RoadVitals

2011 Cadillac Cts-V

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Dec 3, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Cadillac Cts-V, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), airbags and fuel system categories. 252 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)342.9%
  • Airbags228.6%
  • Fuel system114.3%
  • Seat belts114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Dec 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS-V. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK CITY CHEVROLET (5101 EAST INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED INSIDE THE SEAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID
11155695
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
101,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2018

MY 2011 CTS-V REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS NOW FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST OFF, MY CAR HAS BEEN BABIED AND EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE DIFFERENTIAL FIRST FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 17,500 MILES AND NOW THIS SECOND TIME AT APPROXIMATELY 38,900 MILES. BOTH TIMES THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS STARTED TO MAKE WHINING AND/OR GROWLING NOISES THAT PROGRESSIVELY GET WORSE. MY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FIRST ONE AND HAS HAD THE SECOND ONE BACK ORDERED NOW FOR 2 MONTHS (NONE IN INVENTORY & NO ESTIMATED SHIPMENT). THIS IS A WELL REPORTED ISSUE (109 OCCURRENCES FOUND ON LINE) FOR THESE CARS. WHY HAS CADILLAC NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND AFFECTED A FIX? WHAT ARE THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION RESULTS?

NHTSA ID
11119736
Incident
Jun 15, 2018
Mileage
38,900 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2018

MY CTS-V CURRENTLY HAS 56,000 MILES AND VERY WELL CARED FOR. MY PROBLEM STARTED AT 25,XXX MILES WITH A REAR SEAL LEAK, IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AND 9 MONTHS LATER STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. AFTER THE 4TH TRIP TO THE DEALER, THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT'S THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT IS A 'KNOWN ISSUE' (WITH RECALLS ON THE EARLIER CTS-V'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS) THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE NO REAR DIFFERENTIALS! GM HAS DISCONTINUED THE PART ( MY CAR IS 6 1/2 YEARS OLD AND THEY MADE THIS CAR THROUGH 2015 AND GM SAYS THE PART IS DISCONTINUED! THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE CARE IS 'UNSAFE' TO DRIVE AND SUGGEST I PICK THE CAR UP ON A FLAT BED TRUCK AND TAKE BACK HOME AND GARAGE IT.

NHTSA ID
11118828
Incident
Jul 24, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 30, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER BEING PRESENT. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER DETECTION MODULE WAS GOING OUT AND WHEN THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED MEANING THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT....I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS MODULE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE MODULE DETECTS THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON TO DETERMINE IF THE PERSON WEIGHS ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS...IF AIRBAGS ARE A REQUIREMENT SHOULD THEM WORKING ALSO BE A REQUIREMENT.....I WAS THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED FOR NHTSA TO ISSUES A RECALL. THAT'S LIKE SAYING NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11051381
Incident
Nov 25, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 3, 2017

PLEASE KNOW THE CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS MY DREAM CAR AND STAYS WELL KEPT IN MY GARAGE. IT ONLY HAS 19,500 MILES ON IT. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINES OR HOWLS BETWEEN 40-70MPG WHEN UNDER LIGHT LOAD (LIKE CRUISING OR USING CRUISE CONTROL) IN 4TH, 5TH, AND 6TH GEAR.

NHTSA ID
11012469
Incident
Jun 14, 2017
Mileage
18,500 mi
Filed Aug 3, 2017

FIRST, PLEASE KNOW THE CAR IS A 2011 IN MINT CONDITION...STILL SMELLS NEW. I ONLY HAVE 19,500 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT SPENDS MOST OF ITS LIFE AS A GARAGE QUEEN AS IT IS MY DREAM CAR AND STAYS PROTECTED. TRUNK GETS SATURATED EVERY TIME WATER (RAIN, HOSE, ETC) GETS ON IT WHETHER DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. I PULLED THE FABRIC PANELS OUT OF THE TRUNK AND FOUND WATER LEAKING IN AT THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT (6 BOLTS AND 3 ALIGNMENT PINS) AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LAMP (3 SCREWS, 1 WIRING HARNESS, AND A BODY PLUG). THAT'S 14 PENETRATIONS THAT WERE LEAKING. GM ASKED THAT I PAY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE (WHICH I HAD ALREADY DONE BUT I OBLIGED ANYWAY) AND TO SEND THEM THE REPORT AND INVOICE. I DID THIS AND INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE WATER LEAKS. DEALERSHIP WANTS $1,380.08 TO CORRECT THIS BY REPLACING 3RD BRAKE LIGHT, ADDING GROMMET KIT, AND REPLACING DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LAMP. GM ONLY OFFERED A $100 VOUCHER TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR BUT WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID
11012466
Incident
Jul 26, 2017
Mileage
19,452 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 1, 2017

GASOLINE LEAK FROM THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND UPON LOOKING UNDER MY CAR, NEAR THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE, I FOUND A SMALL PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND. I COULD SEE GASOLINE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. I RESEARCHED ON THE CTSVOWNERS.COM FORUM AND RATHER QUICKLY FOUND OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. IN ORDER TO FIX THE ISSUE, THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY (PART# 19207950) HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THINK THIS WARRANTS A RECALL, BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS SO HEAVY IT MIGHT CAN IGNITE IN A GARAGE AND POTENTIAL DANGER FROM CATCHING FIRE WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST. EACH OF THE CARS I READ WITH THE SAME ISSUE, ALL HAD LESS THAN 50K MILES.

NHTSA ID
10992616
Incident
May 24, 2017
Mileage
48,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT3271Q

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

PIP6104

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

PIP4902V

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIP4902U

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT5214G

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

13598

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Cts-V by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018000
2016000
2015110
2014010
2012200
2011Viewing700
2010100
2007110
2006310
2005710
2004510

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.