MODELYEARINDEX

Which Cadillac CTS years to avoid

Across 9 scored model years, the 2013, 2011 and 2014 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Cadillac CTS Full report
F
Grade 2010–2019
2013 vs model median 2.7×
Model median3× median
Electrical 20
Drivetrain 10
Steering 9
Avoid

2011 · 2013

Best

2017 · 2019

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.00× 31 C
2011
2.57× 88 F
2012
1.38× 37 C
2013
2.66× 70 F
2014
1.46× 46 D
2015
0.83× 20 B
2016
0.72× 22 B
2017
0.26× 10 A
2019
0.25× 11 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2011 F 88 reports · median 20,500 mi

  1. Drivetrain 13

    I purchased a new 2011 cadillac cts coupe. It continuously makes a groaning sound which appears to be coming from the rear part of the drive train. The dealer changed the differential fluid to correct the problem. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 13

    The contact owns a 2011 cadillac cts. The contact stated that the speedometer was displaying a speed that was 4 MPH less than the actual speed than he was traveling at. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 12

    Vehicle stalled or tried to stall in traffic while in motion at approximate speeds of 25-35 MPH approximately 10 times over a distance of approximately 6-8 miles. Was towed to dealer. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

4 crash · 1 fire · 4 injuries

2013 F 70 reports · median 17,000 mi

  1. Electrical 20

    I just bought this vehicle 5 days ago. Yesterday when I stopped at red traffic light and the car lost power without any warning. I had to shut it down and restart it and then it came back to full function. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 10

    Extreme lose steering, way to lose cant feel the road, also the transmission is not shifting right it has a delay then shifts very hard. The car is very hard to drive. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Steering 9

    The contact owns a 2013 cadillac cts. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle started to veer to the right. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was making an abnormal clunking sound. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

14 crash · 12 injuries

The best year for the CTS

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2019 is the best-scoring CTS model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 93.7 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2019 0.25× 11 A
2017 0.26× 10 A
2016 0.72× 22 B

Recalls

14 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
14V394000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION 2010–2014 554,328
14V446000 SEATS 2014 124,007
14V614000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2013, 2014 106,307
14V338000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2014 90,750
18V595000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER 2014–2016 52,867
11V089000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2010 44,147
19V086000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2016, 2017 26,772
10V414000 EQUIPMENT 2010 20,224
14V253000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR 2014 19,225
14V341000 AIR BAGS 2011 16,932
26V329000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2015, 2016 5,014
15V358000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES 2015 2,163

+ 2 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2013 were reported at a median of 17,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Cadillac CTS years should you avoid?
2013, 2011, 2014 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Cadillac CTS model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Cadillac CTS?
2019 is the best-scoring Cadillac CTS model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 93.7 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Cadillac CTS have?
14 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Cadillac CTS model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 CTS
Complaints in window
70
Severity-weighted
131.5
Model median (weighted)
49
vs model median
2.66×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
2
Open investigations
0
Score 28.6 F