2014 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
146 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
57,978 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 75 of 146 complaints (51.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 75 |
| Suspension | 15 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 9 |
| Wheels | 6 |
Power Train: 75; Suspension: 15; Electrical System: 13; Steering: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Engine: 9; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 9; Wheels: 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 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 63 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 10; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 5; 2019: 11; 2020: 27; 2021: 20; 2022: 24; 2023: 13; 2024: 5; 2025: 4; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 10782540 · 2015-10-15 (October 15, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 21 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT, CAUSING HIS HEAD TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DASHBOARD. AFTER THE CRASH, ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, AND KNEES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10782540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10939208 · 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)
FROZEN FRONT BRAKES AFTER WASHING OR DRIVING IN RAIN AND PARKING OVERNIGHT. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN GEAR AND FORCE FRONT BRAKES TO BREAK LOOSE. REAR WHEELS SPIN AND FRONT TIRES SLID APPROX 1 FOOT BEFORE BREAKING LOOSE. LOUD THUD AND CAR LEAPS FORWARD 1FOOT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556793 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS COUPE (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTING FOR THE SHIFT CONSOLE AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT DID NOT ALLOW THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE THE GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 350.
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289311 · 2019-12-16 (December 16, 2019)
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TWO OF THE MAIN BEARINGS FAILED. WE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE BACK AS WE DROVE. IN AUGUST OF 2019, I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE RODE IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. HE HEARD AND FELT THE GRINDING. HE RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO BAY AREA TRANSMISSIONS. MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE BRINK OF A CATASTOPHIC FAILURE ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. HE TOOK ME FOR THE TEST DRIVE AND UPON RETURN, IMMEDIATELY PUT IT UP ON THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10749325 · 2015-08-18 (August 18, 2015)
TURNED CAR ON AFTER PARKING AT A LOT. REVERSED TO EXIT AND THEN SUDDENLY, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING "POWER STEERING. DRIVE CAREFULLY". POWER STEERING WENT OFF ENTIRELY. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. COULD BARELY GET CAR BACK INTO PARKING SPOT. TURNED ENGINE OFF TWICE BUT THE STEERING DID NOT CORRECT SELF. AFTER ENGINE WAS OFF FOR 10MINUTES WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885483 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691469 · 2015-03-02 (March 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CURB. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10691469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10762223 · 2015-09-08 (September 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STABILIZER CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS A MESSAGE DISPLAYED 'REDUCE ENGINE CAPACITY'. THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11243755 · 2019-08-13 (August 13, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MYRTLE BEACH CHEVROLET [phone removed], LOCATED AT 1785 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29577) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT EITHER THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE AIR BAG MODULE UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT OR THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROMISED TO CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11243755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352935 · 2020-09-03 (September 3, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP, BATTERY AND FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 103,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352935 at NHTSA ↗