2008 Cadillac CTS Brakes Problems

I was pulled over by the Police because my 2008 Cadillac CTS license plate lights were not working and my rear brake lights were not working. These light failures were caused by a known design flaw with the wiring harness in the trunk lid near the right trunk lid hinge in where the wires inside the harness that go to the brake lights break in half after repeated opening and closing of the trunk lid because of the poor design of the wiring harness and it’s mounting brackets. There should have been a safety recall from GM as I could have been killed if a car in back of me did not stop because my brake lights were not going on when I would step on my cars brake peddle! Now the car dealership service center wants to charge me $335.00 to replace the broken wires that were caused by GM/Cadillac’s poor and unsafe design of this wiring harness. Regards [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11507416

Incident

Feb 10, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC OF ARLINGTON (LOCATED AT 2001 N COLLINS ST. ARLINGTON, TX 76011, 877-880-5178) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING NEW TIRES AND BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURES, BUT THEY FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10992861

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

ON APRIL 8 2016 MY WIFE WAS ON THE WAY TO THE BANK AT PEACH AND LIBERTY IN ERIE PA. SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN SHE HAD NO TRANSMISSION OR BRAKES. LUCKILY FOR HER THE EMERGENCE BREAK WORKED BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING BACKWARDS. HAD IT TOWED TO ROTH CADILLAC IN ERIE PA. WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE BROKE (THERE WAS NO WARNING) AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE BRAKES WENT OUT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT. SO AGAIN MY WIFE CONTACTED CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS AND MY WIFE GOT AN EMAIL FROM CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS SAYING SORRY FOR YOUR PROBLEM BUT WE WILL GIVE YOU ONE HOUR OF DIAGNOSTIC FOR FREE. AND FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT.

NHTSA ID

10860352

Incident

Apr 8, 2016

Mileage

85,200 mi

I BROUGHT A 2008 CADILLAC BACK IN SEPT. 2014. APRIL OF 2015 I HAD A CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WENT OUT ON ME THREE TIMES ALL THREE TIMES I TOOK IT IN TO ROTH CADILLAC OF ERIE PA AND I ALSO CONTACT CADILLAC HEADQUARTERS AT THE SAME TIME. I PAY ALL THREE TIMES. THEY FIXED THE SENSOR AND REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS ALL THREE TIMES. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY 3-6 MONTHS IT WOULD BREAK DOWN. WE WERE TOLD BY THE MECHANIC AT ROTH CADILLAC THAT THEY GOT A MEMO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. BUT WASN'T GOING TO DO A RECALL ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10860349

Incident

Mar 4, 2016

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD RATTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, THE ABS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10786666

Incident

Aug 27, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE SO MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 5-10MPH WHEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. THE CAR STOPPED MOVING AND ALL OF THE SYSTEM WARNINGS POPPED OFF (ABS, STABILTRACK,ENGINE). THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE PCM WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. COST WAS APPROX $200. AFTER THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, I WAS DRIVING ON AN EXIT RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE WHEN ONCE AGAIN THE WHOLE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. ALL OF THE SYSTEM WARNINGS POPPED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T THE PCM AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME $265.00 TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. IT WAS FIXED FOR APPROX $800.00. EACH OF THE SYSTEM SHUT DOWNS HAPPENED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE ABOUT OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712327

Incident

Nov 6, 2014

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE BRAKES BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,134, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,400. UPDATED 7/14/15*CN THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT OVERNIGHT. AN AUXILIARY VACUUM PUMP WAS INSTALLED PER BULLETIN 07-05-22-003. UPDATED 07/21/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10604502

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

Mileage

46,134 mi

FIRST INCIDENT: WHEN DRIVING, ENGINE WOULD LOOSE POWER, ENGINE LIGHT ON, FUEL PUMP REPLACED SECOND INCIDENT: TWO WEEKS LATER, DRIVING CAR AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, NO POWER, NO BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, GAS MILEAGE TO EMPTY WAS AT 68 MILES. REPLACED FUEL GAUGES THIRD INCIDENT: ONE WEEK AFTER REPLACED FUEL GAUGE, ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, NO BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, AND GAS MILEAGE READ OUT WAS 69 MILES. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE AT A STANDSTILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR RESTARTED, WENT TO GAS STATION, FILLED THE CAR WITH GAS, IT TOOK 14.7 GALLONS, THE CTS GAS CAPACITY IS 18 GALLONS. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. JUST WAITING FOR A SOLUTION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588907

Incident

Apr 18, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING SIGNS DISPLAY REMAINS ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE'S A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUNDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573235

Incident

Sep 30, 2013

Mileage

37,560 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A GARAGE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED AT AN ABNORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE AUXILIARY VACUUM PUMP FAILED. THE AUXILIARY VACUUM PUMP AND SYSTEM KIT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,280 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 5/28/14*CN

NHTSA ID

10573233

Incident

Jan 4, 2014

Mileage

59,280 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE IT WAS HARD TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES AND THEY STATED ON THE INVOICE "NO BULLETIN AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH BRAKES". THEY DID STATE IF YOU WANT TO BRING VEHICLE IN AND LEAVE OVER NIGHT WE CAN INSPECT BRAKES WHEN COLD. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED ON MARCH 14, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10569251

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

52,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND HEADING ON A CURVE I DIDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS 25 MPH AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 AND I BRAKE AND I SLID, HIT A TREE ABOUT THREE FISTS THICK SLIDE ON MY DRIVERS SIDE WHICH IS COMPLETELY SMUSHED IN AND ROLLED OVER AND FELL STRAIGHT INTO A DITCH UP SIDE DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554089

Incident

Nov 17, 2013

Mileage

58,700 mi

WHILE TRYING TO PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STIFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND IT COST ME $2,558.35 TO REPLACE STEERING PUMP AND TO GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. A WEEK LATER I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR NOISES AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND STABILIZER LINKS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THAT JOB COST ME $1,362.93. IN APRIL 2013, MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DIDN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HOUSING SPLIT, TRIM PAD AND HANDLE HOUSING. THIS JOB COST ME $1,376.99. NOT SURE WHY I'M HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I GET ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND ALL JOBS ARE DONE AT A GM CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533143

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

122,538 mi

DROVE ON A STREET WITH A 2" SNOW COVER. AFTER ABOUT 25 FEET RECEIVED A NUMBER OF ALERTS ON MY DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER STATING: 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS OFF, ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING, SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST. IMMEDIATELY CALLED CADILLAC SERVICE WHO STATED SNOW COULD HAVE DISLODGED SOME WIRES, BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE. SINCE MANY ALL STATES GET SOME SNOWFALL CADILLAC NEEDS TO REDESIGN THE WIRING SO A SMALL ABOUT OF SNOW DOESN'T DISCONNECT CRITICAL VEHICLE FUNCTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310174

Incident

Feb 13, 2010

Mileage

24,068 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING; HOWEVER, THEY WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE SINCE JANUARY 2009. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,100 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 12/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09*JB

NHTSA ID

10291269

Incident

Jun 30, 2009

Mileage

6,000 mi

BRAKE SQUEAL ON MY 2008 CTS ALMOST FROM THE TIME IT LEFT THE DEALER SHOWROOM ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2008. DEALER STATES THAT CADILLAC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THAT CADILLAC HAS YET TO AUTHORIZE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. DEALER INDICATES THAT CERAMIC BRAKES WOULD CORRECT THE SITUATION BUT ONCE AGAIN CADILLAC DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT CERAMIC BRAKES FOR THE CAR. THEY HAVE THEM FOR OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THE CTS ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261855

Incident

Sep 20, 2008

Mileage

850 mi

A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE 2008 CADILLAC CTS THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING EVERY TIME THEY WERE APPLIED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID TO RIDE THE BRAKES WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY TO CLEAN OFF THE METAL FILINGS ON THE BRAKE ROTORS DUE TO BRAKE DUST. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. BRAKES HAVE CONTINUED TO SQUEAK FOR MONTHS DESPITE RIDING BRAKES ON OPEN HIGHWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259839

Incident

Aug 23, 2008

Mileage

2,000 mi

BRAKES SCREECH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THEY HAVE DONE THIS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER DELIVERY OF CAR WHICH IS ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO. FIRST TIME THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ANOTHER SERVICE WRITER VALIDATED THE COMPLAINT AND REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS. SEEMED TO BE BETTER FOR A VERY SHORT TIME, BUT IT STARTED AGAIN AND CONTINUES. HAVE CONTINUED TO INFORM DEALER OF THIS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS SERVICED WITHOUT RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258759

Incident

Jun 16, 2008

REAR BRAKES GRAB AND SQUEAL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. 2008 CTS CADILLAC WITH 3500 MILES, 4 MONTHS OLD. THIS WAS ON 12/30/08. WAS TOLD BY DEALER ON 1/12/09 NO PARTS AVAILABLE FROM GM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254733

Incident

Dec 30, 2008

Mileage

3,000 mi

BRAKES SQUEALING. TECHNICIAN SAYS IT'S DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS AND GM IS AWARE. NO GET WELL DATE. RIGHT FRONT STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED, STILL MAKES THE SAME CREAKING NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234882

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

3,000 mi

I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY LET ME GO WITH THE ABS LIGHT ON AND THE STABILITY TRACK LIGHT ON. IF I KNEW THE THAT THIS CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE WITH THESE SAFETY FIXTURES OUT I WOULD HAVE NEVER PICKED UP THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232458

Incident

Jun 26, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT BUMPER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,500.

NHTSA ID

10222933

Incident

Mar 29, 2008

Mileage

1,500 mi