2007 Cadillac CTS Owner Complaints

Vehicle primarily failed while parked at owner residence [XXX] and remained inoperable for approximately three weeks prior to tow to Cadillac dealership. The ignition key became trapped and could not be removed. A manual override release beneath the driver-side steering column was required to free the key — confirming the lock was held electronically, not mechanically jammed. Fault confirmed by authorized Cadillac dealer: intermittent electrical fault within the shifter assembly lock mechanism. A similar intermittent concern was previously documented on this vehicle in 2011 (logged as "Customer Concern Not Duplicated"), establishing a recurring pattern. GM Technical Service Bulletin 07-07-30-032D (2006–2011 Cadillac CTS, automatic transmission) explicitly documents this exact condition: key sticking, Shift to Park DIC message, shifter binding, and battery drain. OEM replacement part is now discontinued. Manufacturer declined goodwill or recall coverage. Dealer refuses repair unless owner assumes full financial responsibility for a used part with no warranty and no guarantee against recurrence. Safety concern: ignition/shift interlock failure causing vehicle immobilization, key entrapment, and loss of transportation for an elderly owner dependent on the vehicle for medical care. Defect evades shop diagnosis due to intermittency. No safe OEM remedy exists. Prior recall: NHTSA 14V394000 / GM Campaign 14172 addressed same interlock system. Current failure represents recurrence beyond that recall's scope. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11737285

Incident

Mar 15, 2026

The contact owned a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving 40-43 MPH, a bicyclist suddenly pulled in front of the vehicle. The contact veered away from the bicyclist, causing the vehicle to crash into a utility pole. The utility pole was damaged. The air bags failed to deploy, and the contact hit the chest and head against the steering wheel. The contact immediately went to the hospital and was provided medical assistance. The contact sustained contusions on the chest and on the head, and the contact sustained bruises on the left and right legs. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure was approximately 71,000.

NHTSA ID

11695192

Incident

Sep 13, 2025

Mileage

71,000 mi

Brakes failed. This happened at low speed and control was kept of the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was seen the flexible brake line connecting the driver's side brake caliper had separated at the point it transitions from rubber to metal. It happened immediately after turning right at a stop light and there was no warning. The design of the transition meant that there was no leak of fluid (warning) until the connection had corroded to the point it lost its strength, failed and completely detached. The local GM dealership was called and they advised there was no recall and would only work on the vehicle for payment, so it was not taken to them. The components were replaced on both sides. Old parts have been kept.

NHTSA ID

11687468

Incident

Mar 4, 2025

One day when I went to sit in the front passenger seat a message came on the Driver Information Center displaying, "SERVICE AIR BAG" and then I notice that the indicator light on the dash was displaying the Air Bag warning light, and the rearview mirror was showing that the passenger air bag was off. Without the air bag working I cannot ride in the front seat of the car and due to the fact that if we are in a car accident the air bag will not deploy. The dealer has been able to reproduce this issue several times over the last 13 years. Yes, I have been dealing with this issue since 2012, every time I ask to have the seat diagnosed, they say "No we will not be doing that for you" - [XXX] and [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11671720

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

The service air bag light has been on for several years. I called a few years ago and was told it was a recall and Cadillac would stand by it. It would not expire I took it to the Cadillac place. They would not honor it

NHTSA ID

11528754

Incident

Jun 12, 2019

The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the passenger's side air bag was deactivated while occupied by a passenger. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11505018

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

Mileage

125,000 mi

Complete brake line failure due to corrosion as described in Recall Number 10V105000 / 09149B. Original equipment retained from rear brake line repair for future inspection / litigation. CADILLAC REFUSED TO REPAIR / REPLACE / REIMBURSE FOR BRAKE FAILURE UNDER RECALL BULLETIN 09149B.

NHTSA ID

11492675

Incident

Aug 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle, he attempted to release the ignition key from the ignition switch however, the key remained stuck inside the ignition switch. The message Thief was displayed. The contact was able to release the ignition key after several minutes. The contact stated upon entering the ignition key inside the ignition switch and starting the vehicle in his garage, the message Thief was displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle but could not release the ignition key from the ignition switch. The contact stated that the ignition key had remained stuck inside the ignition key for a week. Additionally, the contact stated that the gear shifter had seized in park(P). An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle in for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000. The consumer stated after having the vehicle repaired air condition, cruise control, and speedometer stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11476133

Incident

Jul 13, 2022

Mileage

99,000 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact works for an independent mechanic and place the vehicle on a lift and noticed that both the driver’s and passenger’s side rear brake cable had cracks and leakage of brake fluid from the brake line due to severe corrosion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11435428

Incident

Oct 3, 2021

Mileage

79,000 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the ignition switch failed, and the steering wheel locked causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed on the driver's side on-ramp. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact and his daughter sustained injuries to the back but did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, then to the dealer. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V394000 (Electrical System). The contact received the recall notification after the crash. The contact stated that the dealer refused to provide a diagnostic test on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle owner was responsible for the cost of the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11423819

Incident

Dec 28, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

Rear differential seal leaking Midas told me when I had the oil changed right after I got the car exactly one year and one day ago today and there is like a weird noise when I drive but if I turn the heat or air in it stops

NHTSA ID

11421361

Incident

Jun 17, 2020

When driving my car will shut off by its self and it has done this the whole time I have had the car... When it shuts off the car gets reads stuck in park because the key gets stuck in ignition... When nights are on and I turn right my height lights come on... And my passenger air bag light came on and won't go off

NHTSA ID

11421360

Incident

Apr 16, 2021

MY OIL KEEPS RUNNING LOW EVERY 2 MONTHS AND MAKES A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. WAS TOLD THAT MY OIL IS BURNING AND THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN IT STARTS TO JERK AND STARTS KICKING BACK AND MAKE KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11415343

Incident

May 2, 2021

Mileage

179,900 mi

TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN LOOSENED AND POSSIBLY READY TO BREAK. SERVICE BULLETIN #11340C WAS ISSUED AND GM/CADILLAC NEVER CONTACTED ME FOR THE SPECIAL COVERAGE REPAIR. THEY ARE NOW REFUSING TO ASSIST ME. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE WAS BURNING RUBBER SMELL AND CAR HESITATED, FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY COUNTY ROAD IN DANVILLE INDIANA

NHTSA ID

11415206

Incident

May 4, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL. THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND TWO UNKNOWN DEALERS TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE MECHANICS PERFORMED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINES COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE DEALERS PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINES COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11397719

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

117,000 mi

"SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT CAME ON IN 2021 AFTER PSS MAT BEING REPLACED IN 2011 RECALL #10355 RENDERING THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM ( BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER) INACTIVE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY IN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUE. DEALERSHIP REPORTED BOTH AIRBAGS INOPERABLE WHILE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT IS ON CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11394417

Incident

Jan 26, 2021

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ENTERING THE FREEWAY AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURNED THE WHEEL, AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE WALL RAMP. THE CONTACT, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED, HIS DAUGHTER WAS A MEDICAL SURGEON AND TOOK CARE OF THEM. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SYMES CADILLAC, 3475 E COLORADO BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91107, AND WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULT BUT HAD SEND THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11394312

Incident

Dec 28, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE SELLER LIED ABOUT EVERYTHING! THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED WAS IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. HE BRAGGED ABOUT BEING A MECHANIC, AND DOING ALL THE WORK ON THE CAR, SO EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS IN, "TIP TOP SHAPE." HE REPLIED, "NO, NEVER!" HE DID NOT ALLOW US TO RIDE THE CAR ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE THE PURCHASE, CLAIMING IT WAS ILLEGAL. 10 MINS AFTER LEAVING THE CAR LOT, THE CAR CUTS OFF AND IS UNABLE TO CRANK BACK UP. THE SELLER MEETS US AND CLAIMS IT THE BATTERY. A "NEW" BATTERY WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. MY FIANC, WHO IS NOT A MECHANIC, TOLD HIM MORE THAN ONCE, THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE BATTERY, BUT THE ALTERNATOR. HE GOT THE CAR TO CRANK. AS WE ARE RIDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR CUTS OFF, AND WE ARE LEFT AIMLESSLY ROLLING AND ARE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE WHEEL. PLUS, THE ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR IS OFF SO WE CAN'T EVEN TURN ON OUR HAZARD LIGHTS TO CAUTION THE OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE SELLER, ONCE AGAIN, HE TELLS US THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO ABOUT IT AND WILL NOT CANCEL THE DEAL. WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4-5 HOURS. AFTER SPEAKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, THEY QUICKLY CONFIRM THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS THE PROBLEM AND ANYBODY THAT CLAIMS TO BE A MECHANIC CAN SEE THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. THEY ALSO INFORM US THE CAR HAS BEEN WRECKED AND SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLD FOR SAFETY MEASURES. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ALMOST COST US OUR LIVES.

NHTSA ID

11373569

Incident

Nov 6, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY 2007 MODEL YEAR CADILLAC CTS VEHICLE HAD A CONDITION WHERE REPEATED FLEXING OF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAS CAUSED THE MAT TO KINK, BEND, OR FOLD. THE FLEXING BROKE THE CONNECTIONS IN THE MAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS BECOME DISABLED. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF, THE AIR BAG INDICTOR DOES ILLUMINATE, AND A SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE DOES APPEAR IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND HAS FOR YEARS! I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASK VILLAGE CADILLAC, SERVICE ADVISOR: DEBBIE HENRY TO HAVE THE SEAT FIXED. THE PROBLEM WITH SERVICE ADVISOR IS THAT SHE LOOKS AT YOUR RECALL RECORDS. YOUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS, WHICH IS CORRECT. WHAT I HAVE IS A LETTER FROM CADILLAC P.O. BOX 909989 MILWAUKEE, WI 53209-9989, STATING THAT THIS MAT CAN BREAK AND IT HAS BROKEN. ALSO, THE PLASTIC HOUSING OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, WHICH HAS STARTED TO FRAY THE SEATBELT STRAP. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE.

NHTSA ID

11365609

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN GETTING INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SOMEONE WEIGHED ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG TO BE ON THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD FLICKER. THEN AFTER A WHILE THE AIR BAG LIGHT JUST STAYED ON AND HASN'T TURNED OFF EVEN WHEN KNOWONES SITTING THEIR. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ONLY WHEN SOMEONE WOULD ENTER THE CAR WHILE STATIONARY WITH THE VEHICLE ON. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS SINCE THIS HAS STARTED.

NHTSA ID

11363912

Incident

Aug 28, 2020

Mileage

146,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN OUR HOME GARAGE. IT WOULD NOT START, IT WOULD START WHEN JUMPED BUT DIED SHORTLY AFTER. WE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED, IT WAS BAD, WE REPLACED W A NEW BATTERY. CAR STARTED RIGHT UP, BUT WOULD NOT CUT POWER ONCE THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. CAR DINGS AND DASH AND RADIO ARE ON AS IF KEYS ARE STILL IN THE IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

11350298

Incident

Aug 18, 2020

Mileage

234,000 mi

MINE IS THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPS CAUSED FROM WRONG VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE LIFE ON THE OIL

NHTSA ID

11321872

Incident

Apr 2, 2020

Mileage

178,563 mi

I WAS GIVING A RECALL PAPER IN THE MAIL , SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE ADDRESS LISTED ON THE REFORM. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T DO THE RECALL. THE REASON THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT KEYS AND WAS TOLD ' YOU CAR DOESN'T NEED IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM UNLESS YOU HAVE THE ORIGINAL KEY'. I TRIED CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER TO CONFIRM THIS CLAM BUT THEY LEFT ME ON HOLD. I HAVE THE IMPRESSION THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE SERVICE FOR FREE.I JUST WANT TO KNOW WEATHER MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11319452

Incident

Mar 25, 2020

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT WHEN HIT THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. I WAS HIT TWICE ON DRIVER REAR AND PASSENGER REAR, SPUN OUT AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS CROSSING OVER A CITY ROAD FROM A STOP SIGN, WAS HIT AT 60 MPH. I WAS DOING 20 MPH GOING STRAIGHT ACROSS FROM THE STOP SIGN.

NHTSA ID

11300547

Incident

Oct 18, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEED THE BRAKES FAILED SO I CENTERED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR STOPPED.

NHTSA ID

11269777

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

233,160 mi