Cadillac CTS Reliability Problems

CTS owners have made 277 complaints over 17 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it second to last in overall reliaibility, with significant engine and body concerns.

2 Common Cadillac CTS Problems

A list of some of the most common issues CTS owners have to deal with.

  1. CTS Rear Bezel Falls Off

    The earliest CTS sedans have a terrible time holding onto their rear bezels. The large plastic piece surrounds the license plate and covers the reverse lights. Chances are you've seen a CTS that's missing one. It's not a battle scar so much…

    Continue reading article "CTS Rear Bezel Falls Off" The back of a CTS with the license plate spelling WTF GM

  2. Delaminated CUE Screens

    The CUE infotainment system found in most 2013-2018 Cadillac vehicles has a screen with major design and installation flaws resulting in bubbles, cracks, and an unresponsive interface.

    Continue reading article "Delaminated CUE Screens" Spider cracks and haze make the CUE screen hard to read

What CTS Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

Full Lists on CarComplaints.com

CTS Generations

The CTS has 3 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 1st generation (2003–2007).

CTS Key Numbers

  1. 277 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 2,709 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 25 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

CTS Class-Action Lawsuits

The CTS has been named as a class vehicle in the following lawsuits.

  • Goldstein, et al., v. General Motors LLC.

    1. Case Filed

      The plaintiffs in this case say GM included warranty codes in their service bulletins to assist technicians with repair procedures. If they won’t issue a recall to permanently fix the problem, the lawsuit would like to see a reimbursement program for customers who have or will pay for repairs related to the CUE systems.

    Problem
    Delaminated CUE Screens
    Class Vehicles
    • 2013-2017 ATS
    • 2013-2017 SRX
    • 2013-2017 XTS
    • 2014-2017 CTS
    • 2014-2017 ELR
    • 2014-2017 Escalade
    Location
    California

  • Gruchacz, et al., v. General Motors, LLC

    1. Case Filed

      During a visit to the dealership for an unrelated recall repair in March of 2018, plaintiff Tonya Gruchacz asked her mechanics about her vehicle’s CUE screen. She described the screen as appearing to be shattered and that it was not responding to touch.

    Problem
    Delaminated CUE Screens
    Class Vehicles
    • 2013-2017 ATS
    • 2013-2017 SRX
    • 2013-2017 XTS
    • 2014-2017 CTS
    • 2014-2017 ELR
    • 2014-2017 Escalade
    Location
    New Jersey

Recent CTS News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. CTS owners should beware of falling stars. Safety stars, that is.

    If you bought a 2014 CTS, one of the deciding factors might have been the car's 5-star safety rating in three critical categories: frontal crash driver, frontal crash passenger, and rollover. However, GM started sending out letters to owners saying "Our bad, the window sticker was totally wrong. Here's a coupon for some free OnStar. We cool?"

    OK, while I'm paraphrasing their exact words, I am not making up the OnStar offer. That was the best they could come up with.…

    keep reading article "Cadillac Sued for False CTS Safety Ratings"

  2. Cadillac is pretty sure your car's brakes work.

    Of course, the Titanic captain was pretty sure there weren't any icebergs in the way (and we all know how that went down).

    Luckily for you, Cadillac has decided to check the brakes as part of a recall. Specifically, they'll be examining a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that controls the brakes. If that bracket is fractured, it will break the brakes ... so to speak.…

    keep reading article "Bracket Problem Can Cause a Complete Brake Loss in the ATS and CTS."

  5. It's summertime, so you might be picking up some good vibrations from the Beach Boys (kids, ask your parents). Or, if you're a CTS owner, you might be picking up bad vibrations from the drive shaft.

    To make matters worse, that faulty rear drive shaft is causing severe enough vibrations to trigger the car's rollover sensor, deploying the roof rail airbags randomly. Oy.…

    keep reading article "Rear Drive Shaft Vibrations Can Deploy the CTS Airbags"

  6. GM is recalling 19,225 Cadillac CTS vehicles from the 2013-14 model years because the wipers could stop working.

    I believe it was Socrates who said "a wiper that does not wipe is not a wiper at all." Or it could have been my Uncle Sal. Either way ... the failure will only happen after a very specific situation -- when the wipers are blocked by snow or ice while the vehicle is jump started. Given how awful last winter was I suppose that's actually pretty likely.…

    keep reading article "Very Specific Situation Can Kill the CTS Wipers"

What Owners Say About Their CTS

I have never been so frustrated over a problem such as the back light panel falling away from my car. I took such great care of my CTS, Kept it in garage, only has 66,000 miles on it. Who would think a Cadillac would have had such a cheap panel. You pay for quality and you get a cheap plastic glued on part.

2003 CTS Owner in NY

We were told we could no longer get the plastic replacement, but would have to have a new module installed with new back-up lights and a matching paint job on the module. We realized then that this was the correction for a design flaw and that instead of Cadillac paying for this change, as in a recall, we the car owners were stuck with this expense.

2003 CTS Owner in VA

Other Cadillac Models