2014 Cadillac CTS Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 84 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2014 Cadillac CTS, 58% of all 146 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure is 78,000 miles, with one crash reported and a related recall (14V338000) for the transmission cable.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 84
- 58% of 146
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 78,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Rear differential locks up suddenly at highway speed, producing a loud thump, rear tire smoke, and loss of vehicle control.
- Rear differential assembly fails outright, sometimes requiring a flatbed tow and full replacement.
- Axle half-shaft bolts back out and break mating gears inside the differential, causing a strong vibration before the vehicle becomes undriveable.
- Owners report being notified of powertrain recall campaign 20v038000 but told replacement parts were not available for months.
- Gear shift occasionally moves from drive into park on its own while the engine shuts off unexpectedly at low speed.
When 2014 Cadillac CTS transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 30, 2014, latest May 3, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2014 Cadillac CTS
- NHTSA 14V338000Jun 19, 2014Transmission & Powertrain90,750 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Risk: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by CTS model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are transmission problems on the 2014 Cadillac CTS?
- NHTSA lists 84 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2014 CTS, which is 58% of the 146 total complaints filed for that model year.
- At what mileage do 2014 Cadillac CTS transmission problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 78,000 miles.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2014 Cadillac CTS?
- Yes. Recall campaign 14V338000 covers the transmission cable seating on 2014 CTS vehicles built between June 10, 2013 and March 20, 2014; it is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
- Did the 2014 Cadillac CTS transmission issue cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 injuries or fires linked to transmission & powertrain complaints for this model year.
- How does the 2014 CTS compare to other CTS model years for this problem?
- The 2014 CTS has the highest share among listed years at 58% of complaints tied to transmission & powertrain, compared to 40% for 2015 and 22% for 2011.