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2012 Cadillac SRX: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

416 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

73,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 270 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 213 of 416 complaints (51.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5112.3%
Steering behavior194.6%
Electrical and battery issues174.1%
Transmission and shifting61.4%
Engine operation61.4%
Fuel system concerns10.2%

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.

Exterior Lighting
213
Service Brakes
42
Suspension
40
Electrical System
30
Unknown Or Other
27
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
18
Steering
17
Air Bags
15
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting213
Service Brakes42
Suspension40
Electrical System30
Unknown Or Other27
Exterior Lighting:Headlights18
Steering17
Air Bags15

Exterior Lighting: 213; Service Brakes: 42; Suspension: 40; Electrical System: 30; Unknown Or Other: 27; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 18; Steering: 17; Air Bags: 15

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
38
25,000 to 49,999
31
50,000 to 74,999
68
75,000 to 99,999
72
100,000 to 149,999
57
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00038
25,000 to 49,99931
50,000 to 74,99968
75,000 to 99,99972
100,000 to 149,99957
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 38; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 68; 75,000 to 99,999: 72; 100,000 to 149,999: 57; 150,000 and above: 4

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (72). 146 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
7
2013
11
2014
16
2015
12
2016
25
2017
33
2018
48
2019
87
2020
62
2021
49
2022
31
2023
8
2024
11
2025
12
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20127
201311
201416
201512
201625
201733
201848
201987
202062
202149
202231
20238
202411
202512
20264

2012: 7; 2013: 11; 2014: 16; 2015: 12; 2016: 25; 2017: 33; 2018: 48; 2019: 87; 2020: 62; 2021: 49; 2022: 31; 2023: 8; 2024: 11; 2025: 12; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 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 10449297 · 2012-02-25 (February 25, 2012)

WHEN I PUT THE SRX INTO REVERSE THE BACK UP CAMERA DOES NOT COME ON FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS. I AM BACKING BLIND DURING THAT PERIOD. CADILLAC TOLD ME THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. SOMEDAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO RUN OVER A CHILD WHILE BACKING UP, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE THE CHILD ON THE SCREEN. THIS IS A GLARING SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449297 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459164 · 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)

PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH NAVIGATION OPTION. UPON FIRST USE, VOICE DIRECTIONS WERE TERRIBLY WRONG. DEALER ORDERED NEW NAVIGATION DISK FROM CADILLAC - BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER THREE MONTHS. CADILLAC REGIONAL MANAGER SAID PROBLEM WILL NOT BE FIXED UNTIL 2014 MODEL YEAR. HIGH POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR FATAL ACCIDENT IF DRIVER IS DIRECTED TO MAKE A WRONG TURN INTO ONE-WAY STREET. HANDHELD GPS UNITS ARE VERY ACCURATE; GM ENGINEERS MUST BE DIRECTED TO MAKE A FIX ASAP. DEALER TESTED OTHER 2012 CADILLAC SRX'S AND SAME PROBLEM OCC…

Owner-reported narrative. 78 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459164 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10461634 · 2012-06-13 (June 13, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE LOCKED THE DOORS WITH THE RKE AND WENT INSIDE THE HOUSE. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES LATER SHE WALKED BACK OUTSIDE TO FIND HER VEHICLE IN HER NEIGHBOR'S YARD ACROSS THE STREET FACING THE OTHER DIRECTION. IT WAS THEN DISCOVERED, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND WAS LOCKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING LOCK, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE RKE ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCK IT, WITHOUT BEING IN PARK.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10462670 · 2012-06-21 (June 21, 2012)

WHEN I WAS LOADING ITEMS INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR, THE CLOSE BUTTON WAS ACCIDENTLY HIT, THE HATCH CAME DOWN AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD AND MY ARM. IT DID NOT STOP AND REVERSE, I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. I TRIED IT AGAIN, AND WHEN I PUT MY ARM OUT TO STOP THE HATCH TO SEE IF IT WOULD REVERSE, IT PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON MY ARMS THAT THEY BECAME BLACK AND BLUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT WHAT IF THIS WAS A CHILD, IF IT NEEDS THAT MUCH PRESSURE TO STOP AND REVERSE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A CHILD. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462670 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10465595 · 2012-07-13 (July 13, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR HATCH BACK DOOR STRUCK THE CONTACT'S ARMS, RESULTING IN INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465595 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10479562 · 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS BEIGE DUST RELEASE FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED EMITTING THE DUST ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE DUST CAME FROM A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10484068 · 2012-11-12 (November 12, 2012)

SEVERE GRINDING OR SCRAPPING NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS ONLY PRESENT DURING COLD WEATHER. SEEMS TO DIMINISH AS VEHICLE IS USED BUT SOMETIMES REMAINS FOR LONG PERIODS. CAN BE HEARD BY BYSTANDERS AND VERY WELL INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH DEALER .FIRST FEW TIMES SAID COULD NOT HEAR THEN NEXT TIME SAID UNSURE OF CAUSE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484068 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10509635 · 2013-04-26 (April 26, 2013)

I OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM INSIDE THE CAR . I HAD JUST PARKED CURBSIDE AT MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL , AS I DO EACH SCHOOL DAY MORNING TO DROP HER OFF . AS SHE LEANED IN THE BACK CARGO SPACE TO PULL OUT HER BACK PACK AND LUNCH BOX THE CARGODOOR STARTED TO CLOSE ON ITS OWN ON MY DAUGHTER . NEITHER OF US HAD PRESSED THE BUTTON . I WAS UNAWARE AT FIRST AS I WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT FACING FORWARD , I HEARD HER SCREAM AND WAS WATCHING IN HORROR AS SHE WAS BEING CRUSHED BY THE DOOR BETWEEN THE DOOR AND HER BAG AND THE CARGO COMPARTMENT …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,021 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509635 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.

14V447000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust

Reported: 2014-07-23 (July 23, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V571000 · Suspension:Rear

Reported: 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Consequence: Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V473000 · Suspension:Rear

Reported: 2021-06-24 (June 24, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.

Consequence: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.

NHTSA campaign record ↗