Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Oct 19, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 72 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Cadillac CTS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering
Filed Oct 19, 2019
THE ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL HAS TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE UP DOWN BRACKET ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ONE BOLT FELL OUT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS LOOSE. THE LOCKTITE BLUE WAS ONLY ON ONE THREAD. IF YOU CHECK THE NEWS GROUPS IT SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE CTS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT IF THE OTHER BOLT FELL OUT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FLOP AROUND CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL.
NHTSA ID
11269500
Incident
Oct 16, 2019
Mileage
50,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 6, 2016
WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE LEFT CAUSING A NEW DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT AND DRIFT INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DEALER IS REPLACING STEERING COLUMN. 27000 MILES
NHTSA ID
10882856
Incident
Jun 29, 2016
Mileage
27,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 9, 2015
THE VEHICLE STALED ON THE STREET AND THE TWO SIGNS POPPED UP ABOUT STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION. CARS HAD TO ACT QUICKLY SO THEY WOULDN'T HIT ME FROM BEHIND
NHTSA ID
10762435
Incident
Sep 9, 2015
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 17, 2015
AT 27K MILES OUR 2013 CTS PREMIUM MODEL DEVELOPED A UNIQUE NATURAL CHARACTERISTIC, THE FRONT WHEELS BIND WHEN TURNING. THIS NATURAL CHARACTERISTIC IS LABELED AS (STICK/ SLIP) WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN OUT ONTO A BUSY ROAD I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY AN ONCOMING DUMP TRUCK AND CAR. I PULLED OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO (STICK AND SLIP) HINDERING ITS FORWARD MOVEMENT. HAD THE LEFT LANE NOT BEEN OPEN FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO SWERVE AROUND ME, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS. THE CERTIFIED SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE FRONT WHEELS WERE BINDING. GM ENGINEERS SAID,? IT IS THE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO GM STANDARDS. I WAS HANDED A NHTSA ID #10043010 BULLETIN WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATED WHICH CARS AND WHAT SUSPENSION AND TIRES COULD EXPERIENCE THIS. IT ALSO STATES THIS STICK AND SLIP CONDITION WOULD BE NOTICED WHEN THE CAR STEERING IS AT FULL LOCK. NO ONE MAKES A TURN ONTO A ROAD AT FULL LOCK. MY SUSPENSION IS A FE5 WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE RS TIRES . THIS SUSPENSION AND TIRE COMBO IS NOT PART OF THIS BULLETIN. IF THIS IS THE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAR THEN WHY DID IT APPEAR AROUND 27K?? I BELIEVE THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS IN SPITE OF WHAT GM CLAIMS. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BUT HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE A LOSS AND PURCHASE ANOTHER MODEL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10683742
Incident
Dec 30, 2014
Mileage
27,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 5, 2015
MY 2013 CTS HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PRIOR ISSUES BUT AT THIS TIME, I STARTED THE CAR, GOT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. IT EVERYTHING QUIT. I HAD NO POWER TO STEERING, BRAKES, LIGHTS. I COASTED PARTWAY INTO A PARKING SPACE I=ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FULLY PULL INTO THE SPACE AS I WAS HEADED UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. I WAS STUCK WITH MY REAR END IN TRAFFIC AND NO ABILITY TO MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND IT STARTED UP. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE AS ABOUT HALF DOZEN TIMES THE CAR HAS REFUSED TO ENGAGE WHEN I HAVE TURNED THE KEY. NOTHING HAPPENS. NO BATTERY SOUND, NOTHING. I HAVE CALLED ONSTAR SEVERAL TIMES TO GET CONFIRMATION OF ISSUES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETECT AN ISSUE. I FEEL MY LIFE IS AT RISK AS WELL AS OTHERS OF THE PUBLIC AND CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS JUST TOLD ME SINCE THERE IS NO PROOF THIS HAPPENS AND THEY CANNOT RECONSTRUCT IT HAPPENING THEY CANNOT BUY BACK THE CAR. ALREADY THE MOTOR FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT HAS ROLLED BACK 4-5 FEET WHILE IN DRIVE IT HAS REFUSED TO MOVE WHEN IN DRIVE, I PUT IT BACK IN NEUTRAL, BACK TO DRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION GAVE A HUGE CLUNK AND IT DROVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE LOCKED ME IN. I COULD NOT PULL UP THE LOCKS, COULD NOT OPEN WITH THE CLICKER, WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE WINDOW DOWN AND PULLING ON THE EXTERIOR HANDLE. I HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE CAR WAS GIVING OFF A RAW GAS SMELL WHEN IDLING IN THE AM. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN FIXED AS IT HAS NOT DONE IT LATELY. THEY MUST THINK I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN MAKE UP COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10670303
Incident
Aug 26, 2014
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 19, 2014
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,474.
NHTSA ID
10667264
Incident
Jul 18, 2014
Mileage
8,474 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE SERVICE POWER STEERING SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,500.
NHTSA ID
10642010
Incident
Sep 2, 2014
Mileage
13,500 mi
Steering
Filed May 17, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING EMITTED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10512546
Incident
Jan 16, 2013
Mileage
16,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 21, 2013
Crash reported2 injuries reported
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION; VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AFTER PLACED IN REVERSE WITHOUT STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR; BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE; VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED ACROSS THE STREET. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.
NHTSA ID
10504050
Incident
Feb 26, 2013
Mileage
8,346 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 12, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500. *TR
NHTSA ID
10502504
Incident
Jan 3, 2013
Mileage
1,500 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own