YearToAvoid

2008 Cadillac CTS Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 21 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2008 Cadillac CTS, 12% of all 175 complaints for this model year. That is #7 highest transmission complaint count among 15 CTS model years. Median mileage at failure: 83,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
21
12% of 175
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
83,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Cadillac CTS transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 18, 2008, latest Sep 7, 2023.

2008 Cadillac CTS transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2008Nov 2012Feb 2014Apr 2016Jan 2017Mar 2018Jul 2023
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2008 to Sep 2023; peak Apr 2016 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2008 Cadillac CTS

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by CTS model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200582 (30%)
  2. 200645 (17%)
  3. 200733 (15%)
  4. 200821 (12%)
  5. 200928 (17%)
  6. 20109 (13%)
  7. 201122 (22%)
  8. 20124 (6%)
  9. 201313 (18%)
  10. 201484 (58%)
  11. 201519 (40%)
  12. 20169 (29%)
  13. 20179 (33%)
  14. 20183 (38%)
  15. 20193 (30%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 21 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2008 Cadillac CTS, 12% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 83,000 miles.
Which Cadillac CTS year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2014 Cadillac CTS has the most transmission complaints (84), compared with 21 for the 2008.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2008 Cadillac CTS?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Cadillac CTS is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.