Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Cadillac CTS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 42, in the owner's own words
Engine burns 1quart of oil, 100 miles. Brakes went to floor, brake lines had holes at 69,000 miles. Driver rear axel leaks. 2006 Cadillac CTS is a lemon!! Money Pit !!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LYNCH CADILLAC OF AUBURN (154 W CREEK PKWY, AUBURN, AL 36830) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LEAKS WERE SEEN BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V589000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,090.
THE CAR REVS UP THE RPM VERY HIGH AND THE CAR WILL ONLY BE TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. THE CAR WAS PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE THAT RETURNED THE CODE P1793.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CREST CADILLAC (2121 ROSA L PARKS BLVD, NASHVILLE, TN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION SUPPORT WERE NOT THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ENGINE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED POWER WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTED OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AFTER DISCOVERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V589000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN AFTER THE TRACTION ENGAGED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED RAPIDLY INCREASED; HOWEVER, THE SPEED BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL INSTRUCTED HIM TO DEPRESS THE TRACTION BUTTON THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BUTTON AND IT RE-ENGAGED THE TRACTION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,400.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO EXCEED 40 MPH. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE REDUCED MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, I HAVE HAD A LOUD BANG IN THE REAR END WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CHANGES GEARS. I HAVE BEEN INTO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT BUT THEY NEVER CORRECTED IT OR EVEN EXPLAINED IT. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PINION SEAL THAT THEY DID REPLACE BUT IT DID NOT HELP THE BANG IN THE REAR END. RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL AND BUSHINGS WHICH ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL CAN SHIFT AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. I WENT BACK INTO THE DEALER WHO SENT 78 PAGES OF REPAIR AND COMPLAINT HISTORY OF THIS CAR TO GENERAL MOTORS, WHO BASICALLY SAID IF I WOULD HAVE CONTACTED THEM WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY MIGHT TAKE STEPS WITH THE REPAIR. WELL I DID CONTACT THEM DURING THE EARLIER YEARS SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT TODAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, THE SHIFT LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE AXLE PINION SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V589000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE EASILY COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED IN TRAFFIC. GM MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IT IS POORLY DESIGNED COOLANT SYSTEM AND ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING THE FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION AFTER BEING REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,585.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 CADILLAC CTS 3.6L V6 WITH A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS A $1,500 REPAIR. I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO PULL ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE 2007 MODEL, IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. UPON RESEARCHING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CADILLAC CTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF ITS APPEARANCE IN 2003. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM 2003 TO 2006 FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE NHTFS WEBSITE WAS THE SAME AS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IN THE YEARS COVERED BY GM'S SPECIAL EXTENDED WARRANTY (GM SUBJECT 10287 CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN ISSUE) FOR THE 2007-2009 CTS. GM REALIZED THE TIMING BELTS WERE AN ISSUE AND FOUND A WAY TO ONLY COVER THOSE 3 YEARS BY BLAMING THE NEED TO REPROGRAM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. BY DOING THIS THEY MANAGED TO PREVENT INVESTIGATIONS BY THE NHTFS REGARDING THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. WHILE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE IN THE 2007 ' 2009 YEARS, IT IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE SINCE THE PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE 4 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ADDITION OF THE FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO COMPLAINTS RELATED TO TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. THIS INDICATES THAT PERHAPS THE TIMING CHAINS BEING USED PREVIOUSLY WERE LIKELY REPLACED, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE THAT. THE NHTFS HAS NEVER INVESTIGATED THE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM IN THE 7 YEARS IT WAS OCCURRING. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST PEOPLE FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT A TIMING CHAIN DON'T KNOW HOW TO CATEGORIZE IT (I FOUND INSTANCES UNDER AIRBAGS, ELECTRICAL, ETC.) THESE ARE ONLY THE CASES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTFS, BUT THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,536.
REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING, AND MAKES NOISE HARD GRINDING NOISE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. CAUSING A CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF A BAD ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. TODAY MY CAR WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT STILL RUNS IT JUST WILL NOT MOVE. THIS MORNING IT CONTINUED TO STOP ACCELERATING. CAUSING SOME REALLY CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. LUCKILY I GOT MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOW IT WONT MOVE. *TR
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE SHOP FOUND OUT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HOSE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE RADIATOR AND TO THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT N REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
I HAD TIMING CHAIN DONE ON MY CAR IN OCT. OF 2011 AT JACK WOLF IN BELVEDIRE, IL AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS FIXED UNDER A EXTENDED WARRANTY. I THEN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AGAIN JAN. 2013. I CALLED GM I WAS TOLD THAT THEN WOULD NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ONLY BEEN A YEAR AND 6 MONTHS SINCE THE PROBLEM HAPPEN BEFORE. *TR
THIS 2006 CADILLAC CTS IS A 6 PSPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ALL OTHER GEARS WORK EXCEPT REVERSE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 20,100 MILES WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF USING A VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO DEPT AT GM ON MAUI THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE WEAR AND TEAR IN THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE CHANGED. A MONTH LATER I ATTEMPTED TO GET THIS FIXED BY THE SAME AUTO DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THEY DON'T HAVE A COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THE PARTS (PART NO 1526075) AND THEY CANNOT FIND THIS PART ANYWHERE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY PART AND FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE THIS SHIFT ASSEMBLY PART RECALLED. CHECKS MADE ON THE WEB REVEALED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON "CADILLAC.COM" AND ?AUTOPARTSFAIR.COM?. *TR
CPSC#I1280376A. 2006 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED A FRONT AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT COUPLE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATE WHEN HE RECEIVED THE PART, HE HAD IT INSTALLED AT A LOCAL GARAGE IN GERMANY. THE PART PERFORMED WELL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, ON AUGUST 6TH, AS HE WAS DRIVING, THE PART FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT, WHICH TURNED THE REAR WHEELS, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT COUPLER WAS DESTROYED AND HAD RIPPED TO SHREDS. THE FRONT COUPLER WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS OF ADDITIONAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INSPECTION STATION. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT COUPLER WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT WAS STILL DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
FAILURE OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL REAR AXLE SEALS
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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