← New search

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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2023
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

There have been a collection of other Vin numbers for this year make and model for the symptoms I have been experiencing since taking ownership in 2019. The vehicle will stall while running and randomly disable ALL WHEEL drive, Traction Control, ABS, and send Check engine light on causing me amdy son on infinite number of times…

Read full complaint

There have been a collection of other Vin numbers for this year make and model for the symptoms I have been experiencing since taking ownership in 2019. The vehicle will stall while running and randomly disable ALL WHEEL drive, Traction Control, ABS, and send Check engine light on causing me amdy son on infinite number of times to almost be hit In the middle of amd intersection, after a stop sign at low speeds, upon turning the wheels into or put of driveway, parking spaces and worst off at 60 mph on a freeway. This has resulted in multiple near accidents as the vehicle randomly disables itself. It occurs mostly after pressing the brakes to shift gears and almost always causes the vehicle to become inoperable for over an hour where it sits as there is no option to disable AWD or choose from FWD OR RWD. It happens in manual mode (or called performance mode) as well as automatic mode and has been occurring for 5 and a half years. I have been charged an exorbitant amount for supposed repairs from.dealers and mechanics who have claimed to fix it and I have severe autoimmune disease, a foot prosthetic, AND a minor child I have to transport to and from.school in the car. My issue and warning lights and symptoms mirror the recall of the Vin numbers the manufacturer has performed the recall repair on exactly and yet I have been sent from dealers who refuse to check the part that's defective which is I believe the hydrolic brake rod to the brake petal. The bold needs to be simply retorqued to the proper torque to fix the problem as it was either assembled improperly torqued and or can loosen over time resulting in dangerous and immediate and unexpected complete loss of power to the vehicle allowing people to slam into you at any time. I have had it towed numerous times after these incidents. All features, climate control, locks, entertainment, windows and everything functions when this happens. I have replaced batteries, brakes, oil changes etc. Unresolved.

NHTSA ODI #11525157

80,000 miles · Jan 23, 2020
Unknown Or Other

LIFTGATE ON 2012 CADILLAC CTS SPORTWAGON FALLS WITHOUT WARNING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS RETRIEVING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR CARGO AREA WHEN SUDDENLY THE HATCH CAME DOWN ON TOP OF HER FORCING HER DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS ON LEVEL GROUND AND STATIONARY. SHE ESCAPED BY QUICKLY SLIDING OUT FROM UND…

Read full complaint

LIFTGATE ON 2012 CADILLAC CTS SPORTWAGON FALLS WITHOUT WARNING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS RETRIEVING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR CARGO AREA WHEN SUDDENLY THE HATCH CAME DOWN ON TOP OF HER FORCING HER DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS ON LEVEL GROUND AND STATIONARY. SHE ESCAPED BY QUICKLY SLIDING OUT FROM UNDER IT BEFORE IT CLOSED AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE LIFT GATE HAD NEVER FAILED LIKE THIS BEFORE.. IT NOW DOES THIS ROUTINELY THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD EASILY INJURE OR KILL A SMALL CHILD OR PET. RECALL#15V415000 OPENED ON 6/30/2015 COVERING SEVERAL GM VEHICLES BUT NO CADILLACS. THE MECHANISM IS THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR TO ALL THESE OTHER CARS. WHY AREN'T THE CTS WAGONS PART OF THE 15V415000 RECALL? THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11301410

55,000 miles · Mar 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

DOOR OFTEN WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED TO OPEN DOOR. IF I WAS IN A ACCIDENT OR THERE WAS A FIRE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF DOOR BECAUSE IT WON'T OPEN. GM HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11183840

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2017
Unknown Or Other

STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT HEAT UP. DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE

NHTSA ODI #10953837

55,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Unknown Or Other

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ON MY CTS COUPE HAS AN ELECTRICAL "TOUCH PAD" THAT HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. TWICE I HAVE HAD TO CRAWL INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED. DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS IN EXCESS OF 50,000 (MY VEHICLE IS AT 55…

Read full complaint

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ON MY CTS COUPE HAS AN ELECTRICAL "TOUCH PAD" THAT HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. TWICE I HAVE HAD TO CRAWL INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED. DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE MILEAGE IS IN EXCESS OF 50,000 (MY VEHICLE IS AT 55,690). PAIN IN THE NECK.

NHTSA ODI #10809470

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.