Home · 2012 Cadillac Cts-v · Complaints

What 67 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac Cts-v

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (67)Crash / fire / injury (7)Electrical system (10)Lights (10)Brakes (8)Suspension (7)Airbags (6)Engine (6)Speed control (6)Body & structure (5)Steering (4)Transmission & drivetrain (4)

Newest first · 67 complaints · page 3 of 3

Dec 7, 2014Electrical system

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 WILL NOT CLOSE OR WHEN OPENED THEY WILL CLOSE AND THEN REOPEN AUTOMATICALLY MULTIPLE TIMES, FOURTH THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/STABILITRACK SEEMS TO HAVE LEVELS OF ERROR WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN MORE OF. THE WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BADGING OUT AT WORK WOULD NOT CLOSE, IT WAS RAINING AND I BADGED OUT THEN WHEN CLOSING IT JUST REOPENED, THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES BEFORE I STOPPED THE CAR AS WATER WAS COMING IN, I KEPT TRYING TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND ANOTHER CAR HIT THE BRAKES BEHIND ME CAUSING THE LADY TO HAVE SOME BACK PAIN (THIS RANDOMLY CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM). ALSO THE TCS/ABS STABILITRACK SEEMS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING, WHEN I TURN MORE THEN 20 DEGREES IT WILL KICK ON AND START TO APPLY BRAKE BY ITSELF AND THE CAR STARTS JERKING WHICH BRINGS CONCERNS. I CALLED GM AND THEY SEEMED TO DISREGARD MY CLAIMS HOWEVER I BELIEVE ALL THESE "DEFECTS" AND "BUGS" ARE RELATED AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO PREVENT A MORE DIRE ISSUES IN THE RESULT OF ACCIDENT OF IMPACT. IT BRINGS A LOT OF CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662668

Oct 16, 2014Electrical system

2012 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIR REMEDY. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED GM'S REMEDY TO THE IGNITION RECALL PROBLEM WAS TO ENCLOSE TWO SMALL KEY RINGS, TO PUT ON THE IGNITION KEY AND THE KEY FOB AND REMOVE THE OTHER ITEMS FROM THE KEY RINGS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE AND TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10644067

Sep 25, 2014SteeringSuspensionBody & structureCrash

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 HIT ME. THAT CAR HIT MY CAR TWICE. ONCE IN THE FRONT LEFT CORNER AND THEN IN LEFT REAR CORNER, AS MY CAR SPUN 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT FROM THE FIRST IMPACT. SOMEONE ASKED ME IF MY CAR HAD TURNED OFF. I SAID I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS SO QUIET. A RESPONDING SHERIFF'S DEPUTY TOLD MY HUSBAND THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME SAID HE SAW ME LOOKING AT HIM AND WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO STOP. LATER ANALYSIS BY A CADILLAC TECHNICIAN REVEALED ERROR CODES FROM THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAN AFFECT BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10639093

Sep 24, 2014Electrical system

IN STARTING UP FROM A STOP LIGHT AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, MY KNEE EVIDENTLY HIT THE DANGLING KEY FOB AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638666

Sep 22, 2014Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING AND REPLACING THE BRAKE LINE HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,300.

NHTSA ODI 10638166

Sep 19, 2014Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPLACEMENT PARTS IN THE MAIL IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS TO INSTALL THE PARTS HERSELF OR TAKE THEM TO A DEALER FOR INSTALLATION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY WAS TOO SIMPLE FOR SUCH A SERIOUS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10637529

Sep 16, 2014Electrical system

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE REPAIR KIT SENT TO ME BY GM TO CORRECT A SAFETY "DEFECT" IN MY CAR. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY PROBLEM (LABELED GM SAFETY RECALL 1497) I RECEIVED IS THE BEST AND SAFEST SOLUTION TO FIXING THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED BY REGULAR US MAIL A REPAIR KIT AND INSTRUCTION LETTER TO REPAIR THE IGNITION "RUN" PROBLEM. THE KIT INCLUDED 4, APPROXIMATELY DIME SIZE THIN METAL KEY RINGS. TWO OF THE RINGS WERE SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT INSIDE THE LARGER RINGS. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE RINGS THAT I RECEIVED WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR FROM THE CADILLAC DEALER WITH THE NEW SMALLER RINGS. THE BULKY HEADS OF THE IGNITION KEY AND RKE TRANSMITTER MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT ON THE RINGS. THE RINGS BECAME STRETCHED WHEN PUTTING ON THE RINGS AND NOW I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LOOSING EITHER THE KEY OR TRANSMITTER. THESE RINGS COULD ALSO HAVE DAMAGE THE THE PERSON OR THE TRANSMITTER WHEN TRYING TO GET THE SMALL RINGS TO FIT THE HEAD OF THE TRANSMITTER. I WANT TO KNOW IF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) APPROVED THIS FIX AND IS IT ENOUGH TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL? THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR THE RECALL IS 14V394. PLEASE ADVISE IN WRITING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633487

Jul 29, 2014Engine

THE CAR IGNITION SWITCH WOULD SOMETIMES AUTOMATIC CUT OFF BY ITSELF. I HAVE NOTIFIED THIS CADILLAC DEALER ABOUT THIS CAR SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO BLOW UP, I DON'T THINK THEY BELIEVED ME BECAUSE I WAS UPSET ABOUT A CAR THAT THE ENTIRE CAR HAD BEN PAINTED INSIDE AND OUT, MOTOR AND ALL, BUT I QUESTS WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS , THEN THEY WILL BELIEVE ME. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10617421

Jun 3, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

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 RAILS WERE DEFORMED BY FORCE OF IMPACT. DRIVER OF VEHICLE WAS THROWN FORWARD, AND THEN BACKWARD, WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO EXPERIENCE INJURY TO NECK AND SHOULDERS. DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCKED TO REDUCE BODY MOVEMENT RESULTING IN BRUISES TO LEFT ARM AND CHEST. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH VEHICLE AHEAD. DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. INJURY CONSISTED OF SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE AND TRAUMA TO NECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595956

May 9, 2014Seat beltsSpeed control

[XXX] 12 DEC 2013ACTDA NAME :[XXX] SEX :F RACE :B COURT :19TH JDC WARRANT TYPE :TRAFFIC, OUTSTANDING CHARGES: 32:61 USDOT: 2355249 TT&T SERVICES LLC - TRUCKING COMPANIES MAR 8, 2014 - 14023 STONE GATE DR BATON ROUGE, LA 70816 UNSAFE TRUCK DRIVING BASIC SERIOUS VIOLATION INDICATOR (Y = SERIOUS VIOLATION) TT&T SERVICES LLC - TRUCKING COMPANIES [XXX] UNSAFE TRUCK DRIVING BASIC SERIOUS VIOLATION INDICATOR (Y = SERIOUS VIOLATION FROM INVESTIGATION WITHIN) TT&T SERVICES LLC - TRUCKING COMPANY TT&T SERVICES LLC [XXX] MOTOR CARRIER (MC) NUMBER: [XXX] USDOT: [XXX] MCS-150 DATE: 5-NOV-2012 MCS-150 MILEAGE: 20,000 MCS-150 MILEAGE YEAR: 2012 TOTAL TRUCKS: 1 POWER UNITS: 1 TOTAL DRIVERS: 1 TT&T SERVICES LLC IS CARRIER TT&T SERVICES LLC PHONE: DOES TT&T SERVICES LLC TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS MATERIAL? NO CARRIER OPERATION: N/A TT&T SERVICES LLC IN TRANSPORT BUSINESS SINCE 5-NOV-2012 CARGO HAULED (MARKED X - GREEN COLOR) BY TT&T SERVICES LLC - LOUISIANA TRUCKING COMPANY FRESH PRODUCEX GENERAL FREIGHT HOUSEHOLD METAL SHEET MOTOR VEHICLES TOWAWAY LUMBER BUILDING MATERIALS MOBILE HOMES MACHINERY LIQUIDS GASES INTERMODAL PASSENGERS OILFIELD EQUIPMENT LIVESTOCK GRAIN FEED HAY COAL MEAT GARBAGE USMAIL X CHEMICALS DRYBULK REFRIGERATED FOOD BEVERAGES PAPER PRODUCTS UTILITIES AGRICULTURAL FARM SUPPLIES CONSTRUCTION ELECTRONICS COSMETICS GARMENTS TEXTILE GLASS, PORCELAIN, CERAMIC, STONEWARE TANYA RIVER IN BATON ROUGE LA SINGLE LOCATION IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA ORGANIZATION: [XXX] UNITED STATES COUNTY EAST BATON ROUGE COMPANY PROFILE THIS LISTING IS FOR[XXX] SINGLE LOCATION IN BATON ROUGE, LA. [XXX]: WAS FOUNDED IN 2012 AND IS PRIVATELY HELD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587539

May 8, 2014Engine

TL* 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 AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,837 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,200. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE ATTEMPTED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM UNIT. HOWEVER, ON MAY 7, 2014, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. WHEN HE TRIED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/16/14

NHTSA ODI 10587239

Mar 12, 2014Electrical system

TL* 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 SEVEN TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10568709

Nov 4, 2013Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE TO CLOSE TOGETHER UNLIKE NORMAL PEDALS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE PEDALS BEING CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10550753

Mar 1, 2013Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND AS THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ODI 10500932

Oct 20, 2012Lights

WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD WITH MANY CURVES AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, I WENT TO TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS BY PUSHING LEVER ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL OUTWARDS THE BRIGHT LIGHTS CAME ON AS INTENDED BUT AT THE SAME TIME I APPARENTLY HIT THE SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTS IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WENT OFF AND I WAS LEFT WITH PARKING LIGHTS ONLY AND COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. THERE WAS NO ROAD SHOULDER AS IT WAS ONLY ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. I REDUCED MY SPEED TO 4 OR 5 MPH AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT I HAD DONE TO CAUSE THIS. THERE IS NO LIGHTS ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I HAD TO WATCH THE ROAD SO CAREFULLY THAT I HAD NO OR LITTLE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. A CAR CAME UP BEHIND ME AND WITH HIS LIGHTS I FINALLY HAD TIME TO LOOK DOWN AND MOVE THE LIGHT SWITCH TO ITS PROPER POSITION. IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10481256

Aug 2, 2012Body & structureElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE DOOR WERE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ERRONEOUSLY PLACE HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE, WITH ADDITIONAL SPACE REMAINING. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE DASHBOARD, THERE WAS NO SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND WOULD MAKE NO RESTITUTION. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80. UPDATED 8/31/12 *CN UPDATED 09/11/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10468961

May 14, 2012Traction Control SystemEngine

I TOOK MY CAR THROUGH A CAR WASH AND AFTERWARDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INDICATED A FAILURE ON THE DASH WARNING LIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER, AND I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS DUE TO INHIBITING HALF OF THE INJECTORS IF THE TC SYSTEM FAILS. THE TC SYSTEM "HEALED ITSELF" AFTER THE CAR DRIED OUT FOR A DAY AND THIS IS NOT THE FOCUS OF MY COMPLAINT. ANYONE CAN DRIVE A CAR SAFELY WITHOUT A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IN OPERATION, HOWEVER, A NON-RESPONSIVE ENGINE DUE TO THE PROGRAMMED SHUTDOWN OF HALF OF THE INJECTORS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE CAR WAS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN STREET TRAFFIC, AND IF THE TC FAILURE HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD SITUATION, UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SAFE SPEED JUST TO GET OFF OF THE FREEWAY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE RE-EVALUATED. *TR UPDATED 05/22/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10458437

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Working with the data? Download all 67 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Cadillac Cts-v verdict →