2012 Cadillac CTS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Cadillac CTS. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.
Better than 85% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 16 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 16%).
Looking at a specific CTS?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2012 Cadillac CTS have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac CTS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 48% and the 2013 scores 31%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
Three of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on the 2012 Cadillac CTS (2)
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2012 Cadillac CTS
- No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
- 2 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
- Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2012 Cadillac CTS
Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac CTS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Cadillac CTS. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Cadillac CTS years are better?
The 2012 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Cadillac CTS years we track (22%). The other years run higher.
Should I buy a 2012 Cadillac CTS?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2012 Cadillac CTS shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.