14 of the
222 complaints about the 2009 Cadillac CTS are about the
braking system — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
34,000 miles.
Severe and sudden malfunction of the ABS/Stabilitrak system at 45MPH causing loss of directional control of the vehicle. Failure caused by disintegration/cracking of ABS/HUB RELUCTOR RINGS, feeding incorrect wheel speeds to stability system. This failure caused a total loss of power, vehicle veering right despite full left steering input, ABS activation continuously (increasing stopping distance). Vehicle exited road due to loss of control.
NHTSA complaint #11581265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
SERVICE BRAKES
The all wheel drive link is not working. This causes the stabilitrac and abs to go out leaving only rear wheel drive. With very little weight in the rear of the car, it is very difficult to drive in snow or rain conditions as the car slides very easily. This is the 2nd time it's happened.
NHTSA complaint #11573764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,000 milesBeaver Falls, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES TO MCELWAIN MOTOR CAR COMPANY CHEVROLET (812 BEAVER AVE, ELLWOOD CITY, PA 16117, (724) 824-1223) DUE TO THE WHEELS, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM CORRODING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OUT OF FEAR THAT IT MAY NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE LAST TIME THE DEALER DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR THE TIMING CHAIN. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR TSB: 11340C (SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT TIMING WEAR) EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE DEALER MAY NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO COVERAGE OF THE SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT CAMPAIGN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
NHTSA complaint #11184300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STEERING TIGHT WHEN BACKING UP OR IN TIGHT SPACES, DOOR LOCKS, SUSPENSION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT WAS A RECALL ON AIR BAGS THAT I DONT SEE ON THE RECALL LIST NOW
NHTSA complaint #11065416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesNewburgh, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF, SERVICE STABILITRAK SERVICE, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. MY BRAKES WERE AFFECTED FOR A WHILE, THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. AFTER THAT I HAVE THE SAME INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10903560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,500 milesAurora, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY I LOST POWER STEERING, ABS,POWER BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL. PARKING ASSIST AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE. CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR.ALL THE PROPER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I RETURNED HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10871320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waxhaw, NCCrash1 injured1 killed
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CADILLAC CTS WAS RENTED, OCT 1, 2009, AT 9:00 PM, AT CHARLOTTE AIRPORT. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CTS HOME ON JOSH BIRMINGHAM PARKWAY. I WAS BEHIND HIM IN OUR CAR. WE WERE BOTH ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, NEAR THE OLD DOWD ROAD OVERPASS. MY HUSBAND SIGNALED ME THAT HE WAS MOVING TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP. I WAS RIGHT BEHIND HIM, ON THE SHOULDER. HE SLOWED TO LESS THAN 5MPH. I SAW HIS BRAKE LIGHTS. BUT, HIS CAR DIDN'T STOP. IT CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD AT A WEIRDLY SLOW SPEED. BRAKES? THEN SLOWLY, AT A VERY SLIGHT ANGLE, THE RIGHT TIRE ROLLED OFF THE SHOULDER. THE REAR TIRES FOLLOWED. STEERING? OFF-ROAD, IT CROSSES THE DITCH TO THE RIGHT. HIS LEFT FRONT TIRE HITS AN ALUMINUM BARRICADE. THE END IS BURIED INTO THE GROUND. THE CTS TURNED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. WHEELS STRADDLED THE RAILING, "RIDING" IT. IT LURCHED AS THE UNDERCARRIAGE HIT EACH POST. SPARKS SHOWERED DOWN. ONCE ALL THE TIRES WERE OFF THE GROUND, THE CTS CAME TO A STOP. THE WHEELS WERE STILL TURNING, AS I WALKED UP TO HIS DOOR. MY HUSBAND WAS SLUMPED OVER AND UNRESPONSIVE. HIS SEATBELT WAS ON. AIRBAGS? THEY HAD NOT DEPLOYED. I CALLED 911. 10 MINUTES LATER FIRE, EMT AND POLICE ARRIVED. I WAS IN SHOCK, SO THE POLICE REPORT HAD MAJOR ERRORS. IT CLAIMS THE CAR "ROLLED-OVER." NO! CLAIMS THE CAR LEFT THE ROAD AT 45MPH AND HIT THE BARRICADE. NO! THAT HIS DEATH WAS CAUSED BY AN UNRELATED MEDICAL CONDITION. NO! THE CORONER'S OFFICIAL REPORT CLEARLY STATES THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS DUE TO "BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA FROM THE ACCIDENT".) THE POLICE OFFICER WHO WROTE THE OFFICIAL REPORT WENT ON VACATION FOR WEEKS. REPORT WAS NEVER CORRECTED BY ME. GM ANALYZED SDM DATA (DEC 2009). THEIR DATE FOR THE ACCIDENT WAS WRONG, NOV 1, 2009. THEY CLAIM THE SDM EXONERATES THE CADILLAC CTS. THEY BLAMED THE ACCIDENT ON OPERATOR ERROR. I KNOW MY HUSBAND WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY SAFE DRIVER, EXPERT MECHANIC AND AVID CAR ENTHUSIAST FOR 50 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10617533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesAurora, CO
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ADDED BRAKE FLUID AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10557071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,000 milesWest Lafayette, IN
SERVICE BRAKES
AT FIRST, THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING STRAIGHT. WHEN I DROVE STRAIGHT ON AN INTERSTATE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABOUT FIVE DEGREES CLOCKWISE. THEREFORE, I WENT TO THE LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER, [XXX], FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER THE ALIGNMENT, THE CAR RAN PRETTY GOOD, UNTIL IT RAN OVER A SMALL BUMP ON THE ROAD. WHEN I RAN OVER THE BUMP, THE CAR SUDDENLY RAN TOWARD THE RIGHT. I TRIED TO TURN LEFT, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ABOUT HALF A SECOND. AFTER HALF A SECOND, I CONTROLLED THE CAR, AND IT WORKED FINE. I MADE AN U TURN, AND WENT TO THAT PLACE AGAIN, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WENT HOME, GRAB MY METER AND MY THERMOMETER, AND WENT BACK TO THAT PLACE. THE ROAD TEMPERATURE WAS 33.1 DEGREES, AND THERE WAS NO ICE ON THE ROAD. THE BUMP WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES OVER THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER NEXT DAY, AND THEY CHECKED ALMOST EVERYTHING. HOWEVER, THEY'RE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10502208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,900 milesEast Brunswick, NJCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE WERE LEAVING A DINER PARKING LOT IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN I HAD TO STOP FOR A DELIVERY TRUCK BLOCKING OUR EXIT. WHEN THE TRUCK PULLED FORWARD I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD AND TO OUR LEFT(MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME). I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD AND BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND I TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE LEFT BUT THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND RESULTING IN MY HITTING TWO PARKED CARS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CADILLAC DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SUGGESTED THAT THE SURGE WAS CAUSED MY A SECONDARY CAR MAT BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE STEERING PROBLEM. THIS SAME SITUATION OCCURRED DURING OUR SEVERE SNOW STORM LAST WINTER. AT THE TIME I ASSUMED IT WAS DUE TO ICING CONDITIONS ON THE ROAD AND MY DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD RESET THE CAR CODES TO CORRECT ANY ERRORS(STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON)
NHTSA complaint #10434468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2009 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH SCREECHING BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. *TGW THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WA AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED GM, SHE WAS INFORMED A LETTER WOULD BE SENT TO HER. UPDATED 08/27/14 UPDATED 09/11/14
NHTSA complaint #10401972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesClemmons, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WITH ABOUT 5,000 MILES OF 09 CADILLAC CTS BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAL. AT 8,381 MILES DEALER REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS AND COMPLETED SERVICE BULLETIN TO ROTORS. WHILE ON VACATION, AT 10,000 MILES BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. PROBLEM CONTINUED. WHILE TAKING CAR TO LOCATE DEALER, PROBLEM JUST WENT AWAY. DEALER KEEP CAR FOR 3 DAYS BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. 2 WEEKS HAVE PAST AND 1000 MILES AND ALL IS NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10346978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2 milesSewell, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO RESURFACED THE ROTORS. WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE SQUEALING NOISE RECURRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND NEW ROTORS WERE INSTALLED IN THE REAR. AFTER A WEEK, BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES BEGAN MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,200. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.
NHTSA complaint #10313070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50 milesPlano, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVER SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY 2009 CTS THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED. CADILLAC DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS BUT SAID CADILLAC IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT HAS NO REMEDY AS YET. THIS IS OCCURRING ON A DAILY BASIS WITH NO REMEDY OR CONTACT FROM THE DEALER OR CADILLAC WHEN TO EXPECT A FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10299993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.