2012 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 65 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 12.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
Electrical System: 9; Exterior Lighting: 9; Service Brakes: 7; Suspension: 7; Engine: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Air Bags: 5; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 13; 2015: 8; 2016: 3; 2017: 6; 2018: 5; 2019: 9; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10550753 · 2013-11-04 (November 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE TO CLOSE TOGETHER UNLIKE NORMAL PEDALS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE PEDALS BEING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595956 · 2014-06-03 (June 3, 2014)
VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC. DRIVER HAD TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND FOOT ON BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET FROM VEHICLE DIRECTLY AHEAD. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A LARGE SUV CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH VEHICLE DIRECTLY AHEAD. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE REAR RAILS WERE DEFORMED BY FORCE OF IMPACT. DRIVER OF VEHICLE WAS THROWN FORWARD, AND THEN BACKWARD, WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO EXPERIENCE INJURY TO NECK AND SHOULDERS. DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCKED TO REDUCE BODY MOVEMENT RESULTING IN BRUISES TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568709 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637529 · 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPLACEMENT PARTS IN THE MAIL IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS TO INSTALL THE PARTS HERSELF OR TAKE THEM TO A DEALER FOR INSTALLATION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY WAS TOO SIMPLE FOR SUCH A SERIOUS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10637529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10481256 · 2012-10-20 (October 20, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD WITH MANY CURVES AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, I WENT TO TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS BY PUSHING LEVER ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL OUTWARDS THE BRIGHT LIGHTS CAME ON AS INTENDED BUT AT THE SAME TIME I APPARENTLY HIT THE SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTS IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WENT OFF AND I WAS LEFT WITH PARKING LIGHTS ONLY AND COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. THERE WAS NO ROAD SHOULDER AS IT WAS ONLY ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. I REDUCED MY SPEED TO 4 OR 5 MPH AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT I HAD DONE TO CAUSE THIS. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500932 · 2013-03-01 (March 1, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND AS THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787838 · 2015-11-02 (November 2, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS. THE CAR WILL VIBRATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AND CAUSE ME TO OCCASIONALLY HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR SPEED UP IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE ISSUE IS REFLECTING IN THE RPM GAUGE, WHICH WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THE RPMS APPEAR TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN UNTIL THE GEARS FULLY ENGAGE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE CAR WILL VIBRATE WHILE UPSHIFTING A…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587239 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,837 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,200. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE ATTEMPTED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11525157 · 2023-06-03 (June 3, 2023)
There have been a collection of other Vin numbers for this year make and model for the symptoms I have been experiencing since taking ownership in 2019. The vehicle will stall while running and randomly disable ALL WHEEL drive, Traction Control, ABS, and send Check engine light on causing me amdy son on infinite number of times to almost be hit In the middle of amd intersection, after a stop sign at low speeds, upon turning the wheels into or put of driveway, parking spaces and worst off at 60 mph on a freeway. This has resulted in multiple…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11525157 at NHTSA ↗