2009 Cadillac Cts problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (41) · Power Train (19) · Electrical System (16)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Cadillac Cts model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
129 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-02 · campaign 14V394000 · 554,328 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:rear 2011-02-11 · campaign 11V089000 · 44,147 vehicles
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A WAX COATING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK JAM NUTS MAY ALLOW THE NUT(S) TO LOOSEN. IF A NUT SUFFICIENTLY LOOSENS, THE TOE LINK COULD SEPARATE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. OWNERS MAY HEAR A METALLIC CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT MAY WARN OF A LOOSENING NUT.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE SUDDEN CHANGES WITH VEHICLE HANDLING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CLEAN ALL WAX RESIDUE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK AND INSTALL TWO NEW JAM NUTS. IF NECESSARY THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK MAY BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Equipment 2010-09-13 · campaign 10V414000 · 20,224 vehicles
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CTS-V VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF LEG INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY AND, IN SOME VEHICLES MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STRUCTURE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
Electrical System 2010-06-04 · campaign 10V240000 · 1,365,070 vehicles
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE P
Risk: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT
Service bulletins (1,248)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,248 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-13 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“to whom it may concern, my name is [xxx] . i am writing this correspondence with regard to a purchase of a 2009 cadillac cts . i purchased the vehicle for my mother in missouri december 2022. i reside in california and had the vehicle shipped to california when my mother relocated to california. the vehicle had not been driven frequently. in sept…”
2025-02-11 · Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2009 cadillac cts. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was swaying to the left or the far right without the contact moving the steering wheel. the contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the vehicle was easier to control. the contact stated the traction control, tpms, service brake ass…”
2024-05-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System“gas leaking from above gas tank took car in for service 5/6/24. they could not duplicate issue on 5/24 engine light comes on. on 5/26/24 code indicated fuel pump issue. several months before all of this, i would notice a strong gas smell after driving…”
2024-04-05 · Vehicle Speed Control“severe and sudden malfunction of the abs/stabilitrak system at 45mph causing loss of directional control of the vehicle. failure caused by disintegration/cracking of abs/hub reluctor rings, feeding incorrect wheel speeds to stability system. this failure caused a total loss of power, vehicle veering right despite full left steering input, abs ac…”
2024-02-24 · Service Brakes“the all wheel drive link is not working. this causes the stabilitrac and abs to go out leaving only rear wheel drive. with very little weight in the rear of the car, it is very difficult to drive in snow or rain conditions as the car slides very easily. this is the 2nd time it's happened. …”
2023-09-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the fuel pump is leaking gas on top of the fuel tank. i just bought the car and didn’t know about the consistent problem with second generation cts. the problem is stated to ba a plastic elbow attached to the fuel pump that ruptures.there is a fuel smell inside while i’m driving and around the car when the car is motionless. this a fire and explos…”
2023-06-02 · Unknown Or Other“the car constantly makes a noise. even when it's parked you can still smell gas. it jerks all the time. been having problem with it since day one i got it.…”
2023-05-23 · Power Train“the contact owns a 2009 cadillac cts. the contact stated that while at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact about technical service …”
2023-05-15 · Electrical System“may car just stopped working come to find out water was leaking from my sunroof which i always keep my closed. found out water in leaking from sunroof to my mom board now mechanic is saying to take to dealership i no its gonna be a lot of money to fix electric issue smh. …”
2023-01-18 · Air Bags“my airbag sensor on my passenger seat does not work. it cannot detect the passenger and therefore would not go off if there was an accident. i tried purchasing the item from gm by going to my local service location and was told the part is not made anymore and i cannot buy it. there is none made for my car online. i need a module to detect if a pas…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.