2015 Cadillac CTS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Cadillac CTS has 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle accelerated on its own when it was in park, with the emergency brake engaged, and the engine was turned off. home security camera captured the entire incident on film. would be happy to provide the nhtsa with the footage.. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 4 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

19 complaints

29%

• THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN IT WAS IN PARK, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. HOME SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED THE ENTIRE INCIDENT ON FILM. WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE NHTSA WITH THE FOOTAGE.
• WHEN IDLING OR WHEN YOU COLD START THE CAR IT TENDS TO HAVE A SLIGHT SHAKE/TREMBLE FEEL ALL THROUGHOUT THE CAR EVEN PASSENGERS FELT IT ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING SLOWLY AND YOU HIT 15 MPH CAR TENDS TO SHIFT HARD INTO 2ND GEAR
• ON AUGUST 5, 2019, I WAS TRAVELLING DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD @ 35-40 MPH AND WITH A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. I WENT INTO A SKID AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR SWERVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS BOTH LANES. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER ON THE ROAD AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES

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

“THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN IT WAS IN PARK, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. HOME SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED THE ENTIRE INCIDENT ON FILM. WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE NHTSA WITH THE FOOTAGE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

14%

• I PURCHASED THIS CAR 15MAR16 FROM DUBLIN CADILLAC IN DUBLIN, CA. THE DRIVER SIDE BLIND SPOT DETECTION WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT "I WOULD JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT IT". SINCE TH
• CUE SCREEN BEGINS SHAKING AND TOUCH SCREEN DOES NOT WORK. THIS SCREEN CONTROLS HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, RADIO, NAVIGATION, PHONE, SETTINGS. I HAD IT REPLACED AT 26,053 MILES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND AT 63,000 MILES, OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS DOING THE SAME THING.
• THE CUE SYSTEM IS CRACKING AND NON RESPONSIVE TO ANY TOUCH INPUT. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESETTING THE SYSTEM BUT THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE LACK OF RESPONSE NOR THE SCREEN CRACKING.. I CANNOT CONTROL THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, RADIO, SPECIFIC CLIMATE SETTINGS, LANGUAGE OF THE INSTRUMENTA

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

“I PURCHASED THIS CAR 15MAR16 FROM DUBLIN CADILLAC IN DUBLIN, CA. THE DRIVER SIDE BLIND SPOT DETECTION WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT "I WOULD JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT IT". SINCE TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

8 complaints

12%

• WENT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR SPED UP HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR. I HAD A PROBLEM YESTERDAY, PUT CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL(50 MPH) ON THE HIGHWAY, WENT TO BRAKE TO TURN, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISCONNECT, HAD TO SHUT THE SYSTEM OFF MANUALLY. SIMILAR PERIODIC PROBLEMS IN THE
• I HAD ADAPTIVE CRUISE ON, WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, SO ADAPTIVE STOPPED, THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME MOVED BECAUSE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, SO TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE I GENTLY GAVE IT GAS AND I FELT THE CRUISE KICK SO I MOVED MY FOOT AND THEN THE CAR LUNGED INTO THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I
• WHEN IM GOING FORWARD OR REVERSING THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SLAMS ON PARK BRAKE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WENT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR SPED UP HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR. I HAD A PROBLEM YESTERDAY, PUT CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL(50 MPH) ON THE HIGHWAY, WENT TO BRAKE TO TURN, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISCONNECT, HAD TO SHUT THE SYSTEM OFF MANUALLY. SIMILAR PERIODIC PROBLEMS IN THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

5 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,038
• WHEN IM GOING FORWARD OR REVERSING THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SLAMS ON PARK BRAKE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V038000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO KNOWING ABOUT THE RECALL, THE SERVICE REAR AXLE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED CADILLAC OF BELL

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,038”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

5 complaints

• ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK, WHILE DRIVING. JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. 30,000 MILES ON ODOMETER.
• 2015 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE EXHAUST WAS DAMAGED WHILE HAVING A SAFETY RECALL N192279370 REPAIRED.
• The vacuum pump failed and caused catastrophic engine failure. The vacuum pump was constructed with substandard design and the composition of the parts within the vacuum pumps internal components. The vacuum pump is an integral part of the emissions system, the braking system and the engine. This is

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

“ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK, WHILE DRIVING. JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. 30,000 MILES ON ODOMETER.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 65 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN IT WAS IN PARK, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. HOME SECURITY CAMERA CAPTURED THE ENTIRE INCIDENT ON FILM. WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE NHTSA WITH THE FOOTAGE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I PURCHASED THIS CAR 15MAR16 FROM DUBLIN CADILLAC IN DUBLIN, CA. THE DRIVER SIDE BLIND SPOT DETECTION WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AND THAT "I WOULD JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT IT". SINCE TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WENT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR SPED UP HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR. I HAD A PROBLEM YESTERDAY, PUT CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL(50 MPH) ON THE HIGHWAY, WENT TO BRAKE TO TURN, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISCONNECT, HAD TO SHUT THE SYSTEM OFF MANUALLY. SIMILAR PERIODIC PROBLEMS IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,038
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)