Cadillac CTS: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Cadillac CTS problems by model year, from 520 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2014 (65%, 90 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (48%, 38 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (47%, 22 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 7 Cadillac CTS years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2012 (22%) and 2013 (31%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2013 (31%) to 2014 (65%), up 34 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2014 drew the most drivetrain complaints (90 of 201 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Cadillac CTS year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 CTS | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 3 |
| 2011 CTS | high | 48% | 38 | 108 | 2/7 | 2 |
| 2012 CTS | no elevated signal | 22% | 11 | 67 | 7/7 | 2 |
| 2013 CTS | no elevated signal | 31% | 18 | 73 | 6/7 | 2 |
| 2014 CTS | very high | 65% | 90 | 146 | 1/7 | 7 |
| 2015 CTS | high | 47% | 22 | 48 | 3/7 | 4 |
| 2016 CTS | high | 45% | 13 | 31 | 4/7 | 4 |
| 2017 CTS | elevated | 36% | 9 | 27 | 5/7 | 2 |
| 2018 CTS | too few to score | – | 3 | 8 | – | 2 |
| 2019 CTS | too few to score | – | 7 | 11 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Cadillac CTS years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Cadillac CTS transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Cadillac CTS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2014 | 14V338000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V038000 | power train: driveline: differential unit | 2014–2015 |
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2011 | 11V536000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2012 |
| May 2014 | 14V253000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V341000 | air bags | 2011 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V394000 | electrical system: ignition | 2011–2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V446000 | seats | 2014 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V614000 | electrical system | 2013–2014 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V358000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2015 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V595000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2014–2016 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V086000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2016–2017 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V175000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2016–2017 |
| May 2026 | 26V329000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015–2016 |
What the free pages leave out on the Cadillac CTS
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Cadillac CTS
What are the worst years for the Cadillac CTS?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Cadillac CTS years are the 2014 (65% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2011 (48% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2015 (47% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 7 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Cadillac CTS?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Cadillac CTS years are the 2012 (22%) and the 2013 (31%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 7 scored years, 201 of 429 relevant NHTSA complaints (47%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is the Cadillac CTS reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 7 Cadillac CTS years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 47% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Cadillac CTS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Cadillac CTS years we track, out of 13 in total: 14V338000 (Jun 2014, 2014), 20V038000 (Jan 2020, 2014–2015). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.