CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2011 Cadillac CTS

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

101

Complaints

11

Crashes

3

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Cadillac CTS have filed 101 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2010 and May 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 23 of them (23%). The typical failure was reported at 40,500 miles, the median across the 81 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

14V394000 · July 2, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 554,328 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

14V341000 · June 19, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 16,932 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 101.

AIR BAGS 23 23%
POWER TRAIN 22 22%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20 20%
ENGINE 13 13%
STEERING 11 11%
STRUCTURE 9 9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 6%
SEATS 4 4%
TIRES 4 4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 20.

2010 2014 2025
2010 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEATS

1 injured · fire

Heated seat when turned on caught on fire, burned me & the seat has burned leather. No warnings or lamps came on. It is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA complaint 11487718. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 31,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000.

NHTSA complaint 10881263. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 112,000 miles

ON 12-2-19 AT 730AM EASTERN TIME, I WAS INVOLVED IN A 55 MPH SIDE IMPACT CRASH TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BY A SEMI TRUCK ON INTERSTATE 475 NORTH IN TOLEDO, OHIO, MILE MARKER 10, NEAR HOLLAND, OHIO. NO SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE IS IN 100% EXCELLENT MAINTAINED CONDITION. NO FAULT CODES. VEHICLE STRUCTURE MAINTAINED VERY WELL FOR A HIGHWAY SPEED CRASH, HOWEVER, I HAVE A CONCUSSION FROM THE SIDE IMPACT AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY THE SEMI TRUCK INSURANCE COMPANY THAT STRUCK ME.

NHTSA complaint 11289844. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · crash · 40,500 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT THE CAR CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,500.

NHTSA complaint 10659647. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

162,290 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 86,140 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 162,290.

NHTSA complaint 11663380. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

153,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that upon inspection underneath the frame rail, the contact became aware that there was rust on both sides of the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed because the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000.

NHTSA complaint 11661438. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Water leaking in car like raining in car. The car radio and air conditioner panel wouldn’t turn off . It was draining batter after car would be turned off. Then after that water continues to leak. Took out fuse to stop from draining battery but had to buy new battery. Water continues to leak through car. Now ignition switch unable to turn off car . Unhooking the battery and fuse only way to turn off car. Take car to good year for diagnostics and was told water in car ( this I know cause I see raining in car.) This problem has been on going for a few years with the raining. I being unknowing that this would happen. Unable to give Goodyear 4000 dollars to fix problem with no guarantee it

NHTSA complaint 11617805, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

100,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing a water leak. The contact noticed that the front driver's side seat, door arm rest and floor were significantly wet after rainfall. The contact stated that the failure later occurred on the front passenger's side of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the infotainment system, the heating system, the A/C, and the engine failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuse box and wiring needed to be replaced due to

NHTSA complaint 11617576, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
My air bag light is on. I brought it to the dealer for repair. The dealer told me the airbag is unfixable due to the fact that the "Passenger seat presence sensor is broken and no longer manufactured". I now have a car that is fully functional aside from this issue and it's unsafe to drive. The dealer also refused to buy the car back from me for fair market value.

NHTSA complaint 11556532. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

165,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started to make an abnormal sound and the vehicle was inadvertently vibrating. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V341000 (Air Bags, Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

NHTSA complaint 11544014. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac CTS

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 8 2
2017 27 2
2016 31 4
2015 46 3
2014 144 6
2013 72 2
2012 65 2
2010 67 3

Other 2011 Cadillac models

Every Cadillac on this site — 91 vehicles, 198 recall campaigns and 4 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst