NHTSA Safety Recalls
Cadillac CTS Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 27 recall campaigns for the Cadillac CTS, across 16 model years from 2003 to 2018. The 2014 has the most (6); the fewest among years with a recall is 2018 (2).
Cadillac CTS years to avoid by our method: 2003 (2.0× the median year).
- Model years
- 16
- Recall campaigns
- 27
- Most recalls
- 2014
- Owner complaints
- 2,219
2003–2018, with a recall
6 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 2,219 complaints with NHTSA about the Cadillac CTS across 17 model years; the most, 313, concern the 2003.
Owners marked a crash on 187 of the Cadillac CTS complaints (8%) and a fire on 35.
Across all Cadillac CTS model years, owners name the power train most often (at least 433 complaints), then the electrical system (383).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the Cadillac CTS in 2014: 313, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the Cadillac CTS is electrical system: ignition, in 12 model-year listings.
The newest Cadillac CTS recall, 26V329000, was reported on May 21, 2026 and concerns the air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
Cadillac CTS years to avoid
The 2003 Cadillac CTS stands out most: 99 complaints between 2002 and 2006, 18% of them naming the electrical system.
The best-measured Cadillac CTS years are 2015 (0.2×), 2010 (0.3×) and 2012 (0.6×).
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 10 | 5 | not ranked |
| 2018 | 2 | 8 | 3 | not ranked |
| 2017 | 2 | 27 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2016 | 4 | 31 | 9 | not ranked |
| 2015 | 3 | 49 | 10 | 0.2× |
| 2014 | 6 | 146 | 31 | 0.6× |
| 2013 | 2 | 73 | 39 | 0.7× |
| 2012 | 2 | 65 | 26 | 0.6× |
| 2011 | 2 | 101 | 41 | 1.0× |
| 2010 | 3 | 67 | 11 | 0.3× |
| 2009 | 5 | 167 | 38 | 1.4× |
| 2008 | 2 | 175 | 42 | 1.0× |
| 2007 | 6 | 217 | 45 | 0.9× |
| 2006 | 6 | 269 | 45 | 1.1× |
| 2005 | 6 | 277 | 77 | 1.9× |
| 2004 | 6 | 224 | 78 | 1.7× |
| 2003avoid | 4 | 313 | 99 | 2.0× |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Cadillac CTS years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the Cadillac CTS
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION12
- STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM6
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS5
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP4
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE3
- SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER3
- POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL3
- EQUIPMENT2
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE2
Cadillac CTS model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every Cadillac CTS recall campaign (27)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V329000May 21, 2026 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015–2016 | injury and death | 5,014 |
| 25V175000March 20, 2025 | steering: electric power assist system | 2016–2018 | crash | 934 |
| 19V086000February 7, 2019 | steering: electric power assist system | 2016–2018 | crash | 26,772 |
| 18V595000September 7, 2018 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2014–2016 | fire | 52,867 |
| 15V358000June 9, 2015 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2015 | crash | 2,163 |
| 14V614000October 1, 2014 | electrical system | 2013–2014 | crash | 106,307 |
| 14V542000September 9, 2014 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2004–2007 | crash and fire | 10,005 |
| 14V446000July 23, 2014 | seats | 2014 | crash and injury | 124,007 |
| 14V394000July 2, 2014 | electrical system: ignition | 2003–2014 | crash and injury | 554,328 |
| 14V338000June 19, 2014 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 | crash and injury | 90,750 |
| 14V341000June 19, 2014 | air bags | 2011 | crash and injury | 16,932 |
| 14V253000May 15, 2014 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2014 | crash | 19,225 |
| 11V536000November 2, 2011 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2012 | crash | 674 |
| 11V089000February 11, 2011 | suspension: rear | 2009–2010 | crash | 44,147 |
| 10V644000December 17, 2010 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2005–2007 | crash and injury | 95,927 |
| 10V414000September 13, 2010 | equipment | 2009–2010 | crash and injury | 20,224 |
| 10V240000June 4, 2010 | electrical system | 2008–2009 | fire | 1,365,070 |
| 10V105000March 17, 2010 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2003–2007 | crash | 139,131 |
| 08V582000November 5, 2008 | air bags: frontal | 2009 | crash and injury | 12,662 |
| 07V589000December 20, 2007 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal | 2005–2007 | crash | 275,936 |
| 07V468000October 4, 2007 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2007 | injury and death | 16,677 |
| 06V020000January 25, 2006 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery | 2005–2006 | crash | 17,462 |
| 05V024000January 20, 2005 | air bags | 2004 | injury | 87,000 |
| 04V273000June 9, 2004 | steering: linkages | 2004 | crash | 41,928 |
| 03V346000September 29, 2003 | seats | 2004 | crash and injury | 6,771 |
| 03V250000July 15, 2003 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2003 | — | 1,707,825 |
| 03V115000March 24, 2003 | steering | 2003 | crash | 47,835 |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Cadillac CTS. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: October 20, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted