2010 Cadillac CTS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Cadillac CTS has 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: 2010 cadillac cts. consumer states problem with brakes *tgw the consumer stated she began having problems with the brakes one week after purchasing the vehicle. the brakes were allegedly replaced in march 2010. also, the driver's air bag compartment became loose and had to be repaired several time. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 2 crash reports 5 injuries

101

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

16 complaints

16%

• 2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIME
• SPORADICALLY, A "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING COMES ON WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALSO, IN A FEW INSTANCES, THE AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT HAS STAYED ON AFTER COMPLETION OF THE BRIEF SYSTEM CHECK WHICH OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REVIEWED THE MATTER AND FOUND THAT THE HIST
• PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES. LIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO GO OFF AFTER SYSTEM CHECK. MANUAL SAYS SENSORS NEEDS TO BE SERVICED OR INJURY MAY OCCUR DURING ACCIDENT DUE TO AIRBAG FAILURE. ACCORDING TO INTERNET CADILLAC FORUMS, MANY DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND DEALE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

16 complaints

16%

• PASSANGER SIDE SUNVISOR WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT SOME OF CEILING UPHOLSTERY AND MELTED PLASTIC TRIM AROUND SUN ROOF . *TT
• SPORADICALLY, A "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING COMES ON WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALSO, IN A FEW INSTANCES, THE AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT HAS STAYED ON AFTER COMPLETION OF THE BRIEF SYSTEM CHECK WHICH OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED. THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REVIEWED THE MATTER AND FOUND THAT THE HIST
• ON 6 JUNE, 2013 WHILE DRIVING ON M59 IN MICHIGAN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, MY KNEE MADE CONTACT WITH THE REMOTE FOB, CAUSING THE IGNITION KEY TO MOVE FROM THE "ON" POSITION TO "ACCESSORY" MODE. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO STEER AND BRAKE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSIST TO THE SHOULDER OF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“PASSANGER SIDE SUNVISOR WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT SOME OF CEILING UPHOLSTERY AND MELTED PLASTIC TRIM AROUND SUN ROOF . *TT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

12 complaints

12%

• I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I CALLED TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CALLED GM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THIS I
• SINCE PURCHASING THIS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE HAS AN INTERMITTENT TENDENCY TO SUDDENLY REV OR IDLE VERY HIGH WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN, STOPPING, OR PULLING INTO A PARKING APACE. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND IS ONL
• THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED I CHECKED WITH GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS CAR AND AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT. WE WERE LUCKY BOTH TIMES THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND AND THAT THE CAR WAS KEPT UNDER CONTROL WHILE BRINGING IT TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I CALLED TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CALLED GM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THIS I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND THEN THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL THROUGH THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
• THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED I CHECKED WITH GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS CAR AND AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT. WE WERE LUCKY BOTH TIMES THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND AND THAT THE CAR WAS KEPT UNDER CONTROL WHILE BRINGING IT TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND THEN THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

8 complaints

• 2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIME
• I USED THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE POWER LIFTGATE. I LEANED INTO THE BACK OF THE WAGON TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING, AND THE LIFTGATE CRASHED DOWN ONTO MY BACK. IT LIFTED BACK UP, AND THEN CRASHED DOWN AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, AND THE PROCESS WAS REPEATED UNTIL I MANUALLY SLAMMED THE LIFTGATE CL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THREE INCHES OF WATER ACCUMULATED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 101 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: 2010 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE ALLEGEDLY REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMPARTMENT BECAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: PASSANGER SIDE SUNVISOR WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT SOME OF CEILING UPHOLSTERY AND MELTED PLASTIC TRIM AROUND SUN ROOF . *TT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I CALLED TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CALLED GM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THIS I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS IF IT HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED AND THEN THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)