2010 Cadillac Cts problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (9) · Power Train (8) · Electrical System (7)
🧭 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
41 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
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.
Service bulletins (1,447)
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 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,447 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-20 · Steering“all of a sudden when i started my car, the lights flickered constantly, the power steering failed, and it blew my starter and fairly new battery. i was so scared; i thought it was going to catch on fire because it smelled burnt. and i was on [xxx] in hubbard ohio, and i was trying to get to [xxx] and safety to which i did. thank goodness for aaa. …”
2024-09-30 · Electrical System“airbag warning light and service air bag on dash. code b0087-00 left rear sis. replaced sensor, still getting warning. sensor is in lr door. research revealed possible known issue with bending fatigue from routine door open/close motion and subpar wire size/material causing wire failure. opened wire harness at pillar and green/black wire was comp…”
2024-02-27 · Unknown Or Other“i took my car 1200 moss st., bingo alignment, and two weeks after my alignment my steering wheel shipped and i bought it over to the shop and told them that they did not talk to the school down on my control arms and the lady told me to get off of her premises and get out and i think that’s not right she did not on her warranty and i called the pol…”
2023-11-21 · Engine“engine warning light on. diagnosed by mike maroon cadillac, boulder colorado as po008 code bank one engine timing off. further diagnosed as faulty engine cam chain. advised not to drive car. car available for inspection. not being driven. safety put at risk by possible major engine failure during use. problem confirmed by two other repair facilitie…”
2023-11-20 · Air Bags“passenger presence module malfunction is intermittent. when the malfunction occurs there is a warning light plus "service airbag" on the instrument panel. sometimes the light and warning go off after several minutes, sometimes stays on for days. in virginia presence of this warning during an annual safety inspection is considered a failure. the veh…”
2023-06-14 · Unknown Or Other“every time it rains, the inside of my vehicle floods through the ceiling and floors. this is a manufacture defect that is outside of my control. this is a safety issue because it causes mold and mildew in the vehicle which is a hazard to inhale. i'm also concerned that the possibility exist for an electrical hazard. …”
2023-06-09 · Air Bags“diag: diagnosis c/s service air bag error message on display. code dtc b0014- driver side air bag deployment loop- high resistance. could not get repaired. per dealership the part needed is "discontinued". non- working airbags are a huge concern. i think that parts for airbags should have to be produced if a vehicle needs serviced for such a p…”
2023-04-27 · Engine“timing chain broke at 66,900 miles causing motor failure.…”
2023-04-27 · Steering“a black bolt in my steering column fell out onto my floormat and a second bolt was very loose, getting ready to fall out. the steering column just needs to be adjusted - recalibrated. no parts needed, very little time. foundation cadillac, denver colorado is charging me for diagnostics for bolts. having my steering column fall would have been a hug…”
2023-02-09 · Engine · 123,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 cadillac cts. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent dealer, who diagnosed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was on backorder. the vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where i…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.