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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

65 reports
65,300 miles · Jul 2, 2019
Exterior LightingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS THEN STOPED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT 2 BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ONE HAD SHEARED. HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 CTS. I HAD PURCHASED A WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018, CAR WAS REPAIRED. I DID NOTIFY CADILLAC. RIGHT FRONT …

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WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS THEN STOPED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT 2 BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ONE HAD SHEARED. HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 CTS. I HAD PURCHASED A WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018, CAR WAS REPAIRED. I DID NOTIFY CADILLAC. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT HAS MOISTURE. UNDERSTAND CADILLAC USED INFERIOR SEALS PREVIOUSLY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. LIGHT COST APPROXIMATELY $250.00.

NHTSA ODI #11228889

65,318 miles · Jul 1, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOORE CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 25450 PLEASANT VALLEY RD, CHANTILLY, VA 20152, (703) 939-9351) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO DRIVESHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOORE CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 25450 PLEASANT VALLEY RD, CHANTILLY, VA 20152, (703) 939-9351) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO DRIVESHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,318.

NHTSA ODI #11228628

27,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Exterior Lighting

I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR …

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11205051

27,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Exterior Lighting

I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR …

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.

NHTSA ODI #11205045

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

75,000 miles · Oct 26, 2018
Power Train

BOLTS BACKED OUT OF DRIVE SHAFT

NHTSA ODI #11142901

20,000 miles · Jul 10, 2018
Exterior Lighting

MY STATION WAGON IS A 2012 THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN AUG 2013. IN ABOUT A YEAR I NOTICED CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE SEALED LED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY

NHTSA ODI #11110608

47,000 miles · Jun 29, 2018
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO QUANTRELL AUTO GROUP (1440 E NEW CIRCLE RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40509, (859) 266-2161) WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS COMPLETED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #11104691

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

50,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OEM RIMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER PREVENTED THE TIRES FROM HOLDING AIR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REFILL THE AIR IN THE TIRES. THE DEALER (LOCKHART CADILLAC OF GREENWOOD, 1287 US-31, GREENWOOD, IN 46143, (317) 865-1551) HAD NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OEM RIMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER PREVENTED THE TIRES FROM HOLDING AIR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REFILL THE AIR IN THE TIRES. THE DEALER (LOCKHART CADILLAC OF GREENWOOD, 1287 US-31, GREENWOOD, IN 46143, (317) 865-1551) HAD NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT TIRE REPAIR FACILITIES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11064230

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.