YearToAvoid

2012 Cadillac CTS Recall List

2 safety recall campaigns on file with NHTSA for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, affecting electrical system and brakes. Recall repairs are free at any authorized Cadillac dealer.

Recall campaigns
2
Do Not Drive
0
Park Outside
0
Over-the-air fixes
0
Latest report
Jul 2, 2014
Owner complaints
65

All 2012 Cadillac CTS recalls

Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, covering electrical system and brakes.
Are 2012 Cadillac CTS recall repairs free?
Yes. Under U.S. law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls free of charge at authorized dealers, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had. Use the VIN check to see which campaigns are still open on a specific car.
What is the most recent recall on the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
The most recent campaign is NHTSA 14V394000, reported Jul 2, 2014, concerning the electrical system.

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.