KnownCarProblems2012 Cadillac Cts Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac Cts, most often about the electrical (15% of complaints, typically around 23,500 miles). It is 12th of 17 Cts model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2012 Cadillac Cts problems
Electrical
10 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 23,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost all electrical power without warning. The engine failed and the vehicle was maneuvered onto the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after the failure occurred. The failure occurred…
The electrical system in the Cadillac seems to have a lot of issues and brings a lot of concerns to me, especially in transporting family members. First the navigation screen will sputter and start sporadically flashing on an off, second the controls on the steering wheels will randomly stop working, third the windows…
Lights
10 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
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…
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…
Brakes
9 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. While driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal extended to the floor when the brakes were applied. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags deployed. The other driver was injured, but did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle…
Heard a grinding noise when brakes were applied, immediately took to dealership, was told brakes were completely gone, metal on metal. Asked why no warning brakes were going bad and why all four brakes needed to be replaced on so called high end/top quality vehicle like a Cadillac at only 30,000 miles and was told…
Suspension
7 complaints · 11%As I approached a street from a store parking lot, I stepped on the brake but the car did not slow. As I saw I was not going to stop, I tried to steer the car to the right to try to avoid crossing into traffic. The steering wheel would not turn. I was going very slowly and saw the face of the driver of the car that…
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. While driving 55 MPH merging onto the highway, the contact heard an abnormal sound near the front end of the vehicle. It was discovered that the passenger side suspension separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, but was not diagnosed or…
Engine
6 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the engine warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ECM was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made…
The car began cutting off unexpectedly when stopping. The mechanic told US the timing chain was faulty. The car barely has 65,000 miles on it and has primarily been driven to work only, averaging 20 miles a day! We contacted the company but they have not recalled the timing chain on this particular car. It has on…
Speed control
6 complaints · 9%The vehicle was driving in normal conditions, at approx 40mph in the evening. When accelerating to pass a car going slow in a 50mph+ road, the accelerator stuck in the Cadillac. This forced a defensive decision to unfortunately hit the car in front versus unknown clearing. After (now at 60mph), the accelerator stayed…
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently to 90 MPH after the gear shifter was shift to manual. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to al moore Cadillac located at 9177 w broad st, richmond, va 23294 where…
Air bags
6 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: side/window.
Vehicle was at complete stop in congested traffic. Driver had transmission in drive and foot on brake. Vehicle was approximately 5 feet from vehicle directly ahead. Vehicle was struck from behind by a large SUV causing vehicle to collide with vehicle directly ahead. Vehicle was declared a total loss. Vehicle rear…
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a head, chest and foot injury that required medical…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the front and rear bumpers were loose. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was confirmed that the vehicle was involved in a crash and needed body work prior to it being purchased by the contact. In addition, an independent mechanic diagnosed that the…
As I approached a street from a store parking lot, I stepped on the brake but the car did not slow. As I saw I was not going to stop, I tried to steer the car to the right to try to avoid crossing into traffic. The steering wheel would not turn. I was going very slowly and saw the face of the driver of the car that…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Cadillac Cts recalls
Electrical: ignition
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General motors llc (gm) notified the agency on july 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 cadillac cts vehicles manufactured august 16, 2001, to april 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 cadillac srx vehicles manufactured march 20, 2003, to august 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Brakes: vacuum
Risk: This could result in a loss of ability to brake and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Fix: Cadillac dealers will inspect the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut, and if necessary, torque the nut to the proper specification. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 1, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006.
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling certain model year 2012 cadillac cts vehicles manufactured from october 21, 2011, through october 26, 2011. These vehicles may have a condition in which the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut may not be torqued to the proper specification. If the nut is not torqued to the proper specification, the nut could loosen and allow the pushrod to separate from the brake pedal.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2012 Cadillac Cts
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Cadillac Cts?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (10 complaints, typically around 23,500 miles); lights (10 complaints, typically around 28,500 miles); brakes (9 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Cadillac Cts have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 2, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Cadillac Cts?
- It is 12th of 17 Cts model years by number of complaints, with 65 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.