Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2003. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2018.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 CTS | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 CTS | 8 | 2 |
| 2017 CTS | 27 | 2 |
| 2016 CTS | 31 | 4 |
| 2015 CTS | 49 | 3 |
| 2014 CTS | 146 | 6 |
| 2013 CTS | 73 | 2 |
| 2012 CTS | 65 | 2 |
| 2011 CTS | 101 | 2 |
| 2010 CTS | 67 | 3 |
| 2009 CTS | 167 | 5 |
| 2008 CTS | 175 | 2 |
| 2007 CTS | 217 | 6 |
| 2006 CTS | 269 | 6 |
| 2005 CTS | 277 | 6 |
| 2004 CTS | 224 | 6 |
| 2003 CTSMost complaints | 313 | 4 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Power train462
- Electrical system383
- Air bags378
- Engine236
- Service brakes195
- Steering162
- Unknown or other119
- Suspension119
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 384 CTS vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 265 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 | 3 |
| 2017 | 7 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 | 6 |
| 2015 | 9 | 3 |
| 2014 | 22 | 10 |
| 2013 | 16 | 10 |
| 2012 | 28 | 21 |
| 2011 | 35 | 23 |
| 2010 | 23 | 10 |
| 2009 | 35 | 23 |
| 2008 | 42 | 31 |
| 2007 | 34 | 25 |
| 2006 | 37 | 24 |
| 2005 | 29 | 22 |
| 2004 | 27 | 21 |
| 2003 | 22 | 22 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 9 model-year variants; 8 of 8 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2019 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.1 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.1 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.1 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.1 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.1 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.1 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.3 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 10.3 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 17 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.5–12.4 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | CTS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.0 | 7.8 | 9.5 |
| 2018 | CTS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.0 | 7.8 | 9.5 |
| 2017 | CTS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.0 | 7.8 | 9.5 |
| 2016 | CTS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.0 | 7.6 | 9.5 |
| 2015 | CTS · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.5 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| 2014 | CTS Sedan · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.9 | 7.9 | 10.1 |
| 2013 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.1 | 10.7 |
| 2012 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.1 | 10.7 |
| 2011 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.2 | 10.8 |
| 2010 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.2 | 10.8 |
| 2009 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 8.9 | 11.3 |
| 2008 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 8.9 | 11.3 |
| 2007 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 9.6 | 12.4 |
| 2006 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 9.6 | 12.4 |
| 2005 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 9.6 | 12.4 |
| 2004 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.7 | 12.2 |
| 2003 | CTS · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.7 | 12.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
222 CTS cars are on the New Zealand register; 48% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2011 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2010 | 86 | 54 | 29 |
| 2009 | 65 | 56 | 8 |
| 2008 | 28 | 0 | 27 |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
159 CTS cars are on Dutch roads; 20% arrived later as imports, and 33 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 20 | €75,510 |
| 2008 | 41 | €70,039 |
| 2005 | 37 | — |
| 2004 | 36 | — |
| 2003 | 25 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
62 CTS cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7 | 142,000 km |
| 2009 | 7 | 155,000 km |
| 2008 | 15 | 175,000 km |
| 2005 | 5 | 243,000 km |
| 2004 | 15 | 235,000 km |
| 2003 | 13 | 217,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
59 CTS cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 2 | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 | 9 |
| 2008 | 4 | 9 |
| 2007 | 16 | 17 |
| 2006 | 9 | 21 |
| 2005 | 9 | 12 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
546 new Cadillac CTS cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2019, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2019 the largest markets were Germany (11), Sweden (1), Italy (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 13 | 185 (NEDC) |
| 2018 | 38 | 189 (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 25 | 204 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 49 | — |
| 2015 | 73 | — |
| 2014 | 51 | — |
| 2013 | 37 | — |
| 2012 | 16 | — |
| 2011 | 39 | — |
| 2010 | 205 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the CTS in 3 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
In vehicles equipped with automatic activation of heated front seats on remote start, occupant pressure on the seat in the same location can over time damage the flexible heating mat inside the seat. In rare cases, this can cause high electrical resistance in …
The vehicles concerned may have been built with an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly for either front seat. If the weld is incomplete and the assembly is exposed to a high load condition in a crash the hook may separate from the seat track, inc…
Vibrations of the driveshaft that are transferred to the rollover sensor located on the floor above it may result in the deployment of the roof rail airbags (RRAB) which may cause injury to the occupants of the vehicle.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
27 campaigns cover the CTS; the latest 12 are below.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
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.
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, through February 26, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off with wiper functionality left on and the wipers then become restricted, such as when covered in ice or snow, and the vehicle's battery goes dead and needs to be jump started, upon being jump started, the wipers will be inoperative.
NHTSA recalls