FaultScore

Cadillac CTS window and wiper problems

45 of the 3,104 complaints filed about the Cadillac CTS are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

45

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year

2003 CTS 9 20.0%

Median failure at 70,359 miles

2004 CTS 3 6.7%

Median failure at 62,500 miles

2005 CTS 9 20.0%

Median failure at 35,576 miles

2006 CTS 7 15.6%

Median failure at 52,700 miles

2007 CTS 6 13.3%

Median failure at 29,000 miles

2008 CTS 5 11.1%

Median failure at 18,995 miles

2009 CTS 1 2.2%

Median failure at 1,286 miles

2011 CTS 1 2.2%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2012 CTS 1 2.2%

Median failure at 11,000 miles

2014 CTS 3 6.7%

Median failure at 3,120 miles

What owners said

2008 Cadillac CTS at 123,000 miles Olive Branch, MS Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY

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.

2006 Cadillac CTS at 100,000 miles Weehawken, NJ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

The contact owns a 2006 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the rear windshield shattered. There was no impact to the rear windshield that could have caused it to shatter. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and requested photos of the vehicle, the contact's driver's license, vehicle registration, and vehicle title. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11452422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac CTS Harrisonville, MO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Transmission cooler line fittings have dissimilar metals causing the threads inside the radiator transcooler to strip and dump coolant into Transmission lines and on road along with what was the transmission fluid as well as steam rolling out blocking vision through my windshield going uphill on a dangerously busy road crossing.This is a well known manufacturing defect that has yet to be handled. This could have gotten me and my 3 year old son seriously hurt by sudden loss of power and slick roadways not being able to avoid or brake properly or even steer away from on coming collision. The dissimilar metals are aluminum nut with a mild steel washer backed by a stainless steel washer before it contacts the radiator. This car has 101k miles and has been babied it's entire life. And when I see the 4 brake lines are about to rust out after all the repairs that have already been done. This is just poor quality material and craftsmanship. Easily could have been avoided by simply using a different metal than mild steel between dissimilar metals.

NHTSA complaint #11433480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Cadillac CTS at 110,000 miles Kingsland, GA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

YES I BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AT FIRST BROUGHT CAR COUPLE MONTHS LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP SO GOT THAT GRANNY REBUILT AND THEN FOUR AND HALF YEARS LATER HAVE PROBLEM WITH TYRANNY AGAIN BUT NOW AS YOU PUT FOOT ON PEDAL THE CAR GO FOR ONLY BOUT 5 OR 10 MINUTE THEN IT WOULD SLOW DOWN THEN WOULD JUST STOP WHEN PUT FOOT ON PEDAL. WIPER WOULD NOT TURN OFF ON IT OWN ONLY WHEN YOU TAKE FUSE OUT THE RADIO STOP WORKING N THE BRIGHT LIGHT WOULD TURN ON BY ITS SELF EVERY TIME YOU PUT ON TURN SIGN ON AT NIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11089256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Cadillac CTS at 75,000 miles Punta Gorda, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHEN YOU ENGAGE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER, THE WIPERS CONTINUE TO RUN AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. AT TIMES THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE WIPERS IS TO PULL THE FUSE. OTHER TIMES, SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES ALSO WORKS.

NHTSA complaint #11080797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Cadillac CTS at 130,000 miles Newport News, VA Fire

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY 2003 CADILLAC CTS CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIREMAN SAID THAT IT WAS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR HOURS AND FIRE STARTED WHILE WE WAS SLEEPING. THE WHOLE ENGINE IS BURNT UP AND THE CAR IS TOTALED. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND NO MONEY TO GET ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11066874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Cadillac CTS at 240 miles Mansfield, OH

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAHAM CHEVROLET CADILLAC (1515 W 4TH ST, MANSFIELD, OH 44906) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11052242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Cadillac CTS at 6,000 miles Leechburg, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWNWARD WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE STRUTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10946350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Cadillac CTS at 53,621 miles Portland, OR

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT WAS WET. WHENEVER IT RAINED, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUN ROOF. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE GENERAL TRIM AND INTERIOR OF THE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,621.

NHTSA complaint #10918500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Cadillac CTS at 200,000 miles Charleston, WV

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WITH A LOUD NOISE. THE GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY SAW A SPARK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10893565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Cadillac CTS at 60,052 miles NEW Port Richey, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR STARTING SPRAYING CLEANER. I TRIED TURNING OFF THE WIPERS AND EVEN CHANGING THE WIPER SPEEDS BUT THE MOTOR KEEPS TRYING TO SPRAY CLEANER. EVENTUALLY I RAN OUT OF CLEANER BUT YOU CAN STILL HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON. PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF, WAITED 5 MINUTES AND STARTED CAR AGAIN BUT THE WASHER MOTOR STILL COMES ON WHEN I TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS WAS DANGEROUS AS IT JUST FLOODED MY VIEW WITH WIPER FLUID. NOT SURE IF WIPER WASHER MOTOR WILL BURN OUT AND CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MA 10/16/15 UPDATED 12/13/2017

NHTSA complaint #10744693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac CTS Kansas City, MO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THERE IS A WATER LEAK OCCURRING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF DRAINS CONTINUOUSLY GET CLOGGED. IN RESULT, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR GETS EXTREMELY WET. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 THEN HAS NOW HAPPENED IN THE SAME EXACT DRAIN ON MAY 05, 2015. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AFTER DISCOVERING THE WATER FOR THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN ON ITS OWN AND WILL NO LONGER OPERATE. WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WILL OCCUR? DOES THIS PUT ME AT HARM? ALSO, NOW WITH ALL THE MOISTURE INSIDE THE CAR, THIS IS RUINING THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR! THE WORST PART IS THAT DUE TO THE MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS FOG UP WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS DEFINITELY PUTTING ME AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD IN HARMS WAY BECAUSE IT IS INTERRUPTING MY VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN THIS OCCURS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE DRAINS ARE GETTING CLOGGED, I DON'T PARK UNDER TREES AND MY CAR IS COVERED ALMOST YEAR ROUND. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGE.

NHTSA complaint #10714712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Cadillac CTS at 30,000 miles Eastmund, GA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10672085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Cadillac CTS at 11,000 miles Hahnville, LA

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

FRONT SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10670039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac CTS at 200,000 miles Stockton, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED, THE FLUID WOULD CONTINUE TO SPRAY INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON FOR THE FLUID TO DISCHARGE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLUID WOULD SPEW OUT EVEN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10651683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac CTS at 200,000 miles Stockton, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED, THE FLUID WOULD CONTINUE TO SPRAY INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT PRESSING THE BUTTON FOR THE FLUID TO DISCHARGE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLUID WOULD SPEW OUT EVEN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10651683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Cadillac CTS at 29,000 miles Chicago, IL

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXTREME FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING POWER RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA complaint #10651060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Cadillac CTS West Bloomfield, MI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER THAT I LEASED THE CAR FROM THAT THERE IS A TERRIBLE GLARE AND REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE INTERIOR IS A NEW LIGHT COLOR AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH REFLECTIONS OF THE CUTOUTS AND VENTS THAT MIRRORS THE WHOLE TOP OF DASH ON WINDSHIELD. WHEN SUN SHINES THERE IS SUCH A DISTRACTION THAT YOUR EYES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE CLEARLY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTED. IF A PERSON OR CHILD DARTED IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN I AM DISTRACTED BY A REFLECTION OF ALL THE DESIGNS AND CUTOUTS, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM CADILLAC. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OTHER CAR WITH A LIGHT COLOR DASHBOARD AND AM SURPRISED THIS WASN'T RESEARCHED BEFORE MANUFACTURING. PLEASE ADVISE.... THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10640016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac CTS at 190,000 miles Williston, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIPER MODULE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA complaint #10607828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac CTS at 7,990 miles Fort Washington, MD

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THERE WAS AN ACCUMULATION OF WATER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD TO BE REALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,990.

NHTSA complaint #10597327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Cadillac CTS problems