YearToAvoid

2011 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 19 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Cadillac CTS, 19% of all 101 complaints filed for that year. Owners typically reported failures at a median of 30,000 miles, including stalling, sudden power loss, and violent shaking. No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this issue.

Engine complaints
19
19% of 101
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
30,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls or dies unexpectedly at highway and city speeds, sometimes recurring after restart.
  • Vehicle shakes violently while accelerating onto highways, often paired with the check engine light flashing or staying on.
  • Sudden loss of engine power or reduced acceleration accompanied by traction control and engine power warning lights.
  • Engine seizes while driving, in one case followed by brake failure and a crash into an embankment.
  • Unusual grinding or rattling noise from the engine that owners describe as sounding like marbles.
  • Loss of power steering assist immediately after the engine unexpectedly shuts off while driving.

When 2011 Cadillac CTS engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 11, 2011, latest Dec 7, 2019.

2011 Cadillac CTS engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2011Jan 2013Mar 2014Jul 2014Mar 2015Jul 2019
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Dec 2019; peak Oct 2011 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Cadillac CTS

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by CTS model year

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

  1. 200540 (14%)
  2. 200645 (17%)
  3. 200736 (17%)
  4. 200843 (25%)
  5. 200960 (36%)
  6. 201014 (21%)
  7. 201119 (19%)
  8. 201212 (18%)
  9. 20139 (12%)
  10. 201410 (7%)
  11. 20159 (19%)
  12. 20164 (13%)
  13. 20172 (7%)
  14. 20181 (13%)
  15. 20193 (30%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2011 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA lists 19 engine-related complaints for the 2011 CTS, which is 19% of the 101 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do 2011 CTS engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2011 CTS is 30,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Cadillac CTS engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints filed on the 2011 CTS.
Did any 2011 CTS engine complaints involve crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA records 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the complaints tied to this engine problem area.
Is the engine problem worse in 2011 than other CTS years?
The 2011 CTS had 19 engine complaints, more in raw count than most other years listed, though 2010 had 14 complaints at a higher 21% share of that year's total.

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.