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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer remedy
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.
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.
Safety risk
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
40
72,000 mi
Engine
23
74,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
23
86,000 mi
Unknown or other
19
82,000 mi
Power train
16
83,000 mi
Air bags
13
58,521 mi
Steering
13
98,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
13
29,000 mi
Service brakes
11
59,280 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
11
6,000 mi
Structure: body
9
58,700 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
7
74,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
5
7,239 mi
Equipment
4
11,500 mi
Exterior lighting
4
104,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
4
—
Structure
4
12,000 mi
Suspension
4
3,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
3
7,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
3
9,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
3
5,000 mi
Seats
3
57,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
2
65,000 mi
Visibility
2
30,000 mi
Wheels
2
56,440 mi
Electrical system: ignition
1
110,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control
1
—
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control
1
—
Power train: clutch assembly
1
108,000 mi
Power train: driveline
1
86,000 mi
Seat belts
1
97,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint
1
300 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads
1
3,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
1
46,134 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid
1
58,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
1
21,374 mi
Tires
1
140 mi
Traction control system
1
180,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
1
31,000 mi
Visibility/wiper
1
—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices
1
2,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
1
7,990 mi
The 2007 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2009 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.