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2012 Cadillac Srx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Srx years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Cadillac Srx are substantially higher than the model-year median of 192.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

270 reports with mileage · 146 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports4 fire reports23 injury reports

What owners actually said

416 reports
80,000 miles · Dec 5, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

THE LIFT GATE FELL DOWN ON ME WHILE GETTING PACKAGES OUT OF THE REAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT WAS TERRIFYING! ONCE AGAIN, THE LIFT GATE FELL DOWN ON MY DAUGHTER A FEW WEEKS LATER AT CVS PARKING LOT, TRAUMATIZING HER! SHE HAD HER BABY. I REPORTED TO TONIA GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT ASSISTANCE CLAIMS; CONCENTRIX ON BEHALF OF GENERAL MOT…

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THE LIFT GATE FELL DOWN ON ME WHILE GETTING PACKAGES OUT OF THE REAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT WAS TERRIFYING! ONCE AGAIN, THE LIFT GATE FELL DOWN ON MY DAUGHTER A FEW WEEKS LATER AT CVS PARKING LOT, TRAUMATIZING HER! SHE HAD HER BABY. I REPORTED TO TONIA GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT ASSISTANCE CLAIMS; CONCENTRIX ON BEHALF OF GENERAL MOTORS PHONE: 866-446-6963 X 5921511; THEY INVESTIGATED, AND "DETERMINED NO WARRANTY DEFECT". HOW MANY SACRIFICIAL LAMBS BEFORE A RECALL? IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT - WATER DRAINS INTO 2 COMPARTMENTS FROM SUNROOF INTO DRAINING COMPARTMENTS IN THE REAR OF CAR AT LIFT GATE, TRAPPING MOISTURE WHICH BURNS OUT AND CORRODES LIFT GATE AND BLUETOOTH MODULES. MY SUNROOF STILL WORKS, BUT NOT THE LIFT GATE OF BLUETOOTH. NOTHING IN MAINTENANCE MANUAL OTHER THAN IN "FEATURES" TO CLEAN SUNROOF. OR IT MAY NOT WORK. NOTHING FOR MAINTENANCE OF BLUETOOTH PROBLEMS OR LIFT GATE SAFETY ISSUES!

NHTSA ODI #11052605

56,390 miles · Nov 27, 2017
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLAMPS WERE VERY DIM AND FOGGY. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ENTERING THE HEADLAMPS AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED KERRY TOYOTA IN FLORENCE, KY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESPOND.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLAMPS WERE VERY DIM AND FOGGY. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ENTERING THE HEADLAMPS AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED KERRY TOYOTA IN FLORENCE, KY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESPOND. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,390.

NHTSA ODI #11048798

85,600 miles · Nov 11, 2017
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING HOME AT DUSK. MY TWILIGHT SENSOR TURNED ON MY HEADLIGHTS. MY DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WENT OUT. 3 DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT. I CANNOT TURN ON HIGH OR LOW BEAMS. THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE LENS, BUT NOT WHERE THE HID BULB AND BALLASTS ARE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AND STILL NO LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11045393

106,000 miles · Nov 1, 2017
Exterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAD TO USE BLINKERS TO SEE LINE. THERE WAS VERY NOTICEABLE CONDENSATION/MOISTURE IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11041995

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2017
Exterior Lighting

LOW BEAM LIGHTING IS VERY VERY POOR, LIKE NOT HAVING ANY LIGHTING AT ALL. VERY DANGEROUS ! HAVE CHANGED BULBS BUT NO LUCK. DEALER TESTED AND ADVISED THEY ARE NORMAL, NO WAY. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. I LIKE THE VEHICLE BUT FEEL I'M FORCED TO TRADE-IN, JUST TO DANGEROUS BECAUSE I OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE AT …

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LOW BEAM LIGHTING IS VERY VERY POOR, LIKE NOT HAVING ANY LIGHTING AT ALL. VERY DANGEROUS ! HAVE CHANGED BULBS BUT NO LUCK. DEALER TESTED AND ADVISED THEY ARE NORMAL, NO WAY. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. I LIKE THE VEHICLE BUT FEEL I'M FORCED TO TRADE-IN, JUST TO DANGEROUS BECAUSE I OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. NEW VEHICLE WILL NOT BE A CADILLAC !

NHTSA ODI #11041442

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2017
Exterior Lighting

YOU CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON. THEY ARE VERY VERY DIM AND ARE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11040568

49,000 miles · Oct 23, 2017
Exterior Lighting

PURCHASED 2012 CADILLAC SRX ON SEPTEMBER 26TH 2017. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY DIM HEADLIGHTS. SEWELL VILLAGE CADILLAC IN DALLAS TX, SALES AND FINANCE MANAGERS ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DIM LIGHTS AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS INVESTIGATED BECAU…

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PURCHASED 2012 CADILLAC SRX ON SEPTEMBER 26TH 2017. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY DIM HEADLIGHTS. SEWELL VILLAGE CADILLAC IN DALLAS TX, SALES AND FINANCE MANAGERS ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE DIM LIGHTS AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS INVESTIGATED BECAUSE THE DEALER WANTS THE VEHICLE OWNER TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS, STATING THAT REFLECTIVE FINISH INSIDE THE HOUSING DOES FADE AND STOP PROJECTING THE LIGHT AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT I CAN BARELY SEE MAYBE 30 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN PASSING ONCOMING LIGHTS FROM VEHICLES 1 OR 2 LANES OVER, MY LIGHTS ARE WASHED OUT AS PITCH DARK(BLINDED). I FEEL VERY UNSAFE BUT THE CAR DEALERSHIP HAS NOT AGREED TO MAKE THIS PURCHASE A SAFE RELIABLE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS REALLY A MANUFACTURER MATERIAL DEFECT. YOU CAN REACH ME AT [XXX] IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI #11035896

61,000 miles · Sep 17, 2017
Unknown Or OtherInjury

OPENED REAR GATE HATCH AND REACHED INTO VEHICLE. REAR GATE ABRUPTLY STARTED CLOSING ON ITS OWN PINNING ME IN THE VEHICLE. HATCH WAS PRESSED AGAINST MY UPPER BACK AND UPPER RIGHT ARM AS I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. HATCH WOULD NOT STOP CLOSING AND CONTINUALLY KEPT BANGING MY BODY UNTIL I COULD SLITHER OUT FROM UNDERNEATH…

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OPENED REAR GATE HATCH AND REACHED INTO VEHICLE. REAR GATE ABRUPTLY STARTED CLOSING ON ITS OWN PINNING ME IN THE VEHICLE. HATCH WAS PRESSED AGAINST MY UPPER BACK AND UPPER RIGHT ARM AS I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. HATCH WOULD NOT STOP CLOSING AND CONTINUALLY KEPT BANGING MY BODY UNTIL I COULD SLITHER OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT AND THEN IT FORCEFULLY SLAMMED SHUT. I AM A SENIOR FEMALE AND WAS PINNED FACED DOWN "VERY SCARY". I CALLED LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN WITHIN A HALF HOUR. THEY TOOK IT IN IMMEDIATELY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED AND REPLACED THE RIGHT STRUT. I INQUIRED IF THERE SHOULD BE ANY TYPE OF SAFETY FEATURES OR SENSORS TO PREVENT FROM HATCH CLOSING ON YOU AND THEY STATED NO. NEXT DAY LATER I AM VERY BRUISED AND SORE.

NHTSA ODI #11023834

26,000 miles · Aug 13, 2017
StructureInjury

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PRESSED BUTTON TO HAVE REAR POWER LIFT GATE OPEN. AS IT WAS FULLY OPENING, I PUT ONE OF MY GROCERY BAGS IN THE REAR HATCH THE LIFT GATE POWERED DOWN ONTO MY HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. IT KNOCKED ME TO THE PARKING LOT. WITHOUT ANY DIRECTION FROM ME IT WENT PARTIALLY UP AND DOWN AGAIN AND THEN CLOSED FULLY. I GOT …

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VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PRESSED BUTTON TO HAVE REAR POWER LIFT GATE OPEN. AS IT WAS FULLY OPENING, I PUT ONE OF MY GROCERY BAGS IN THE REAR HATCH THE LIFT GATE POWERED DOWN ONTO MY HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. IT KNOCKED ME TO THE PARKING LOT. WITHOUT ANY DIRECTION FROM ME IT WENT PARTIALLY UP AND DOWN AGAIN AND THEN CLOSED FULLY. I GOT UP AND TRIED THE BUTTON AGAIN TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE. IT OPENED AND THEN JERKED DOWN AND THEN UP AND THEN CLOSED. IT STILL MALFUNCTIONS THIS WAY AND WON'T OPEN AND STAY OPENED.

NHTSA ODI #11014882

50,000 miles · Jun 22, 2017
Back Over PreventionExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE REVERSING AT 3 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY FAILED AND THE TAIL LIGHTS FLICKERED AND BLINKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE REVERSING AT 3 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA DISPLAY FAILED AND THE TAIL LIGHTS FLICKERED AND BLINKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS OR CAMPAIGNS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11000688

Official recalls

3

21V473000 · Suspension:rear

Jun 24, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.

14V571000 · Suspension:rear

Sep 19, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 23, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

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

1

PE20019 · Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation

Opened Nov 6, 2020 · Closed Dec 23, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear

On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V-571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. The remedy for recall 14V-571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V-473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V-571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov.The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V-571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. The remedy for recall 14V-571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V-473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V-571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov.The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.

Suspension:rear

On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V-571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. The remedy for recall 14V-571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V-571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V-473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V-571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov.The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.