Model year record

2011 Cadillac CTS

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 150 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V394000

Electrical system: ignition

Component
Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
554,328
Reported to NHTSA
2014-07-02
Owners notified
2014-09-15

Defect description

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V341000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
16,932
Reported to NHTSA
2014-06-19
Owners notified
2014-08-25

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags2370,482 mi
Power train2053,000 mi
Electrical system1845,000 mi
Engine1338,847 mi
Steering1132,200 mi
Exterior lighting740,500 mi
Service brakes620,000 mi
Vehicle speed control618,932 mi
Seats44,085 mi
Unknown or other42,700 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)355,000 mi
Structure: body330,000 mi
Tires3500 mi
Wheels320,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer2162,290 mi
Engine and engine cooling21,747 mi
Fuel/propulsion system233,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft229,000 mi
Structure: body: door255,000 mi
Structure: frame and members2153,000 mi
Suspension220,180 mi
Back over prevention: warnings: external/pedestrian alert118,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel1429 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights137,532 mi
Power train: driveline165 mi
Seat belts113,675 mi
Structure1100,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate180,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields120,000 mi
Tires: sidewall17,000 mi
Traction control system160,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal118,932 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear130,000 mi

The 2010 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2012 model has 2 times as many 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.