2011 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 101 complaints (22.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 12.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 9.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.0% |
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 | 23 |
| Power Train | 20 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
Air Bags: 23; Power Train: 20; Electrical System: 18; Engine: 13; Steering: 11; Exterior Lighting: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 20 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 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 7; 2013: 8; 2014: 20; 2015: 16; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 7; 2019: 9; 2020: 6; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 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 10429400 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID PACE. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND UNTIL THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITHIN MOMENTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED HE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR FURTHER INSPECTIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444625 · 2012-01-20 (January 20, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE RADIO IN ACTIVATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DURING THE ENGINE FAILURE, THE RADIO REMAINED IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,747. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL POWER TO THE DASHBOARD, STEERING AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,747 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10638477 · 2014-09-23 (September 23, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10638477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641224 · 2014-10-03 (October 3, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V341000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10641224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448466 · 2012-02-19 (February 19, 2012)
WHILE IN REVERSE, FRONT STEERING SEAMS TO SKIP. IT FEELS LIKE A 4WD. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL. THEY EVEN SHOWED ME A BULLETIN FROM GM THAT EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL AND TO DO NO REPAIRS. AFTER DRIVING 15,000 MILES, IT HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. AGAIN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL. WHILE THERE, THEY TRIED TO SELL ME NEW TIRES BECAUSE MY REAR TIRES ARE BALD. THEY SAID IT WAS FROM HIGH SPEED STARTS. I EXPLAINED THAT A 73 YEAR OLD PERSON(MY WIFE) IS NOT OUT DRAG RACING AND THERE FOR, …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432519 · 2011-10-23 (October 23, 2011)
VEHICLE STALLED OR TRIED TO STALL IN TRAFFIC WHILE IN MOTION AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 25-35 MPH APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES OVER A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 6-8 MILES. WAS TOWED TO DEALER. ON 10-18-11 SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME AND ADVISED COMPLAINT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND HAD PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING A TEST DRIVE (APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE) AND VEHICLE COULD BE PICKED UP. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND PERFORMED NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND THEN STALLED TWICE WHILE IN MOTION IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 25-35 MPH. VEHICLE AGAIN W…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533623 · 2013-08-05 (August 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS IT SEIZED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE APPROACHED SPEEDS UP TO 80 MPH AND ONLY STOPPED AFTER HE CRASHED INTO A HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11308130 · 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO SHIFTED IN REVERSE AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ROHRICH CADILLAC 2116 W LIBERTY AVE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15226 WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SPLINE BETWEEN THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE TRANSMISSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308130 at NHTSA ↗