2007 Cadillac CTS Electrical Problems

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRESTMONT CADILLAC (26000 CHAGRIN BLVD, BEACHWOOD, OH 44122, (216) 831-5300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED FOR THE IGNITION AND KEY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,223.

NHTSA ID

11207971

Incident

Apr 9, 2019

Mileage

95,223 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AS A RESULT, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10955364

Incident

Feb 17, 2017

WHILE DRIVING CAR ON CITY STREET ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME, NOTICED SMELL COMING OUT OF VENTS. PULLED OVER TO CHECK FOR PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. CALLED FIRE DEPT WHO CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE FRONT OF CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REPORT AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT GOING TO GET INVOLVED. NO INVESTIGATION OR HELP WHAT SO EVER. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SHORT, NOT FUEL RELATED. FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE NEAR THE BATTERY.THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN NORMALLY WHILE ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10949014

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING THE RADIO TURNS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY STATIONARY OR MOVING. THE VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SOMETIMES WON'T START WHEN TURNING ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. AIRBAG LIGHTS IS ON AND CHECK VOLTAGE LIGHT ARE REGISTERING WHILE STATIONARY OR DRIVING. THE PLUGS, ALTERNATOR AND CORE PACK WAS REPLACED HOPING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DENIED ME ANY SERVICE UNDER THE RECALL PROBLEMS I WAS EXPERIENCING. THERE POSITION IS THE RECALL IS VIN. SPECIFIC.

NHTSA ID

10898720

Incident

Jul 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SURGED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO GO INTO THE OPPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES AS WELL AS PAINS TO THE RIGHT HAND AND ARM. THE CRASH CAUSED AN ELEVATION IN BLOOD PRESSURE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, TOWED, AND INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE BRAKES DID NOT PREVENT THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 10V105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10885484

Incident

Jan 22, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE KEY CAME OUT THE IGNITION. THE DEALER PERFORMED A REPAIR, BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING SINCE THE REPAIR. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10743400

Incident

Jan 12, 2015

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10733994

Incident

Jul 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10706347

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MOMENTARILY FLICKERED. THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP ON THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10695403

Incident

Feb 4, 2015

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER RESTARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10684306

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

86,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN WITH THE AC ON WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THE GAUGES IN THE CAR DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE CAR INSIDE BECAME VERY HOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED UP. I IMMEDIATELY GRIPPED THE WHEEL AS TIGHT AS I COULD AND MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO CRASH. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SHUTTING ITSELF DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I PULLED OVER I HAD TO FORCE IT INTO PARK. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE, WE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT AND KILLED BY ANOTHER CAR. IT HAPPENED SO FAST. ANOTHER INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED TODAY WAS THAT I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND TRIED TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND THE KEY WOULD NOT MOVE OR COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR RAN FOR A WHILE AND THAN SHUT OFF, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS WERE BLINKING VERY FAST AND DID THAT UNTIL THE BATTERY DIED AND THE KEY IS STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. USUALLY THE KEY WILL COME OUT AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, BUT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 BATTERIES FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR UNTIL NOW. I WILL NEVER BUY A CADILLAC VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683698

Incident

Apr 18, 2014

Mileage

73,000 mi

2007 CADILLAC DTS. CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER. COMPLAINS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE RECALL *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT REPLACED. ONLY A MODIFICATION TO THE KEY AND RING WAS DONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10661673

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10661089

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10661051

Incident

Nov 26, 2014

A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED BY GM FOR 2004-2007 CADILLAC CTS-V CARS CONCERNING THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MELTING A HOLE AND ALLOWING FOR A FUEL LEAK. SEE GM RECALL: N140405 I HAVE VERIFIED THAT MY CAR USES THE EXACT SAME FUEL PUMP THAT IS IN ALL THE RECALLED CARS. THE SAME PUMP WOULD THEN REQUIRE THE USE OF THE SAME STYLE CONNECTOR THAT IS PRONE TO MELTING AND SPILLING FUEL. I WOULD LIKE MY FUEL PUMP TO BE REPAIRED JUST AS ALL THE OTHER 2004-2007 CTS-V'S. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658962

Incident

Nov 18, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS, THE TRACTION AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER MISFIRED AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS SHORTENED WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10650961

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ADVISE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10650655

Incident

Oct 28, 2014