2012 Cadillac CTS Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2012 Cadillac CTS has a complaint index of 43, ranking 9th of 15 model years, and earns a "Good" verdict. It has 65 complaints and 2 recalls, led by electrical system issues (31% of complaints).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 43/100
- #9 of 15 CTS years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 65
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2012 Cadillac CTS problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System20 (31%)
- Engine12 (18%)
- Brakes11 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (14%)
- Airbags6 (9%)
- Structure & Body6 (9%)
- Other5 (8%)
- Steering4 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (6%)
- Fuel System1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes can fail to respond or sink to the floor during normal driving, leading to rear-end collisions.
- A front tire and lower control arm have detached at highway speed, causing loss of control.
- The accelerator has reportedly stuck while passing another vehicle, preventing the driver from slowing down.
- Headlight and turn signal stalk switches can unexpectedly cut lighting to parking lights only while driving.
- The steering wheel has shaken and made knocking noises when turning in reverse, with no fix identified by dealers.
- Instrument panel and door trim have been reported as misaligned with excess gaps.
2012 Cadillac CTS recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 11V536000Nov 2, 2011Brakes674 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Gm is recalling certain model year 2012 cadillac cts vehicles manufactured from october 21, 2011, through october 26, 2011. These vehicles may have a condition in which the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut may not be torqued to the proper specification. If the nut is not torqued to the proper specification, the nut could loosen and allow the pushrod to separate from the brake pedal.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE AND a vehicle CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: Cadillac dealers will inspect the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut, and if necessary, torque the nut to the proper specification. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 1, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006.
2012 Cadillac CTS fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other CTS years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Cadillac CTS reliable?
- Compared with other CTS model years, the 2012 ranks 9th of 15 with a complaint index of 43 and a "Good" verdict. It has fewer reported problems than most earlier CTS years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
- NHTSA complaints show electrical system issues lead at 31% of complaints, followed by engine problems at 18% and brakes at 17%.
- Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 CTS: one for an airbag-related key ring issue and one for a power vacuum brake boost pushrod nut.
- Which Cadillac CTS years should be avoided instead of 2012?
- NHTSA data rates 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 as "Avoid" years, with complaint indexes as high as 100, well above the 2012's index of 43.
- How many complaints does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have?
- NHTSA has logged 65 complaints for the 2012 CTS, including 6 crashes and 8 injuries, with no reported fires or deaths.