2012 Cadillac SRX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Cadillac SRX has 515 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (45% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 cadillac srx. the contact stated that the headlights were extremely dim and impeded the contact's visibility. the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure and no repairs were made to the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 3,5. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 42 crash reports 39 injuries

515

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

234 complaints

45%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM AND IMPEDED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,5
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 2/9/15*CN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT RECEIVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE, CAUSING THEM TO SHORT CIRCUIT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM AND IMPEDED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,5”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

45 complaints

• SEVERE GRINDING OR SCRAPPING NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS ONLY PRESENT DURING COLD WEATHER. SEEMS TO DIMINISH AS VEHICLE IS USED BUT SOMETIMES REMAINS FOR LONG PERIODS. CAN BE HEARD BY BYSTANDERS AND VERY WELL INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD NO LUCK
• I WAS PULLING IN TO A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL MALL. AS I TURNED MY WHEEL MY VEHICLE TOOK OFF AND I LOST ALL CONTROL. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS MY VEHICLE HIT 3 OTHER PARKED VEHICLES PUSHING ONE IN TO ANOTHER. I BELIEVE I HAD THEN EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCE
• WHEN BREAKING HAVE A VERY UNUSUAL SMELL COMING FROM THE BREAK. VEHICLE HAS A 2 TO 4 SECOND DELAY WHEN APPLYING THE GAS. THE HATCH BACK WILL OPEN BY ITS SELF AND SOMETIMES CLOSE BY IT SELF. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“SEVERE GRINDING OR SCRAPPING NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS ONLY PRESENT DURING COLD WEATHER. SEEMS TO DIMINISH AS VEHICLE IS USED BUT SOMETIMES REMAINS FOR LONG PERIODS. CAN BE HEARD BY BYSTANDERS AND VERY WELL INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD NO LUCK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

41 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V571000 (SUSPENSION). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND VEERED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AT VARIOUS SPE
• BEARINGS WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

32 complaints

• I OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM INSIDE THE CAR . I HAD JUST PARKED CURBSIDE AT MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL , AS I DO EACH SCHOOL DAY MORNING TO DROP HER OFF . AS SHE LEANED IN THE BACK CARGO SPACE TO PULL OUT HER BACK PACK AND LUNCH BOX THE CARGODOOR STARTED TO CLOSE ON ITS OWN ON MY DAUGH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTO START IGNITION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE CONTACT COULD EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A CHIME SOUNDING TO ALERT THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL OPERATING. THE VEH
• WHEN BREAKING HAVE A VERY UNUSUAL SMELL COMING FROM THE BREAK. VEHICLE HAS A 2 TO 4 SECOND DELAY WHEN APPLYING THE GAS. THE HATCH BACK WILL OPEN BY ITS SELF AND SOMETIMES CLOSE BY IT SELF. *TR

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

“I OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM INSIDE THE CAR . I HAD JUST PARKED CURBSIDE AT MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL , AS I DO EACH SCHOOL DAY MORNING TO DROP HER OFF . AS SHE LEANED IN THE BACK CARGO SPACE TO PULL OUT HER BACK PACK AND LUNCH BOX THE CARGODOOR STARTED TO CLOSE ON ITS OWN ON MY DAUGH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

29 complaints

• PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH NAVIGATION OPTION. UPON FIRST USE, VOICE DIRECTIONS WERE TERRIBLY WRONG. DEALER ORDERED NEW NAVIGATION DISK FROM CADILLAC - BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER THREE MONTHS. CADILLAC REGIONAL MANAGER SAID PROBLEM WILL NOT BE FIXED UNTIL 2014 MODEL YEAR. HIG
• WHEN I WAS LOADING ITEMS INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR, THE CLOSE BUTTON WAS ACCIDENTLY HIT, THE HATCH CAME DOWN AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD AND MY ARM. IT DID NOT STOP AND REVERSE, I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. I TRIED IT AGAIN, AND WHEN I PUT MY ARM OUT TO STOP THE HATCH TO SEE IF IT WOULD REVERSE, IT PUT S
• LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE , NO APPARENT DAMAGE, PUNCTURE OR VISIBLE CAUSE . SAME MICHELIN TIRE WILL LOSE 2-3 # OVER ONE WEEK OF DRIVING . DEALERSHIP CHECKED TWICE, TIRE COMPANY THOROUGHLY CHECKED AND CONCLUDED LEAK MAY BE CAUSED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TIRE AND OR THE RUBBER COMPOUND. AIR PRESSURE

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

“PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH NAVIGATION OPTION. UPON FIRST USE, VOICE DIRECTIONS WERE TERRIBLY WRONG. DEALER ORDERED NEW NAVIGATION DISK FROM CADILLAC - BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER THREE MONTHS. CADILLAC REGIONAL MANAGER SAID PROBLEM WILL NOT BE FIXED UNTIL 2014 MODEL YEAR. HIG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 515 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM AND IMPEDED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,5
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: SEVERE GRINDING OR SCRAPPING NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS ONLY PRESENT DURING COLD WEATHER. SEEMS TO DIMINISH AS VEHICLE IS USED BUT SOMETIMES REMAINS FOR LONG PERIODS. CAN BE HEARD BY BYSTANDERS AND VERY WELL INSIDE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD NO LUCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM INSIDE THE CAR . I HAD JUST PARKED CURBSIDE AT MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL , AS I DO EACH SCHOOL DAY MORNING TO DROP HER OFF . AS SHE LEANED IN THE BACK CARGO SPACE TO PULL OUT HER BACK PACK AND LUNCH BOX THE CARGODOOR STARTED TO CLOSE ON ITS OWN ON MY DAUGH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)