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2012 Cadillac CTS: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1320.0%
Electrical and battery issues812.3%
Steering behavior69.2%
Transmission and shifting23.1%
Engine operation23.1%

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.

Electrical System
9
Exterior Lighting
9
Service Brakes
7
Suspension
7
Engine
6
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Air Bags
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System9
Exterior Lighting9
Service Brakes7
Suspension7
Engine6
Vehicle Speed Control6
Air Bags5
Unknown Or Other5

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,99914
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20123
20132
201413
20158
20163
20176
20185
20199
20205
20212
20224
20232
20241
20251
20261

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10458437 · 2012-05-14 (May 14, 2012)

I TOOK MY CAR THROUGH A CAR WASH AND AFTERWARDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INDICATED A FAILURE ON THE DASH WARNING LIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER, AND I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS DUE TO INHIBITING HALF OF THE INJECTORS IF THE TC SYSTEM FAILS. THE TC SYSTEM "HEALED ITSELF" AFTER THE CAR DRIED OUT FOR A DAY AND THIS IS NOT THE FOCUS OF MY COMPLAINT. ANYONE CAN DRIVE A CAR SAFELY WITHOUT A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IN OPERATION, HOWEVER, A NON-RESPONSIVE ENGINE DUE TO THE PROGRAMMED SHUTDOWN OF HALF OF THE I…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458437 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10468961 · 2012-08-02 (August 2, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE DOOR WERE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ERRONEOUSLY PLACE HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE, WITH ADDITIONAL SPACE REMAINING. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE DASHBOARD, THERE WAS NO SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND W…

Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468961 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 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 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 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 10587539 · 2014-05-09 (May 9, 2014)

[XXX] 12 DEC 2013ACTDA NAME :[XXX] SEX :F RACE :B COURT :19TH JDC WARRANT TYPE :TRAFFIC, OUTSTANDING CHARGES: 32:61 USDOT: 2355249 TT&T SERVICES LLC - TRUCKING COMPANIES MAR 8, 2014 - 14023 STONE GATE DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70816 UNSAFE TRUCK DRIVING BASIC SERIOUS VIOLATION INDICATOR (Y = SERIOUS VIOLATION) TT&T SERVICES LLC - TRUCKING COMPANIES [XXX] UNSAFE TRUCK DRIVING BASIC SERIOUS VIOLATION INDICATOR (Y = SERIOUS VIOLATION FROM INVESTIGATION WITHIN) TT&T SERVICES LLC - TRUCKING COMPANY TT&T SERVICES LLC [XXX] MOTOR CARRIER (M…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587539 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.

11V536000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum

Reported: 2011-11-02 (November 2, 2011)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. IF THE NUT IS NOT TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND ALLOW THE PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE AND a vehicle CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: CADILLAC DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT, AND IF NECESSARY, TORQUE THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

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 ↗