2011 Cadillac SRX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Cadillac SRX has 575 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 cadillac srx. while driving approximately 45 mph with the headlights activated, the amber illumination became extremely dim which obstructed the visibility of the contact. the failure recurred whenever the contact would drive with headlights activated. the vehicle was tak. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 10 crash reports 15 injuries

575

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

200 complaints

35%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE AMBER ILLUMINATION BECAME EXTREMELY DIM WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE WITH HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE AMBER ILLUMINATION BECAME EXTREMELY DIM WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE WITH HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK
• THE HEADLIGHTS - LOW BEAM - ARE THE WORST. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP (CRESTVIEW CADILLAC - WEST COVINA, CA) THAT THEY WERE SO BAD I BELIEVED IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T GET ANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS! I HAVE TO USE M

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE AMBER ILLUMINATION BECAME EXTREMELY DIM WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE WITH HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

62 complaints

11%

• REAR SUSPENSION OVER THE SMALLEST DROP IN PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS CAUSES HEAVY NOISE WHICH FEELS LIKE IT'S BOTTOMING OUT, THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND DISCONCERTING. ALL PASSENGERS SO FAR HAVE COMMENTED ON IT. CADILLAC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL (THE BOTTOMING OUT SOUND) THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT ACCEPTABLE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE OVER ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VE
• I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND THEN SUDDENLY MY CAR JOLTED TO A STOP. I HAD HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I LOOKED AT MY TIRE ONLY TO FIND IT WAS BOWED IN TOWARDS MY CAR INSTEAD OF AWAY FROM IT SINCE THE WHEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THE CAR. UP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“REAR SUSPENSION OVER THE SMALLEST DROP IN PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS CAUSES HEAVY NOISE WHICH FEELS LIKE IT'S BOTTOMING OUT, THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND DISCONCERTING. ALL PASSENGERS SO FAR HAVE COMMENTED ON IT. CADILLAC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL (THE BOTTOMING OUT SOUND) THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT ACCEPTABLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

41 complaints

• OUR CAR WAS PARKED AND EXPOSED TO THE HOT SOUTH FLORIDA SUN FOR OVER 6 HOURS. WHEN MY PARTNER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME, THE CAR FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS CONSIDERABLY DEPRESSED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WH
• 2011 CADILLAC SRX WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT HAD THE ENTIRE WHEEL HUB COME APART. BOLTS FELL OUT AND THE REMAINING BOLTS WERE ALL LOOSENED. THIS PROBLEM RUINED THE CALIPER AND BRAKES. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VERY OFTEN AS I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY SERIOUS CRASH. *TR
• BRAKES FEEL SPONGY, SOMETIMES THEY GO ALMOST TO FLOOR BOFORE SLOWING DOWN. HAS BEEN DANGEROUS. REPAIR CENTER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

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

“OUR CAR WAS PARKED AND EXPOSED TO THE HOT SOUTH FLORIDA SUN FOR OVER 6 HOURS. WHEN MY PARTNER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME, THE CAR FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS CONSIDERABLY DEPRESSED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

40 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN THE INSTRUMENT
• ON THE 2011 CADILLAC SRX THERE IS NO WARNING SOUNDED IF YOU LEAVE YOUR KEYLESS IGNITION RUNNING AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY, I INADVERTENTLY LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING AND THE CAR DID NOT BEEP OR GIVE ME ANY INDICATION THAT I HAD DONE SO. THESE KEYLESS IGNITION SYSTEMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUS
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE C

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

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN THE INSTRUMENT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

36 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CADILLAC SRX, AWD PREMIUM EDITION WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 74 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL, TACHOMETER RED LINED AT 6950 RPM, AND I
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM THIRD TO SIXTH GEAR WHEN THE CONTACTS FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND ALSO THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DOWN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WA
• 2011 CADILLAC SRX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSAFE VEHICLE AND REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER WANTED TO EXPRESS HER DISSATISFACTION ABOUT RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED AND SOLD TO THE PUBLIC WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS DEFECT.

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

“WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 CADILLAC SRX, AWD PREMIUM EDITION WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 74 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL, TACHOMETER RED LINED AT 6950 RPM, AND I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 575 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE AMBER ILLUMINATION BECAME EXTREMELY DIM WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE WITH HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: REAR SUSPENSION OVER THE SMALLEST DROP IN PAVEMENT SMOOTHNESS CAUSES HEAVY NOISE WHICH FEELS LIKE IT'S BOTTOMING OUT, THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND DISCONCERTING. ALL PASSENGERS SO FAR HAVE COMMENTED ON IT. CADILLAC SAYS THIS IS NORMAL (THE BOTTOMING OUT SOUND) THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT ACCEPTABLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: OUR CAR WAS PARKED AND EXPOSED TO THE HOT SOUTH FLORIDA SUN FOR OVER 6 HOURS. WHEN MY PARTNER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME, THE CAR FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS CONSIDERABLY DEPRESSED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD SHUT ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN THE INSTRUMENT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)