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Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2012 Cadillac CTS

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

65

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Cadillac CTS have filed 65 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2012 and January 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 10 of them (15%). The typical failure was reported at 43,000 miles, the median across the 49 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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

11V536000 · November 2, 2011

The defect
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.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE AND a vehicle CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The 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.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 674 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 65.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10 15%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10 15%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 11%
SUSPENSION 7 11%
AIR BAGS 6 9%
ENGINE 6 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 9%
STRUCTURE 5 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 8%
POWER TRAIN 4 6%
STEERING 4 6%
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM 2 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 13.

2012 2014 2026
2012 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

SUSPENSION

2 injured · crash · towed

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED COMPLETELY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND OTHER SUSPENSION SUPPORT DETACHED ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LOWER BACK INJURY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT SUFFERED FROM A BUMP TO THE HEAD. THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILALBE.

NHTSA complaint 10860646. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 injured · crash · 55,000 miles

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, AT APPROX 40MPH IN THE EVENING. WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS A CAR GOING SLOW IN A 50MPH+ ROAD, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IN THE CADILLAC. THIS FORCED A DEFENSIVE DECISION TO UNFORTUNATELY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT VERSUS UNKNOWN CLEARING. AFTER (NOW AT 60MPH), THE ACCELERATOR STAYED STUCK, WHICH REQUIRED THE CAR TO THEN STRIKE A POLE AT 100MPH! THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO AND ONLY BY GRACE WERE ALL PARTIES SAFE IN THE PRIMARY CAR (CADILLAC REFERENCED), AND THE CAR STRUCK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND EVEN THE BLACK BOX WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AFTER SITTING FOR A 3 WEEK SPAN IN A TOW LOT.

NHTSA complaint 10991625. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 12,500 miles

VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC. DRIVER HAD TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND FOOT ON BRAKE. VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET FROM VEHICLE DIRECTLY AHEAD. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A LARGE SUV CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH VEHICLE DIRECTLY AHEAD. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE REAR RAILS WERE DEFORMED BY FORCE OF IMPACT. DRIVER OF VEHICLE WAS THROWN FORWARD, AND THEN BACKWARD, WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO EXPERIENCE INJURY TO NECK AND SHOULDERS. DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCKED TO REDUCE BODY MOVEMENT RESULTING IN BRUISES TO LEFT ARM AND CHEST. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH VEHICLE AHEAD. DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL.

NHTSA complaint 10595956, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · 20,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD, CHEST AND FOOT INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA complaint 10662860. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Front subframe crack around lower control arm bushing area. Common problem that’s going to end up killing someone when it completely separates

NHTSA complaint 11710859. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
"service air bag" light is illuminated. Deal states the replacement part is out of production. Apparently, this is a relative common problem with this vehicle. The illumination of the warning light indicates the air bag system is not working.

NHTSA complaint 11635385. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
A combination of the lower control arm alignment adjustment bolt, it is just a slot and standard bolt. The alignment becomes loose over time and begins to work side to side in the slot, so retightening the bolt is the only solution to keep it from moving. The main issue is the subframe being made from aluminum and the machined slots for the lower arms, the "ears" for the lower arms are not machined or reenforced correctly which lead to severe fatigue cracks in the machined radius of the subframe. These cracks will cause the lower control arm to break free of the mounts and causing the front suspension to shift to the left or right and causing a crash. All it will take to break them off is a

NHTSA complaint 11615171, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
There have been a collection of other Vin numbers for this year make and model for the symptoms I have been experiencing since taking ownership in 2019. The vehicle will stall while running and randomly disable ALL WHEEL drive, Traction Control, ABS, and send Check engine light on causing me amdy son on infinite number of times to almost be hit In the middle of amd intersection, after a stop sign at low speeds, upon turning the wheels into or put of driveway, parking spaces and worst off at 60 mph on a freeway. This has resulted in multiple near accidents as the vehicle randomly disables itself. It occurs mostly after pressing the brakes to shift gears and almost always causes the vehicle

NHTSA complaint 11525157, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

towed · 130,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and the AWD inadvertently deactivated, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. The service brake assist, check engine, traction control, ABS, and stabili-trak warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics; however, no failure was found. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V536000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the

NHTSA complaint 11521525, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
The Sub frame has a crack where it connects with the control arm I posted a picture in the forum group for Cadillac owners of the same vehicle and over 20 owners I’ve counted have the same crack in the same location it has unfortunately failed for some members already. I fear that this was an engineering flaw that needs to be taken care of or examined before some one can get seriously hurt or lose there life by having the sub frame fail causing the control arm of the front wheel to fall off I have multiple pictures of separate vehicles that have the same crack and even one that fully broke apart at the same location. Please take a look at this as this I fear could break at any time and I

NHTSA complaint 11491862, quoted in part. 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 —
2011 101 2 —
2010 67 3 —

Other 2012 Cadillac models

SRX 416 Escalade 20

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