2012 Cadillac CTS problems
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac CTS. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 12% of complaints. After that come lighting (12%) and brakes (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 81 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 12% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 33,000 miles 60 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 15 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 16 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 60 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 33,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 12th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the Cadillac CTS with enough data (49 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 cadillac cts. While driving approximately 60 MPH, a loud noise emitted outside of the vehicle. The front passenger side tire and lower control arm detached completely. In addition, the brakes, rotors, and other suspension support detached onto the road. The vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier. The driver sustained a lower back injury. The front seat occupant suffered from a bump to the head. The injuries required medical attention. A police report was filed.
The vehicle was driving in normal conditions, at approx 40MPH in the evening. When accelerating to pass a car going slow in a 50MPH+ road, the accelerator stuck in the cadillac. This forced a defensive decision to unfortunately hit the car in front versus unknown clearing. After (now at 60MPH), the accelerator stayed stuck, which required the car to then strike a pole at 100MPH! This was a very dangerous scenario and only by grace were all parties safe in the primary car (cadillac referenced), and the car struck.
The car ignition switch would sometimes automatic cut off by itself. I have notified this cadillac dealer about this car several times, even with the engine sounds like it is about to blow up, I don't think they believed me because I was upset about a car that the entire car had ben painted inside and out, motor and all, but I quests when something happens , then they will believe me.
After fueling the car I was distracted and failed to remove the nozzle from the tank filler. As I moved forward, I heard a thump and stopped. The fueling hose was pulled from the filler and was also disconnected from the gas pump. There is a quick disconnect on the hose that parted. Evidently enough people make the same mistake otherwise the quick disconnect would not have bee provided. The station attendant said not to worry it is easy to reconnect.