2012 Cadillac CTS recalls and problems

The 2012 Cadillac CTS has 2 recalls and 65 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

2012 Cadillac Cts
Photo: 2012 Cadillac Cts by MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2012 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 17 CTS model years — 12th most.

2recalls
65complaints
6crashes
0fires
8injuries
43,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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2 recalls

Electrical System

Jul 2, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V394000 · 554,328 vehicles

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.

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Service Brakes

Nov 2, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V536000 · 674 vehicles

Problem: Gm is recalling certain model year 2012 Cadillac cts vehicles manufactured from October 21, 2011, through October 26, 2011. These vehicles May have a condition in which the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut May not be torqued to the proper specification. If the nut is not torqued to the proper specification, the nut could loosen and allow the pushrod to separate from the brake pedal.

Original NHTSA wording

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. IF THE NUT IS NOT TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND ALLOW THE PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Risk: This could result in a loss of ability to brake and a vehicle crash without prior warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE AND a vehicle CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Cadillac dealers will inspect the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut, and if necessary, torque the nut to the proper specification. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on November 1, 2011. Owners May contact Cadillac at 1-800-458-8006.

Gm's safety recall campaign number is 11318.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2012: 3 complaints20122013: 2 complaints2014: 13 complaints2014132015: 8 complaints2016: 3 complaints20162017: 6 complaints2018: 5 complaints20182019: 9 complaints2020: 5 complaints20202021: 2 complaints2022: 4 complaints20222023: 2 complaints2024: 1 complaints20242025: 1 complaints2026: 1 complaints20261

2012 vs. other Cadillac CTS years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2012. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2012 Cadillac CTS, the latest from Jul 2, 2014 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Cadillac CTS?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (10), exterior lighting (10), service brakes (9). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.