2014 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 10 CTS years
The 2014 Cadillac CTS ranks worst of 10 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100, 146 complaints, and 6 recalls. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 58% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other CTS years.
- Complaints
- 146
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
Top 2014 Cadillac CTS problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain84 (58%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires25 (17%)
- Electrical System17 (12%)
- Other14 (10%)
- Steering13 (9%)
- Engine10 (7%)
- Structure & Body9 (6%)
- Brakes5 (3%)
- Airbags4 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (2%)
What owners report
- Vehicles have stalled suddenly at moderate speeds without warning, in one case leading to a curb collision.
- The rear differential has locked up abruptly while driving on straight roads at highway speed, causing the car to pull hard to one side with smoking rear tires.
- Brakes have reportedly failed to respond when depressed over a road bump, resulting in a crash into a tree with airbags and seat belts failing to perform.
- Front airbags have failed to deploy during a crash while the vehicle was parked and stationary.
- The driver seat has moved backward on its own after the car was shut off, trapping a passenger's foot between the seats.
- The automatic transmission has shifted itself from drive to park on its own during low-speed maneuvers.
2014 Cadillac CTS recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V595000Sep 7, 2018Structure & Body52,867 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Risk: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
- NHTSA 14V614000Oct 1, 2014Electrical System106,307 vehicles
Electrical system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GMÂs number for this recall is 14515.
- NHTSA 14V446000Jul 23, 2014Structure & Body124,007 vehicles
Seats
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Risk: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
2014 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.
2014 compared with other CTS years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Cadillac CTS reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 Cadillac CTS ranks 1st worst out of 10 CTS model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 146 complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Cadillac CTS?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the largest concern, accounting for 58% of complaints (84 of 146), with a median failure mileage of 78,000 miles.
- Does the 2014 Cadillac CTS have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2014 Cadillac CTS, covering areas including electrical system, structure & body, transmission & powertrain, and visibility & wipers.
- Which CTS years are better than 2014?
- NHTSA data shows 2017, 2018, and 2019 rank as Best, with complaint indexes of 22, 0, and 11 respectively, far lower than the 2014 model's index of 100.
- How many complaints does the 2014 Cadillac CTS have?
- NHTSA lists 146 complaints for the 2014 Cadillac CTS, including 4 crashes, 5 injuries, and 0 fires.