Cadillac SRX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Cadillac SRX problems by model year, from 2,730 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.
Years to avoid: 2010 (43%, 103 drivetrain complaints). 1 of the 7 Cadillac SRX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2016 (14%), 2012 (17%) and 2015 (19%). 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 2010 (43%) to 2011 (26%), down 17 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (103 of 306 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 SRX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 SRX | high | 43% | 103 | 474 | 1/7 | 6 |
| 2011 SRX | no elevated signal | 26% | 62 | 446 | 3/7 | 7 |
| 2012 SRX | no elevated signal | 17% | 28 | 416 | 6/7 | 3 |
| 2013 SRX | no elevated signal | 30% | 51 | 393 | 2/7 | 5 |
| 2014 SRX | no elevated signal | 23% | 27 | 390 | 4/7 | 2 |
| 2015 SRX | no elevated signal | 19% | 26 | 442 | 5/7 | 4 |
| 2016 SRX | no elevated signal | 14% | 9 | 168 | 7/7 | 2 |
| 2019 SRX | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Cadillac SRX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Cadillac SRX engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Cadillac SRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2010 | 10V223000 | engine and engine cooling | 2010 |
| Dec 2011 | 11V595000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2010–2011 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V097000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V212000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2013 |
10 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2010 | 10V450000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid | 2010 |
| Dec 2010 | 10V623000 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2011 |
| Mar 2011 | 11V149000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element | 2011 |
| Jun 2011 | 11V308000 | air bags: side/window | 2011 |
| May 2013 | 13V202000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V447000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2010–2012 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V571000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2015 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V804000 | seats | 2015 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V473000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2016 |
| May 2026 | 26V329000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015–2016 |
What the free pages leave out on the Cadillac SRX
- 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 SRX
What are the worst years for the Cadillac SRX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Cadillac SRX years are the 2010 (43% of relevant complaints, high). 1 of 7 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Cadillac SRX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Cadillac SRX years are the 2016 (14%), the 2012 (17%) and the 2015 (19%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Cadillac SRX have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 7 scored years, 306 of 1,136 relevant NHTSA complaints (27%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010.
Is the Cadillac SRX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 1 of 7 Cadillac SRX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 27% 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 SRX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Cadillac SRX years we track, out of 14 in total: 11V595000 (Dec 2011, 2010–2011), 13V097000 (Mar 2013, 2013), 14V212000 (Apr 2014, 2013), and earlier ones. 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.