2010 Cadillac SRX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2010 Cadillac SRX ranks worst of 13 model years with a complaint index of 100, 474 complaints, and 6 recalls including one do-not-drive campaign. Electrical System problems dominate at 57% of complaints, making 2010 the top year to avoid for this model.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 13 SRX years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 474
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 23
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 0
Top 2010 Cadillac SRX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System271 (57%)
- Engine66 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires55 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain46 (10%)
- Brakes34 (7%)
- Other33 (7%)
- Structure & Body30 (6%)
- Steering17 (4%)
- Airbags15 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers12 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Headlights (high and low beams) fail simultaneously in wet or foggy conditions, sometimes leaving the car without lighting until the wiring dries out.
- Rear tail light electrical wiring smokes and catches fire even after the car has been parked and off for hours.
- Vehicle unexpectedly surges forward or lurches while parking or braking at low speeds, leading to collisions with parked vehicles.
- Rear liftgate/hatch opens on its own without warning, sometimes going unnoticed until it strikes a garage opening.
- Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-to-high-speed frontal or angled collisions, and seat belts fail to lock on impact.
- Transmission shifter indicates the vehicle is in park when it is not, allowing it to roll away and hit another vehicle.
2010 Cadillac SRX recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V473000Jun 24, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires380,498 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Suspension:rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
Risk: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.
- NHTSA 14V571000Sep 19, 2014Suspension, Wheels & Tires290,241 vehicles
Suspension:rear
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Risk: Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.
- NHTSA 14V447000Jul 23, 2014Structure & Body414,333 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
2010 Cadillac SRX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 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.
2010 compared with other SRX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Cadillac SRX reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2010 SRX has the highest complaint index (100) of any SRX model year, with 474 complaints and 6 recalls, so it's rated Avoid relative to other SRX years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Cadillac SRX?
- Electrical System complaints make up 57% of all complaints for this year, with 271 reports including headlight failures and fires, at a median mileage of 75,100.
- Does the 2010 Cadillac SRX have a do-not-drive recall?
- Yes. Recall 21V473000 covers a rear suspension toe link adjuster that may not have been tightened properly, and NHTSA lists it as a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2010 SRX compare to other SRX years?
- The 2010 model has the worst complaint index at 100, ahead of 2012 (92) and 2011 (83), while years 2005-2009 all carry Good verdicts with much lower complaint indexes.
- What fuel economy does the 2010 Cadillac SRX get?
- The EPA rates it at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.