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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

269 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

66,998 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 227 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 74 of 269 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior6624.5%
Electrical and battery issues248.9%
Transmission and shifting176.3%
Engine operation103.7%
Steering behavior72.6%
Fuel system concerns31.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
74
Service Brakes
40
Electrical System
38
Engine
28
Power Train
28
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12
Air Bags:Frontal
11
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags74
Service Brakes40
Electrical System38
Engine28
Power Train28
Service Brakes, Hydraulic12
Air Bags:Frontal11
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit11

Air Bags: 74; Service Brakes: 40; Electrical System: 38; Engine: 28; Power Train: 28; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
36
25,000 to 49,999
44
50,000 to 74,999
51
75,000 to 99,999
36
100,000 to 149,999
50
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00036
25,000 to 49,99944
50,000 to 74,99951
75,000 to 99,99936
100,000 to 149,99950
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 51; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 10

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
13
2007
7
2008
18
2009
7
2010
23
2011
27
2012
14
2013
16
2014
52
2015
31
2016
14
2017
12
2018
10
2019
8
2020
4
2021
2
2022
3
2023
1
2024
4
2025
1
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200613
20077
200818
20097
201023
201127
201214
201316
201452
201531
201614
201712
201810
20198
20204
20212
20223
20231
20244
20251
20262

2006: 13; 2007: 7; 2008: 18; 2009: 7; 2010: 23; 2011: 27; 2012: 14; 2013: 16; 2014: 52; 2015: 31; 2016: 14; 2017: 12; 2018: 10; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10154430 · 2006-04-03 (April 3, 2006)

IN CASE YOU ARE NOT ALREADY AWARE OF THIS, THE TAIL LIGHTS OF SOME NEWER MODEL PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES ARE VISUALLY DISTRACTING BECAUSE THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) ARRAY THAT IS USED FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS IS BEING STROBED ON AND OFF, INSTEAD OF BEING ON CONTINUOUSLY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON THE LATEST MODEL CADILLAC AND JAGUAR VEHICLES, TO NAME TWO. THE RATE OF STROBING IS HIGH ENOUGH SO THAT YOU DON'T SEE THE FLASHING WHEN LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE TAILLIGHT. HOWEVER, AS MY EYES MOVE TO SCAN MULTIPLE LANES OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AHEAD, I CAN SEE TH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10154430 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10174557 · 2006-11-28 (November 28, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING SLIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE AT 55 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKES BY PUMPING THE PEDAL UP AND DOWN. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED, AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AS THOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174557 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10234431 · 2008-07-15 (July 15, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT WAS RENTING A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN OR IDLING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STOPS WORKING. THE FAILURE INCLUDES THE WINDOWS, DOORS, AND CONTROL PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE ABS LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF, THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES, THE RADIO DOES NOT WORK, AND THE DOORS DO NOT WORK WITH THE REMOTE OR KEY. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT REMOVE OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHILE THE KEY IS STILL IN THE IGNITION AND THE DOOR IS SHUT, THE VEHICLE LOCKS. THE ONLY COMPONEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234431 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10258262 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AS A RESULT OF BATTERY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SUCCESSFULLY JUMPSTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. A NEW BATTERY WAS PURCHASED AT AN AUTO PARTS SHOP AND INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258262 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10151182 · 2006-02-25 (February 25, 2006)

2006 CADILLAC CTS-V: 1. REAR END LEAKAGE @ 200 MILES 2. REAR END CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING @ 1000 MILES *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10151182 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197456 · 2007-07-25 (July 25, 2007)

THE FIRST PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING THAT HAD FALLEN OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AT 8,850 MILES. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND, I HAD A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO A WHINING NOISE AND LEAK PRESENT AT 9,021 MILES. AT THIS TIME I HAD QUESTIONED A CLANK NOISE PRESENT IN THE DRIVELINE WHEN ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL, AND NO PROBLEM WAS PRESENT AT THIS TIME. AT 10,530 MILES, I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN FRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,530 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197456 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10163335 · 2006-07-24 (July 24, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED EITHER ONE OR TWO UNKNOWN PARTS TO THE COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE OR THE ENTIRE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR. WITHIN 50 MILES FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PRIOR TO EACH INCIDENT. AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER BOTH INCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE SAFETY OF TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163335 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459696 · 2012-05-25 (May 25, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V020000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459696 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208013 · 2007-11-05 (November 5, 2007)

RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. SOUNDS LIKE PLASTIC BEING STRESSED WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON 3 OCCASIONS (GROMMETS LUBRICATED) AT 2 DIFFERENT CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS AND NOISE HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED. WILL BE RETURNING CTS BACK TO DEALER AGAIN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ALSO NOTED POPPING NOISE IN DASH PANEL. NOISE NOTED AS A FLAW IN DESIGN OF VEHICLE BE ONE DEALER UNREPAIRABLE. NOISE DETRACTS FROM PLEASURE OF OWNING A CADILLAC. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10215856 · 2008-01-24 (January 24, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING ROUGHLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD REV AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. ON OCTOBER 9, 2007, WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE, INCLUDING THE TWO FRONT TIRES. THE CON…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,548 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215856 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10498409 · 2013-02-17 (February 17, 2013)

CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK I WAS NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS LEAKING/POURING GASOLINE UNDER CAR. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP NOTED, "GAS LEAKING AT TOP OF TANK, CONNECTOR SHORTED AT TOP OF FUEL MODULE WHICH BURNT A HOLE AND WAS LEAKING GASOLINE". IT CANNOT BE CAUSED BY A ROAD IMPACT AS IT OCCURS ON THE FUEL MODULE ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. ENTIRE TANK HAS TO BE DROPPED OFF OF CAR TO REPLACE THE MODULE. I INVESTIGATED IN THE CADILLAC OWNERS FORUM AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER CADILLACS AND GM VEHICLES.CAUSED BY A SHORT.…

Owner-reported narrative. 91,303 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498409 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10593328 · 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)

CAR HESITATED TO START ..DRAGGED ALONG THE ROAD...SPUTTERED AND SHUT OFF..NO FUEL MAKING IT TO THE FUEL PUMP BUT THERE IS GAS IN THE TANK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593328 at NHTSA ↗