2008 Cadillac CTS Electrical Problems

The recall performed on this vehicle were not performed. They played a [XXX] man made him get aThe recall performed on this vehicle we’re not performed. They played a [XXX] man made him get a timing chain for Morris Cadillac. I have several receipts from the vehicle being serviced because of the faulty windshield washer heater system that was supposed to be disabled caused an electrical short in the vehicle because it was not properly sealed water got in the wires and caused the computer to be fried this happened before the car still only has 67,000 miles and they won’t even take it in. The car stopped in the middle of the road almost killing everybody. I’ve had several technicians explain that it’s because of the faulty. Recall that they did not fix that is still exposed. Maybe they had a worker that was fired in 2017. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11663826

Incident

May 28, 2025

Vehicle Purchase Statement – Top Tier Auto I, [XXX] , purchased a vehicle from Top Tier Auto on [XXX]. The vehicle details are as follows: VIN: [XXX] Warranty: 30-day coverage for the transmission and engine After owning the vehicle for only 15 minutes, I entered the freeway, and the car began to shake violently. Shortly after, a gentleman driving behind me alerted me that sparks and fire were falling from beneath the car. I immediately pulled over, just before the engine burst into flames. The Columbus Police Department responded to the scene and had to extinguish the fire. This incident occurred within minutes of purchasing the vehicle, despite the supposed 30-day warranty covering the transmission and engine. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11639210

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

Ever since I purchased this 2008 CTS vehicle, I have dumped thousands of dollars to repair the vehicle even after the "recall repairs". Problems persist and the car has become more dangerous than ever. The vehicle had inspected by the dealership a number of times the first 5 years of ownership the first 3, listed below, were the replaced recalls from dealership, the rest are known safety issues that gm denies to admit to faults and recalls. *Ignition starter replacement (still have starter failure issues after 2 repairs from gm) *washer fluid warmer removal (they just snipped the wires and removed the component but left hot wires exposed in vehicle) *motherboard ecm replacement recall(ecm is still faulty and has caused dozens of electrical issues. **************** battery drains over night. On my 6th battery (just bought new one 3 days ago) gauge cluster never recalibrated and is completely disabled. Don't know how fast im going how much gas or any other info related to. sunroof constantly leaking, flooding vehicle and destroying the electrical components which fried many relays including the door lock and power window components vehicle refuses to turn but cranks on fuel often will not allow a fill up ecm throwing irrelevant codes headlight failure due to seal defect that allows moisture into headlight casing frequent oil loss. 2018: vehicle engine failure whilst driving on freeway with zero warning nearly causing a fatal crash. Purchased new alternator (Shade tree auto in san Clemente) and had to pay 2000 for tow and alternator transmission failure and near miss collision into another vehicle on a steep incline road I have taken this vehicle to a multitude of repair shops and auto supply to get a diagnosis. Even the dealership didn't have any answers. Now I am out of a car. and money. These issues had been confirmed by Rorick Cadillac, Shade tree auto, oreily, s and s auto, auto zone.

NHTSA ID

11573886

Incident

Feb 25, 2024

Car went crazy one day while behind the wheel everything malfunctioned then car shut off and won't start again. I could of easily got into an accident had there been any other vehicles around. Kids were scared. Codes come up as U0100,U0140,U0101,C0242,B0081-0F,B0081-71,B1370-01,B1370-06,U0155-00,U0170-00,P0856-00.

NHTSA ID

11533125

Incident

Jul 18, 2023

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

AFTER IT RAINS WATER LEAKS FROM SUNROOF (NOT SURE) DOWN ONTO FLOORBOARD NEAR THE PETAL.AND ALSO INTO TRUNK. ELECTRICAL DEVICE INSIDE CAR DOES NOT OPEN TRUNK EVEN AFTER HAVING IT REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11403995

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

WHILE DRIVING MAYBE 6 MINUTES MY CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION PREVENTING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE RADIO OR AIR, WHICH BOTH REMAINED FUNCTIONING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE RADIO NO LONGER PLAYS BUT THE AIR STILL BLOWS. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD AT NIGHT GOING APPROX. 50 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11217490

Incident

May 17, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE CONTROL PANEL BECAME INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. KUNI CHEVROLET CADILLAC (2449 FULTON AVENUE, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95825, (916) 538-7217) DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11142433

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP DUE TO ENGINE ISSUES, NOW THAT ENGINE IS REPLACED I'M SEEING STABILITRAK, SERVICE AC, AND BRAKE ASSIST LIGHTS APPEAR. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT ENGAGED AND CAR WON'T SHIFT GEARS. CODES WILL NOT APPEAR WHEN HOOKED UP TO DIAGNOSTIC READER AND THEIR IS MOISTURE THAT GETS INSIDE MY CAR THROUGH THE SUNROOF.

NHTSA ID

11061954

Incident

Jan 6, 2018

MY CAR WON'T HOLD A CHARGE. I BUY A NEW BATTERY AND THE CAR SAYS BATTERY SAVER MODE ACTIVATED. THE BATTERY WILL BE DEAD BY MORNING OR IF I TAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD THE VOLTAGE WILL START DROPPING BEFORE I GET HOME. WHEN I SAY DOWN THE ROAD I MEAN LESS THEN A 2 MILES. AFTER I TURN MY CAR OFF IT WON'T START BECAUSE THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WILL BE TO LOW. I'VE HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECK BOTH ARE FINE. CHECKED TO SEE IF THEIR MIGHT BE LIGHTS LEFT ON, BUT NOPE NOT EVEN THE TRUCK LIGHT. SO I'M AT MY END WITH THE CAR, IT'S A $30,000 CAR THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A YARD ORNAMENT.

NHTSA ID

11023736

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

OUR VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED MULTIPLE TIMES. FIRE REPORT/INVESTIGATION LIST CAUSE AS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11021673

Incident

Aug 29, 2017

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE CRUISING TO A STOP LIGHT, WHILE AT IDLE AND SOMETIME WHILE ACCELERATING. I'VE READ A LOT OF POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT NO ONE HAS A SOLUTION. I GOT STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE ONCE TOO. GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND MY DIAGNOSIS FEE ITS OVER $750 AND THERE IS STILL NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE!!! THIS ISSUE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR YEARS NOW!!!

NHTSA ID

11015632

Incident

Jul 31, 2017

Mileage

122,600 mi

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW ROLLS DOWN ON ITS OWN IN RAIN, CAR WASH. SUNROOF HAS LOUD WIND NOISE. WINDOW GOES DOWN WHILE ON AND DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11010159

Incident

Jul 22, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES, SUCH AS THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION AND THE MIDDLE CONSOLE ELECTRIC FUNCTIONS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT HAD THREE BATTERIES REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE VENT CONTROLS ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION FOR THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10980236

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

RANDOMLY WHEN I GO TO START MY VEHICLE IT WON'T START BUT THE BATTERY IS GOOD,WHICH LEAVES ME STRANDED ....AND ALSO RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS UP SAYING TRACTION CONTROL OFF ALONG WITH EVERY LIGHT IN THE DASH DISPLAYED AND MAKING THE CHIMING SOUND.IT REDUCES THE ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY WHILE AT A HIGH SPEED CAUSING ME TO SWERVE IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10966434

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

Mileage

82,000 mi

MY SUNROOF DRAIN IS OFTEN CLOGGED RESULTING IN THE INTERIOR BEING SOAKED DURING SLIGHT OR HEAVY RAIN FALL. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. ALSO WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS WARM OUTSIDE, THE BACK DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE OR WHEN EXITING THE CAR. I ALWAYS HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY PRESENT SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND HAVE BECOME A NIGHTMARE. THE WATER LOG INSIDE THE VEHICLE ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

10872605

Incident

Jun 4, 2016

THE D/S DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON SAME ISSUE AND NO RECALL ISSUED

NHTSA ID

10871446

Incident

May 25, 2016

Mileage

147,000 mi

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE TIMING CHAIN, WHICH LED TO COIL ISSUES AND CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ISSUES WHICH LED TO LOW HEAD BEAMS CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. EVERYTIME WORK IS DONE IT CAUSES A CHAIN REACTION TO OTHER PARTS IN THE CAR THAT REQUIRES MORE AND MORE MONEY. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND I AM TOLD THAT SINCE THE FIRST CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPAIRED, THE SECOND ONE NOW NEEDS REPLACING AND THE LOW HEAD BEAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS WIRING ISSUES THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE NEW BULB TO BURN, I AM TOLD THAT THE WIRING APPEARS TO BE SPLICED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED IN APRIL AND SO WAS THE LOW BEAM BULB. HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL, 2015 IT IS NOT WORKING TODAY AND WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE WIRING HAD BEEN SPLICED OR BURNED OUT. RADIO SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK AND ALL WAS CENTERED AROUND ISSUES WITH COILS AND CATALYTIC COVERTERS.

NHTSA ID

10788613

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

Mileage

174,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY, THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS INGRESS/EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10745719

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

67,000 mi

THERE IS A WATER LEAK OCCURRING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF DRAINS CONTINUOUSLY GET CLOGGED. IN RESULT, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR GETS EXTREMELY WET. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 THEN HAS NOW HAPPENED IN THE SAME EXACT DRAIN ON MAY 05, 2015. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AFTER DISCOVERING THE WATER FOR THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN ON ITS OWN AND WILL NO LONGER OPERATE. WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WILL OCCUR? DOES THIS PUT ME AT HARM? ALSO, NOW WITH ALL THE MOISTURE INSIDE THE CAR, THIS IS RUINING THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR! THE WORST PART IS THAT DUE TO THE MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS FOG UP WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS DEFINITELY PUTTING ME AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD IN HARMS WAY BECAUSE IT IS INTERRUPTING MY VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN THIS OCCURS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE DRAINS ARE GETTING CLOGGED, I DON'T PARK UNDER TREES AND MY CAR IS COVERED ALMOST YEAR ROUND. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714712

Incident

Sep 21, 2011

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

2008 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL #14V394000. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10694557

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, BUT IT WOULD NOT CRANK AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE STABILIZER. ALSO, THE SEATS COULD NOT BE MOVED, COULD NOT PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE DOOR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, AND THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF AND ON. I ATTEMPTED TO USE BRAND NEW BOOSTER CABLES (POSITIVE TO POSITIVE/NEGATIVE TO NEGATIVE) AT THE REMOTE TERMINALS BUT STOPPED TRYING TO CONNECT FROM THE CHARGED BATTERY DUE TO SPARKING AS THOUGH I WAS REVERSING MY POLAR CONNECTIONS; AT ONE POINT, I SAW A FLICKER OF FLAMES AND I NEVER STARTED THE BOOSTER VEHICLE (12 VOLT). I HAD A WRECKER ATTENDANT TO TRY MY BOOSTER CABLES AND HE ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE WITH THE CONNECTION DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY AND WITH THE BOOSTER CAR STARTED WHICH CREATED SMOKE AND OVER HEATED CABLES. AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE CAR WAS TAKEN, I WAS TOLD THE POSITIVE CABLE WAS USELESS AND THE BATTERY HAD A DEAD CELL. THIS WAS VERY COSTLY. I RETRIEVED MY CAR AFTER ABOUT 11 DAYS AND PARKED IT DIRECTLY IN THE GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND THE SAME ISSUE SURFACED. HAD IT MOVED BY WRECKER AGAIN, AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THEY JUMPED THE BATTERY AND STARTED THE CAR, BUT HAD NOT DETERMINE THE DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670659

Incident

Dec 22, 2014

Mileage

84,178 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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

10667102

Incident

Dec 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V394000 (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. UPDATED 1/7/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10661797

Incident

Dec 2, 2014