113 of the
3,104 complaints filed about the Cadillac CTS
are about the lighting —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
All of a sudden when I started my car, the lights flickered constantly, the power steering failed, and it blew my starter and fairly new battery. I was so scared; I thought it was going to catch on fire because it smelled burnt. And I was on [XXX] in Hubbard Ohio, and I was trying to get to [XXX] and safety to which I did. THANK Goodness for AAA. I was told this happened because of a plug in wiring to heat or warm the washer fluid. It is available for inspection. My safety was impacted because, I had no power steering, flickering lights and smell of burnt stuff. My problem was fixed by an independent shop. My vehicle was not inspected by a GM dealer or my insurance. Was inspected by an independent shop that it was towed to. Warnings prior to incident: I would turn the ignition and nothing. But that would only happen several weeks apart. I thought maybe the starter was going, but it was odd because it was so many weeks far apart that it would happen. It might have been a total of 4 times since October of 2024. During the incident, power steering warning came on, charging system came on and the car sounded like it was barely running. Thank you INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11649524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The driver-side tail light lens fell off. I don't know where, but it probably fell off while I was driving, and if so, could have caused an accident. Cadillac does not stock this tail light assembly anymore, so I had to order it online, and then have it installed by a local shop. I am uploading photos of 1) repair invoice 2) new tail light box 3) old tail light (missing lens).
NHTSA complaint #11567591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that water leaks into the vehicle from the sunroof causing mold to develop inside the vehicle which caused a respiratory illness to the owner. Also while driving approximately 20 mph the front headlights suddenly shut off causing a visibility problem to the driver who lost control of the vehicle to crashed into a curb. During the crash the driver sustained a neck injury. No medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 123,000.
NHTSA complaint #11457140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving in the early morning, the headlights became inoperable. The contact checked the headlights and noticed both headlights were out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the mechanic was informed that both headlights went out simultaneously. The headlight assembly was replaced. The manufacturer was notified but no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe and could cause a possible accident. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11445280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving my car will shut off by its self and it has done this the whole time I have had the car... When it shuts off the car gets reads stuck in park because the key gets stuck in ignition... When nights are on and I turn right my height lights come on... And my passenger air bag light came on and won't go off
NHTSA complaint #11421360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS SENT A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL AND I SENT IT BACK SAYING I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY UP FRONT. THE SENT ANOTHER LETTER ABOUT THE DEADLINE AND I SENT BACK I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY UP FRONT. I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE BACK. MY LIGHTS ARE GETTING DIMMER AND CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO REPAIR. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND HAVE A FEW PAYMENTS LEFT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S INCONVENIENT. THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #11415097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERITAGE CADILLAC, INC. (303 W ROOSEVELT RD, LOMBARD, IL 60148) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAL ON THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND THAT THERE WAS A COST TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
NHTSA complaint #11327442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEAD LAMP HAS CONDENSATION AND WATER BUILT UP IN IT CAUSING THE BULB TO SHORT OUT. THE CLEAR COVER HAS BECOME STAINED YELLOW RUST COLOR FROM THE WATER.
NHTSA complaint #11324556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V038000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BOMMARITO CADILLAC LOCATED AT (4190 I-70 NORTH OUTER RD, ST PETERS, MO 63376, (636) 928-2300) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHING AT VEHICLE START-UP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CEASED IN GEAR AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NO AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11317190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CMA'S COLONIAL AUTO CENTER (LOCATED AT 100 MYERS DR, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22901, (434) 951-1000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11286652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC OF NAPERVILLE (630-219-0417, LOCATED AT 1507 W OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL 60540) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #11254777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR HAS MOMENTS WHERE I HAVE TO SLAM HARD ON THE. RAKES FOR IT TO STOP. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY BRAKES BUT I HAD THEM CHANGED AND IT STILL DOES IT AND FLASHES A SIGN THAT SAYS 'NO TRACTION CONTROL'. ALSO MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK ON THE INSIDE AS IF THERE'S A MECHANICAL GLITCH. AND I HAVE A 'SERVICE AITBAG CODE' CONSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #11235195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED VERY RECENTLY (SPRING/SUMMER) FOLLOWING A COLD AND HARSH WINTER. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED WITH THE SRX MODELS EXTENDS TO THE CTS AND PERHAPS OTHER CADILLAC MODELS GIVEN THE NUMBER ON THE STREET WITH A SINGLE HEADLIGHT; HOWEVER, CADILLAC HAS DENIED OUR CLAIM. THE COST OF REPAIR OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS EXCEEDED $600.
NHTSA complaint #11230716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS THEN STOPED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT 2 BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ONE HAD SHEARED. HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 CTS. I HAD PURCHASED A WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018, CAR WAS REPAIRED. I DID NOTIFY CADILLAC. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT HAS MOISTURE. UNDERSTAND CADILLAC USED INFERIOR SEALS PREVIOUSLY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. LIGHT COST APPROXIMATELY $250.00.
NHTSA complaint #11228889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WATER WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FALKNER CADILLAC (447 E. ST RD, TREVOSE, PA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT THE WATER FROM LEAKING INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #11228234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS FOR MY WAGON HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR DUE TO POOR DESIGN. SPOKE WITH CADILLAC & GM, BOTH REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT'S A DESIGN FLAW ON THE WAGON MODELS. BOTH STATED CAR OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE/YEAR. ASKED IF THEY COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS USED TO ATTACH LAMPS TO VEHICLE, NEITHER HAS A CLUE. DEALER WANTS $2100 TO REPLACE, BUT NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. SINCE JANUARY 2019, CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR CAR NOT STARTING ON 1ST TRY. FIRST TIME, NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE TIGHTENED, 2ND TIME REPLACED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE, 3RD TIME DEALER HAS NO IDEA AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH COME ON, ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER WHILE PARKED. IT WILL START ON THE 2ND TRY, SOMETIMES IT HESITATES. DEALER TOLD ME TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR UNTIL VEHICLE BREAKS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11208871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #11205045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CADILLAC CTS IN JANUARY, 2012. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND HAS ONLY 27,000 MILES. BOTH HEADLAMPS RECENTLY BEGAN ACCUMULATING HEAVY CONDENSATION CAUSING VERY DIM LIGHTING AT NIGHT. THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF THE VEHICLE NOR EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #11205051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.