Reliability & cost of ownership
Cadillac CTS Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Cadillac CTS? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Cadillac CTS problems by model year
61 recall entries across 16 model years and 2,153 owner complaints across 17 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 CTS | Not confirmed | 10 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 CTS | 2 | 8 | 5.0 | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 CTS | 2 | 27 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 CTS | 4 | 31 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 CTS | 3 | 49 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 CTS | 6 | 146 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 CTS | 2 | 73 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 CTS | 2 | 65 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 CTS | 2 | 101 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 CTS | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 CTS | 5 | 168 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2008 CTS | 2 | 175 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2007 CTS | 6 | 217 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 CTS | 6 | 269 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2005 CTS | 6 | 277 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2004 CTS | 6 | 224 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 CTS | 4 | 313 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Cadillac CTS, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train453 complaints
- electrical system367 complaints
- air bags362 complaints
- engine227 complaints
- service brakes191 complaints
- steering157 complaints
- suspension118 complaints
- unknown or other112 complaints