2010 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 67 complaints (23.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 14.9% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
Air Bags: 16; Electrical System: 15; Engine: 10; Power Train: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Exterior Lighting: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Steering: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 26 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 6; 2014: 18; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10445734 · 2012-01-29 (January 29, 2012)
PASSANGER SIDE SUNVISOR WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT SOME OF CEILING UPHOLSTERY AND MELTED PLASTIC TRIM AROUND SUN ROOF . *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10445734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639373 · 2014-09-26 (September 26, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10639373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10434491 · 2011-11-03 (November 3, 2011)
2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. IN JANUARY 2011, THE CONSUMER BECAME LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN MAY 2011. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10434491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472397 · 2012-08-24 (August 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AUXILIARY PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,877 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576363 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
ON 6 JUNE, 2013 WHILE DRIVING ON M59 IN MICHIGAN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, MY KNEE MADE CONTACT WITH THE REMOTE FOB, CAUSING THE IGNITION KEY TO MOVE FROM THE "ON" POSITION TO "ACCESSORY" MODE. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO STEER AND BRAKE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSIST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON I-75 TO FLORIDA. IN BOTH CASES I INFORMED MY DEALER (LAFONTAINE CADILLAC IN HIGHLAND, MICHIGAN). THE RESPONSE WAS THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10618128 · 2014-08-01 (August 1, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360085 · 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND THEN THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, PISTON, FILTER AND FUEL KIT WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT AND S…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,819 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10659341 · 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)
I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AT AROUND 7PM WHEN A DUMP TRUCK SUDDENLY MOVED INTO MY LANE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY SLAM ON THE BRAKES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, I SOUNDED MY HORN AND FLICKED MY HIGH BEAMS MULTIPLE TIMES AT WHICH POINT ALL OF MY OUTSIDE LIGHTS WENT OFF. I WAS COMPLETELY IN THE DARK, TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH, WITH NO STREET LIGHTS AND NO CAR LIGHTS. I SLOWED AS QUICKLY AS I COULD AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. ONCE THE CAR RESTARTED, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND FUNCTIONED NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644498 · 2014-10-14 (October 14, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10659417 · 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)
MY CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY HAS TURNED OFF OUT OF NOWHERE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WHILE THE CAR IS STILL MOVING I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TURN THE IGNITION OFF N THEN BACK AND THE CAR TURNS RIGHT BACK ON BUT SOME DAYS THIS HAPPENS MORE THEN OTHERS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. AND THEY STILL TO THIS DAY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT IS THE PROBLEM . BUT I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THERE A LOT OF THESE INCIDENTS GOING ON WITH GMC VEHICLES IDK WHY THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND PROBLEM OR FIX I…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659417 at NHTSA ↗