2010 Cadillac CTS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10359893 · 2010-10-09 (October 9, 2010)
MY CARS LOCKING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. TAKEN IT TO BE SERVICED TWICE PROBLEM NOT FIXED. MY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN HAD TO CLIMB IN BACK SEAT TO GET HER OUT. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!!! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359893 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 10362207 · 2010-10-25 (October 25, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL THROUGH THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD CRACKED AND THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD A LEAK AND WAS POURING OUT OIL WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR AND FRONT DIFFERENTIALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE H…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406257 · 2011-06-14 (June 14, 2011)
INCIDENT 1, DRIVING ON MAIN STREET NOT MORE THAN 40 MPH, NO CONSTRUCTION. BLOWN TIRE #1. INCIDENCE #2 2 BLOWN (NOT FLAT) TIRES SAME CAR. 2 TIRES ON R SIDE BLEW SIMULTANEOUSLY. DRIVING ON MAIN STREET UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION. TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED. IN BOTH INSTANCES, ALL 3 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406257 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 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 10445738 · 2012-01-29 (January 29, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I CALLED TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CALLED GM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 33,000 MILE ON IT. WE HAVE HAD ALL MAINTANCE SERVICE PROFORMED BY THE DEALER. WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10445738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466697 · 2012-07-20 (July 20, 2012)
I USED THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE POWER LIFTGATE. I LEANED INTO THE BACK OF THE WAGON TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING, AND THE LIFTGATE CRASHED DOWN ONTO MY BACK. IT LIFTED BACK UP, AND THEN CRASHED DOWN AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, AND THE PROCESS WAS REPEATED UNTIL I MANUALLY SLAMMED THE LIFTGATE CLOSED. I OPENED IT AGAIN WITH THE REMOTE, AND THE SAME PROCESS OCCURRED. I CHANGED THE SETTING OF THE LIFTGATE TO MANUAL AND LIFTED IT MYSELF, AND AGAIN IT CRASHED DOWN. IT BRUISED MY BACK AND SHOULDER, BUT COULD HAVE DONE GRIEVOUS HARM TO SOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466697 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V414000 · Equipment
Reported: 2010-09-13 (September 13, 2010)
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CTS-V VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF LEG INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY AND, IN SOME VEHICLES MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STRUCTURE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V089000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2011-02-11 (February 11, 2011)
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A WAX COATING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK JAM NUTS MAY ALLOW THE NUT(S) TO LOOSEN. IF A NUT SUFFICIENTLY LOOSENS, THE TOE LINK COULD SEPARATE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. OWNERS MAY HEAR A METALLIC CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT MAY WARN OF A LOOSENING NUT.
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE SUDDEN CHANGES WITH VEHICLE HANDLING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN ALL WAX RESIDUE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK AND INSTALL TWO NEW JAM NUTS. IF NECESSARY THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK MAY BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V394000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
NHTSA campaign record ↗