The Lemon IndexCadillac CTS reliability.
Is it reliable? Yes. A bit over half as many complaints as the average car.
Better than average · 2010–2014
20143rd generation
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Cadillac CTS videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2010.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/cadillac-cts/" title="Cadillac CTS reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="491" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/cadillac-cts/">Lemon Index</a> (Cadillac CTS reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Cadillac CTS.
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Quick answers.
Is the Cadillac CTS reliable?
Yes. It draws a bit over half as many complaints as the average car. Fewest complaints: 2010.
Is the Cadillac CTS a good car?
Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2014: Lemon Index 62; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2010 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2014 the most.
What are the best Cadillac CTS years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2010, 2012, 2011. 2010 drew the fewest.
What Cadillac CTS years should you stay away from?
The 3 years with the most complaints per car sold since 2010: 2014 (about average, Lemon Index 88, the first year of a new generation), 2013 (better than average, Lemon Index 84). 100 is the average car; lower is better.
How many recalls does the Cadillac CTS have?
61 safety recalls across the 17 model years we track. Most: 2004 (6), 2005 (6), 2006 (6). Each year's page lists them, and every Cadillac CTS recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Cadillac CTS problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, electrical and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 139 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 99 | engine (15%) | 4 | — | 19 |
| 2004 | 160 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 78 | transmission & drivetrain (42%) | 6 | — | 17–19 |
| 2005 | 181 | about twice the average car's complaints | 77 | transmission & drivetrain (70%) | 6 | — | 16–19 |
| 2006 | 130 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 45 | transmission & drivetrain (44%) | 6 | — | 17–19 |
| 2007 | 89 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 45 | transmission & drivetrain (38%) | 6 | — | 16–19 |
| 2008 | 72 | about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car | 42 | service brakes, hydraulic (21%) | 2 | — | 19–21 |
| 2009 | 122 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 38 | transmission & drivetrain (24%) | 5 | — | 19–21 |
| 2010 | 22 | about a quarter as many complaints as the average car | 11 | doors, locks & latches (18%) | 3 | — | 14–22 |
| 2011 | 63 | about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car | 41 | transmission & drivetrain (27%) | 2 | — | 14–21 |
| 2012 | 47 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 26 | electrical (35%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 14–21 |
| 2013 | 84 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 39 | electrical (49%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 14–21 |
| 2014 | 88 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 31 | electrical (23%) | 6 | ★★★★★ | 14–23 |
| 2015 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 11 | electrical (27%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 14–24 |
| 2016 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 9 | electrical (44%) | 4 | ★★★★★ | 17–25 |
| 2017 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 8 | wheels (25%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 17–25 |
| 2018 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 3 | lights (33%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 17–25 |
| 2019 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 5 | suspension (20%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 16–25 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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