The Lemon Index

All cars · Cadillac CTS · 2014

2014 Cadillac CTS. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index88100 = average car
Complaints31NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold31,115U.S. model year
Per 100K sold100complaints
Complaint rank#6 of 12among the 12 scored Cadillac CTS model years (2003–2014); #1 = fewest complaints per car sold, not the YouTube rank

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,000 and 26,000 miles. Median 10,820, from 25 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Electrical23%
Tires13%
Transmission & drivetrain10%
Body structure10%
Wheels10%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
3120300

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 6

  • 18V595000 Sep 2018 Seats / Front Assembly / Seat Heater/Cooler

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.

    Risk. In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.

  • 14V614000 Oct 2014 Electrical System

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

    Risk. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

  • 14V446000 Jul 2014 Seats

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

    Risk. A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.

  • 14V394000 Jul 2014 Electrical System / Ignition

    Defect. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or s

    Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

  • 14V338000 Jun 2014 Power Train / Automatic Transmission

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.

    Risk. If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle i

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.

  • 14V253000 May 2014 Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Motor

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, through February 26, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off with wiper functionality left on and the wipers then become restricted, such as when covered in ice or snow, and the vehicle's battery goes dead and needs to be jump started, upon being jump started, the wipers will be inoperative.

    Risk. An inoperative windshield wiper system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2104. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14157.

Manufacturer communications 2065

Cadillac filed 2065 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • From rear differential, there is leaking, on some vehicles, due to pinion seal journal having…
  • Gmc/cadillac/chevrolet: after positioning shift lever into park, it fails to hold and vehicle…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Cadillac CTS 2 DR RWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Cadillac CTS SW AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Cadillac CTS SW RWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Engines and drivetrains 10

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)RWD20 / 29 / 23Regular$2,700
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD19 / 28 / 22Regular$2,850
3.0L 6-cylAuto (S6)RWD18 / 26 / 21Regular$2,950
3.0L 6-cylAuto (S6)AWD18 / 26 / 21Regular$2,950
3.6L 6-cylAuto (S8)RWD18 / 28 / 22Regular$2,850
3.6L 6-cylAuto (S6)AWD18 / 26 / 21Regular$2,950
3.6L 6-cylAuto (S6)RWD18 / 27 / 21Regular$2,950
3.6L 6-cyl turboAuto (S8)RWD16 / 24 / 18Premium$4,300
6.2L 8-cyl superchargedManual 6-spdRWD14 / 19 / 16Premium$4,850
6.2L 8-cyl superchargedAuto (S6)RWD12 / 18 / 14Premium$5,550

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2011634155,042Transmission & drivetrain
2012472646,979Electrical
2013843932,343Electrical
2014883131,115Electrical
2015–11–Electrical
2016–9–Electrical
2017–8–Wheels

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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