2011 Cadillac Cts Problems and Recalls (99 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2011 Cadillac Cts is Transmission / driveline (18% of 99 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 99 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2011 Cadillac Cts?

18 of 99 filings named Transmission / driveline (18% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Airbags (15 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2010 has 66 reports on file; this year has 99. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2011 Cadillac Cts

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 18 complaints · 18.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 11
  • Fires 3
  • Injuries 6
  • Deaths 0
All Cadillac Cts years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 18 of 99 owner complaints (18.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 18 complaints, 18.2% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 18 · 18.2% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 15 complaints, 15.2% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 crash reports 15 · 15.2% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 15 complaints, 15.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 crash reports 2 fire reports 15 · 15.2% Engine (ENGINE): 10 complaints, 10.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 10 · 10.1% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 8 complaints, 8.1% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 8 · 8.1% Steering (STEERING): 6 complaints, 6.1% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 crash reports 6 · 6.1% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 5 complaints, 5.0% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 5 · 5.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 5 complaints, 5.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 5 · 5.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 3 complaints, 3.0% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 3 · 3.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 20 complaints, 20.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 20 · 20.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 18 18.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 15 15.2% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 15 15.2% 1 crashes · 2 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 10 10.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 8 8.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 6 6.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 5 5.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 5 5.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 3.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 20 20.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2010; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 2014. 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2015-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2010 Apr 2025 Recall campaign 14V341000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V341000 Recall campaign 14V394000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V394000
  • Campaign 14V394000 was reported 1,101 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 3
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 6
2014-Q3 Owner reports 6
2014-Q4 Owner reports 6
2015-Q1 Owner reports 7
2015-Q2 Owner reports 4
2015-Q3 Owner reports 3
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 4
2016-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 2
2019-Q2 Owner reports 3
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q4 Owner reports 3
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 4
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 2
2025-Q2 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 14V341000
Recall campaign 1 14V394000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Electrical.

  1. Recall campaign 14V341000

    Safety recall 14V341000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 14V394000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 99 complaints · page 1 of 4
2025-05-28Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11663380
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2025-05-16Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11661438
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2024-10-03Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11617805
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 would fix problem. My friend that owns shop had to take seats and to find the water in bottom of car and wiring harness and BCM AND FUSE BOX AS WELL PROGRAMMING NEED TO BE DONE THIS AS WELL IS INFO FROM DIAGNOSIS FROM GOODYEAR. Everytime I get out of car just to turn off I would have to lift hood disconnect fuse and then disconnect battery cable . This in it self is unsafe to have to do. Cadillac was a dream car for me. It has become a nightmare. Cause this had been on going in other Cadillac made between 2008 and 2011 . I as well have videos of water in bottom of car and I have had to have car sealed to stop leaking only solution for now. Car is paid for. I NEED GMC TO JUST KNOW HOW UNFAIR IT IS FIR THEM TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK OF DANGER. Hopefully after 2011 GMC fixed this problem in on going CADILLAC CARS . I am JUST DISAPPOINTED IN THE CORPORATIONS DISREGARDED FOR PUBLIC SAFTEY. Once again I always loved CADILLAC. Had an opportunity to have one and it has been a nightmare . Causing anxieties and depression. Cause I didn’t understand what was happening. Thank you .AS WELL I HAVE VIDEOS AND UNABLE TO UPLOAD
2024-10-01Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11617576
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 the electrical failure. The contact stated that upon disconnecting the battery and removing the fuse, the vehicle turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that water was leaking onto the wiring on the floor. The sunroof drain was unclogged; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle remained with the mechanic, where it was undergoing additional water entry tests. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
2023-11-22Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11556532
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2023-09-12Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11544014
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2023-08-29Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11541324
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Airbag warning
2022-10-03Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11487718
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2011 Cadillac Cts?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 18 of 99 reports (18%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2011 Cadillac Cts?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2011 Cadillac Cts?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources