2011 Cadillac CTS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10373523 · 2010-12-30 (December 30, 2010)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE. IT CONTINUOUSLY MAKES A GROANING SOUND WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE DEALER CHANGED THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I BELIEVE THIS SOUND IS PRODUCED BY A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IN THE DRIVE TRAIN (DIFFERENTIAL, BEARINGS ETC.), WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A COMPONENT FAILURE THAT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398087 · 2011-04-28 (April 28, 2011)
THIS CONCERNS THE PWM FREQUENCY USED ON MANY LED RUNNING LIGHTS BEING USED ON RECENT MODEL CARS. MY WIFE IS VERY SENSITIVE TO MANY OF THE NEW LED RUNNING LIGHTS AND REFUSES TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THEM. THE STROBING OF THE LED LIGHTS MAKES THEM APPEAR TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS MAKES DRIVING BEHIND THEM AND PASSING THEM VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER. I DON'T NOTICE IT BUT SHE DOES AND SHE WILL COVER HER EYES WHEN WE'RE OUT DRIVING AT NIGHT AND GET CLOSE TO THEM. READING ON THE INTERNET, SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO COM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10398087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409047 · 2011-06-27 (June 27, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS DISPLAYING A SPEED THAT WAS 4 MPH LESS THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED THAN HE WAS TRAVELING AT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SPEED DISPLAYED WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SPEED DISPLAYED WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 429. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 09…
Owner-reported narrative. 429 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420787 · 2011-08-20 (August 20, 2011)
RECARO SEATS SQUEAK AND ROCK IN THEIR MOUNTS. NOT SECURED PROPERLY. ANNOYING AND IF THE MOUNTS FAIL, THE DRIVER WOULD BE OUT OF POSITION AND CAR COULD CRASH. HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420787 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10446242 · 2012-02-02 (February 2, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI SPORT TRACK, SIZE 275/40/R19 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS EXHIBITING LOW AIR PRESSURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE BULGE ON THE SIDEWALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT THE SAME TIRE LOCATION APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446242 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V341000 · Air Bags | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2014-06-19 (June 19, 2014)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
Consequence: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
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 ↗