2011 Cadillac CTS Electrical System Problems
The 2011 Cadillac CTS has 27 electrical system complaints, 27% of its 101 total complaints for the year. NHTSA also lists a related recall (campaign 14V394000) for the ignition/key ring system. Reports include fires, engine stalling, and gauge/camera failures, with a median failure mileage of 40,500.
- Electrical System complaints
- 27
- 27% of 101
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 40,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Engine stalls or shuts off without warning while accelerating or driving at highway speed.
- Speedometer shows incorrect readings, sometimes off by several mph or jumping to a much higher number than actual speed.
- Rear-view camera fails to activate in reverse on a recurring basis, creating a blind spot while backing up.
- Vehicle catches fire after being parked, with no prior warning lights or indication of a problem.
- Ignition key ring issue tied to recall 14V394000 raises concern about airbag system operation and is linked to at least one crash report.
- Rear taillights separate from the body, leaving a visible gap near the top of the light housing.
When 2011 Cadillac CTS electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 28, 2011, latest May 28, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2011 Cadillac CTS
- NHTSA 14V394000Jul 2, 2014Electrical System554,328 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
Electrical System complaints by CTS model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical system complaints does the 2011 Cadillac CTS have?
- NHTSA lists 27 electrical system complaints for the 2011 Cadillac CTS, which makes up 27% of the 101 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2011 Cadillac CTS electrical system?
- Yes. Recall campaign 14V394000, reported in July 2014, covers an ignition-related defect that can affect airbag system operation; the remedy involves installing key rings and a cover on the key head.
- At what mileage do electrical problems tend to show up on the 2011 CTS?
- The median mileage at failure among reported electrical complaints is 40,500 miles.
- Have there been fires linked to the 2011 CTS electrical system?
- NHTSA data shows 3 fire reports and 1 crash and 1 injury associated with electrical system complaints on the 2011 Cadillac CTS.