- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2011 Cadillac CTS Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 108 complaints about the 2011 Cadillac CTS with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (25) and the transmission & drivetrain (25). Those complaints describe 11 crashes, 3 fires and 6 injuries. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in July 2014 for the ignition. For comparison, the 2010 has 0 and the 2012 has 67.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical CTS year, for its age
#88 most complained-about 2011 vehicle
- Complaints
- 108
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 11
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 6
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2011 Cadillac CTS problems
Share of all 108 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2011 Cadillac CTS recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
- The risk
- If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
- The fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.
What owners say
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108 complaints about the 2011 Cadillac CTS
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 5.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 86,140 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 162,290.
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that upon inspection underneath the frame rail, the contact became aware that there was rust on both sides of the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed because the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000.
Water leaking in car like raining in car. The car radio and air conditioner panel wouldn't turn off . It was draining batter after car would be turned off. Then after that water continues to leak. Took out fuse to stop from draining battery but had to buy new battery. Water continues to leak through car. Now ignition switch unable to turn off car . Unhooking the battery and fuse only way to turn off car. Take car to good year for diagnostics and was told water in car ( this I know cause I see raining in car.) This...
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problem has been on going for a few years with the raining. I being unknowing that this would happen. Unable to give Goodyear 4000 dollars to fix problem with no guarantee it would fix problem. My friend that owns shop had to take seats and to find the water in bottom of car and wiring harness and BCM AND FUSE BOX AS WELL PROGRAMMING NEED TO BE DONE THIS AS WELL IS INFO FROM DIAGNOSIS FROM GOODYEAR. Everytime I get out of car just to turn off I would have to lift hood disconnect fuse and then disconnect battery cable . This in it self is unsafe to have to do. Cadillac was a dream car for me. It has become a nightmare. Cause this had been on going in other Cadillac made between 2008 and 2011 . I as well have videos of water in bottom of car and I have had to have car sealed to stop leaking only solution for now. Car is paid for. I NEED GMC TO JUST KNOW HOW UNFAIR IT IS FIR THEM TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PUT THE PUBLIC AT RISK OF DANGER. Hopefully after 2011 GMC fixed this problem in on going CADILLAC CARS . I am JUST DISAPPOINTED IN THE CORPORATIONS DISREGARDED FOR PUBLIC SAFTEY. Once again I always loved CADILLAC. Had an opportunity to have one and it has been a nightmare . Causing anxieties and depression. Cause I didn't understand what was happening. Thank you .AS WELL I HAVE VIDEOS AND UNABLE TO UPLOAD
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing a water leak. The contact noticed that the front driver's side seat, door arm rest and floor were significantly wet after rainfall. The contact stated that the failure later occurred on the front passenger's side of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the infotainment system, the heating system, the A/C, and...
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the engine failed to turn off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuse box and wiring needed to be replaced due to the electrical failure. The contact stated that upon disconnecting the battery and removing the fuse, the vehicle turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that water was leaking onto the wiring on the floor. The sunroof drain was unclogged; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle remained with the mechanic, where it was undergoing additional water entry tests. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
My air bag light is on. I brought it to the dealer for repair. The dealer told me the airbag is unfixable due to the fact that the "Passenger seat presence sensor is broken and no longer manufactured". I now have a car that is fully functional aside from this issue and it's unsafe to drive. The dealer also refused to buy the car back from me for fair market value.
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started to make an abnormal sound and the vehicle was inadvertently vibrating. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V341000 (Air Bags, Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Airbag warning
Heated seat when turned on caught on fire, burned me & the seat has burned leather. No warnings or lamps came on. It is available for inspection upon request.
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. Additionally, the "Service Air Bags" warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the failure could be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V341000 (Air Bags, Power Train). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Under previous GM Safety Recall Bulletin 14233, loss of grease from the center constant velocity (CV) joint over time results in vibrations of the propeller shaft that are transferred to the roll over sensor located on the floor above it. The condition was repaired under this recall in 2014, three years after the vehicle was manufactured. It is now 2022, and the same issue has happened again. Now, GM claims that there are no open recalls on the vehicle, yet the manufacturer defect remains and the issue has...
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resurfaced. Being a safety recall, the repair should be covered by GM as stated in the bulletin (14233) regardless if the repair has been completed in the past, as the defect remains a safety issue. The vehicle in reference has 5 bolts sheared and the last remaining bolt fixing the center CV joint to the transmission was about to fall out, caused by the vibration of the CV joint that lost its grease.
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 -35 mph, there was a rattling noise detected from the front end of the vehicle. The brake pedal was applied but, failed to respond and crashed into a 2018 Ford. There were no reported injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
The air bag light comes on intermittently. It has been identified as a problem on several of the CTS and CTS-V forums.
In 2014 gm issued a recall on the supersharger for the 2010 to 2015 cadillac cts v and the cameo zr1 I didn't receive any notice about it. I am registered on the gm recall site I just found out about the recall now I am having the issue I called gm and there saying my car is out of mileage but it wasn't in 2014 and I only let the dealer work on it and they didn't say anything and when I spoke to gm she couldn't find any proof they notified me about the recall how can I get them to repair my car under the recall like they should have?My attorney said try to get your help first because you can make them comply I would appreciate a speedy response to if you can help me thank you.
Every time the automatic transmission is put in reverse and the vehicle wheels turned sharply to right or left, such as in backing- out of a tight parking space, the car labors to move backwards and binding noises emanate from differential or rear axle area of the car. This condition lessens and completely disappears as the steering wheel is returned to the straight forward or straight back position. I believe this condition has existed in earlier models of my vehicle and has been the subject of a recall. This malfunction has existed ever since I purchased the used car in june of 2016. Other than the described issue, the car has served me well.
While driving on a windy mountain road at approx 45 mph, going into a sharp left hand turn, the steering wheel would not turn any further. It felt as though the steering had gone out completely. This caused me to travel straight into an embankment and launch into the woods. No injuries. Air bags did not deploy. Radiator was bent into a u shape. No idea why none of the airbags didn't deploy
When taking turns my 2011 cts cadillac flashes that my air bag must be serviced. On the passenger seat.
I bought my 2011 cadillac cts-v brand new on 04-12-11 ,my sealed rear end went out at 33,453 miles which I was out of warranty by 9 days so you guys made me pay $4690 for a 'new rear end that had updated parts that failed and I wouldn't have this problem ever again ..... Well here I am at 54,569 miles and I need another new rear ended replaced me and the dealer both agreed . Now this time since I had it replaced at 33,000 miles now 18,000 1/2 miles later I need another new rear end there's recalls on all your...
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other ctsv models except for 2011 through 13 and they're all having the same problems with their sealed rear ends in the ctsv's and the sports models like I said I paid $100,000 for this car brand new nine years ago I put an average of 4500 miles on it every year my wife drives it 98% of the time and she doesn't drive it fast or aggressive at all there's a really extreme problem with your sealed electronica rear ends and axle shafts I reported this to the safety centers and there's currently 4000 cars experiencing the same problem as mine and with the 14 and 15 models there's 2800 people with the same problem in the same rear end just different years please makeand replace my rear end at no cost as it's not my fault your parts fail.... Please get back to me as soon as possible my phone number is [[redacted]] my name is [[redacted]]. The way this happened again for the second time as I was driving in motion around cloverleaf about 20 miles an hour when all of a sudden it sounded like I was dragging garbage cans behind my car as to then I pulled over and put my hazards on and got out and looked behind my car to see nothing when I put it in drive again the car would not move and you just heard the rear and gears and pins spinning without making the car move extremely loud and dangerous my wife could' have been hurt if the rear end locked information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Cc *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 cadillac cts. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle which caused the vehicle to not accelerate. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was shifted to neutral and back to drive and failed to respond. The vehicle was also shifted in reverse and failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to rohrich cadillac 2116 w liberty ave, pittsburgh, pa 15226 where they informed the contact that there was a spline between the...
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transfer case and the transmission that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number to the contact. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
On 12-2-19 at 730am eastern time, I was involved in a 55 mph side impact crash to the right side of the vehicle by a semi truck on interstate 475 north in toledo, ohio, mile marker 10, near holland, ohio. No side impact airbags deployed. Vehicle is in 100% excellent maintained condition. No fault codes. Vehicle structure maintained very well for a highway speed crash, however, I have a concussion from the side impact and no airbag deployment. Car was totalled by the semi truck insurance company that struck me.
After a 45 minute drive and returning home I parked my car on the street in front of my home. The car drove perfectly normal as always and there was no indication of anything wrong with the car. There were no warning lights or anything else to indicate a problem with the car. I entered my house and as I walked pasted my kitchen window I could see flames coming out from under the hood on the driver side of the vehicle it was only a couple of minutes since from the time I entered my house. Within 5 minutes the...
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entire car was engulfed with flames. After the fire department extinguished then fire I asked what could have cause the fire. I was told it was probably an electrical or a fuel malfunction.
The airbag indicator has come on. I own two cadillac vehicles and coincidentally the escalade has an airbag recall and, the same indicator light has illuminated on both vehicles. I am concerned that this recall is a potential hazard. We live in florida where it's hot, so we constantly drive in the sun. For the recall to be unresolved and now both indicators for airbags are illuminated I believe that this may be apart of this takata issue. See below 1unrepaired recalls associated with this vin may...
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27,2016 manufacturer recall number2049151 nhtsa recall number16v381 recall statusrecall incomplete, remedy not yet available summary takata corporation ('takata') has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2007-2011 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, suburban, tahoe, gmc sierra 1500, yukon, yukon xl, and 2009-2011 chevrolet silverado 2500/3500 and gmc sierra 2500/3500 vehicles. This is based upon takata's decision that front passenger airbag inflators it supplied to gm are defective. Gm has submitted to nhtsa a petition for inconsequentiality and nhtsa has granted gm until august 2017 to complete its investigation and to submit all data supporting the petition. If the petition is denied, gm will conduct a recall of the airbag inflators covered by takata's defect information report. For more information visit www.Regulations.Gov and search for docket no. Nhtsa-2016-0124. Safety risk the propellant in some types of takata airbag inflators can degrade over time, especially after long term exposure in hot and humid regions. If the propellant degrades to a certain level, the inflators may rupture during deployment, causing serious or fatal injuries.
The timing chain is faulty. This is a $2200 repair. Numerous people are having this same problem. Please recall.
2 Problems. First, for the recall for the keychain, can the dealership not just mail me and give me the keychain upon arrival? Most dealerships seem to insist that they have to check the vehicle out, which means I would have to leave it or wait. Second, someone rear ended me, totaling the vehicle (los - perhaps as much as $13,000, as I did not have collision insurance. I believe that I might have avoided the accident, but he came out of a right rear blind spot. I often had trouble seeing people back there,...
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and I believe the large right rear blind spot is a design defect. I would like to know if others have complained about the same thing. The vehicle was in motion, just coming off a freeway,ending and changing to a surface street, very busy road, very busy time of day. I was exiting the freeway, the other car cut in and was going straight. Thank you!
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 cadillac cts. The contact stated that the timing chain failed and the vehicle made an abnormal banging noise. The noise was a distraction to the contact's driving. Whenever the vehicle was idling in traffic, the engine shook as if it would stall. The vehicle was driven to mark christopher auto center (2131 e convention center way, ontario, ca 91764, (909) 321-5860) where it was diagnosed that a new timing chain was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 52,000.
High mount brake light quit working. I replaced the light with a new light. I found out the body control module has gone out not the light and will be around $600 to replace. Since then I have noticed a lot of other cadillac cts high mount brake lights are out with the same problem.
Cadillac CTS: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 50 | 3 | A |
| 2014 | 146 | 6 | C |
| 2013 | 73 | 2 | B |
| 2012 | 67 | 2 | B |
| 2011 | 108 | 2 | C |
| 2010 | 0 | 3 | A |
| 2009 | 168 | 5 | D |
| 2008 | 175 | 2 | D |
| 2007 | 218 | 6 | F |
2011 Cadillac CTS vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Cadillac CTS | 108 | 2 | C | |
| 2011 Cadillac SRX | 447 | 7 | D | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade | 65 | 6 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV | 62 | 5 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT | 52 | 4 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid | 49 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac DTS | 16 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac STS | 7 | 0 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2011 Cadillac CTS
Does the 2011 Cadillac CTS have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Cadillac CTS: ignition (July 2014); air bags (June 2014). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Cadillac CTS?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (25), transmission & drivetrain (25), electrical system (20).
How many complaints has the 2011 Cadillac CTS had?
108 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 30, 2010 and the latest on May 28, 2025. Of these, 11 describe a crash and 3 a fire, and together they report 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2011 Cadillac CTS a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Cadillac CTS year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Cadillac CTS years have the most complaints?
2003 (319), 2005 (284), 2006 (272). See every Cadillac CTS year compared.
What should I do if my 2011 Cadillac CTS has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data