I APPROACHED A STREET FROM A STORE PARKING LOT, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW. AS I SAW I WAS NOT GOING TO STOP, I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO TRY TO AVOID CROSSING INTO TRAFFIC. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AND SAW THE FACE OF THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT HIT ME. THAT CAR HIT MY CAR TWICE. ONCE IN THE FRONT LEFT CORNER AND THEN IN LEFT REAR CORNER, AS MY CAR SPUN 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT FROM THE FIRST IMPACT. SOMEONE ASKED ME IF MY CAR HAD TURNED OFF. I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS SO QUIET. A RESPONDING SHERIFF'S DEPUTY TOLD MY HUSBAND THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME SAID HE SAW ME LOOKING AT HIM AND WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO STOP. LATER ANALYSIS BY A CADILLAC TECHNICIAN REVEALED ERROR CODES FROM THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAN AFFECT BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639093

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.

11V536000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Nov 2, 2011

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. IF THE NUT IS NOT TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND ALLOW THE PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE AND a vehicle CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: CADILLAC DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT, AND IF NECESSARY, TORQUE THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

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.