10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,211 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Cadillac CTS engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Cadillac CTS Owner Comments

problem #13

Dec 052019

CTS

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After a 45 minute drive and returning home I parked my car on the street in front of my home. The car drove perfectly normal as always and there was no indication of anything wrong with the car. There were no warning lights or anything else to indicate a problem with the car. I entered my house and as I walked pasted my kitchen window I could see flames coming out from under the hood on the driver side of the vehicle it was only a couple of minutes since from the time I entered my house. Within 5 minutes the entire car was engulfed with flames. After the fire department extinguished then fire I asked what could have cause the fire. I was told it was probably an electrical or a fuel malfunction.

- Levittown, NY, USA

problem #12

Jul 012019

CTS

  • 62,000 miles
The timing chain is faulty. This is a $2200 repair. Numerous people are having this same problem. Please recall.

- Burket, IN, USA

problem #11

May 202019

CTS

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the timing chain failed and the vehicle made an abnormal banging noise. The noise was a distraction to the contact's driving. Whenever the vehicle was idling in traffic, the engine shook as if it would stall. The vehicle was driven to mark christopher auto center (2131 E convention center way, Ontario, ca 91764, (909) 321-5860) where it was diagnosed that a new timing chain was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 52,000.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 262015

CTS

  • 38,847 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and repaired. The specifics of the repairs were unknown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,847.

- Westchester, IL, USA

problem #9

Feb 212015

CTS 6-cyl

  • 61,000 miles
On 21 Feb. While driving approximately 75 mph, a warning light came on indicating "service stability track control, engine power will be reduced. I suddenly lost power and luckily, the 18 wheeler that was behind me swerved to other lane to avoid rear end collision. I immediately put on my hazard indicator and was able to coast to the median. Luckily, I was not killed!. on searching, I have found this to be a common complaint that the manufacturer is well aware of but refuses to correct the issue...there are numerous complaints all over the internet regarding near death experiences because of this similar issue. What is it going to take, a death?

- W. Columbia, SC, USA

problem #8

Nov 132014

CTS

  • 40,500 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving, the engine seized and the brakes failed. As a result the car crashed into an embankment. The contact sustained head and chest injuries that required medical attention. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V394000 (electrical system). The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,500.

- Locust Grove , GA, USA

problem #7

Apr 022014

CTS 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

S10 appropriate handling- letter to the secretary from constituents re copy of letter to mary barra, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), General Motors expressing dissatisfaction with after service care. The consumer stated there was a loud ticking noise coming from the vehicle, when it was started. The dealer inspected the vehicle, and assured the consumer the vehicle was dependable. On May 27, 2014 the consumer felt a mild vibration through the steering wheel. The dealer stated the balance was off, but everything was fine. On June 15, 2014, while driving, the consumer heard a loud bang, then a rough ticking sound and felt a shudder through the steering wheel. He gently braked and pulled over to the shoulder, inspected the vehicle, but found nothing wrong. After the vehicle was inspected again, and being told there was nothing wrong. He continued to experience a vibration through the steering wheel, and the thumping became more pronounced. Also, the vehicle lurched and a loud bang and heavy vibration, was flt throughout the car. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The consumer explained to the dealer about the vibration tear in the cloth shield he discovered, the tow truck driver brought two of the four that held the drive shaft together to the service representative. The dealer informed the consumer the vibration tear was a cigarette burn, and the drive shaft bolts falling out of the vehicle and bearing failure were issues address several times before. After the vehicle was returned to the consumer, there was low pitched whistle during light to moderate acceleration, which he did not hear when he first purchased the vehicle. Also, there was a light weight oil/fluid leaking from under the engine area. He noticed the fuel consumption range had dropped from 17-18 mpg to 15 mpg. The rear end felt less stable and there was a slight shift when coming off driveways or over uneven pavement. (2011 Cadillac Cts).

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #6

May 242014

CTS 6-cyl

  • 17,400 miles
Driving on a curvy country road the engine suddenly died, I lost power steering and almost ran off the road. I was able to coast to a stop. I put the car in park and it started immediately. The car does not have an ignition key, only a fob. The engine is 3.6 Cts 4. I drove 2 miles back home and parked the car and will not drive it again until a resolution is obtained for the problem.

- Manassas , VA, USA

problem #5

Feb 272014

CTS

  • 27,000 miles
When getting onto the highway 2 miles from my home every morning, I accelarate from 45 miles an hour to about 65 and 70 miles an hour. Car starts shaking violently (feels like you are driving with 2 front flat tires) and engine light comes on. Most of the time it flashes for about 30 seconds and then goes off, and sometimes engine light comes on and stays on for about 30 seconds. Car loses power momentarily for about 30 seconds. I took car to the dealership the following day, and they found nothing wrong. I took the car to the dealer about 6 weeks later on April 27th 2014 when the problem was happening on a daily basis every morning only. Dealership kept car for 2 days and said they resolved problem. Exactly 2 days later same thing happened. Problem continues to this day but not on a daily basis. Not sure if that has something to do with the weather now that it is no longer winter. I will be making my third trip to the dealership in the next week for this same issue :shaking car, engine light on and momentary loss of acceleration power.

- Cockeysville, MD, USA

problem #4

Mar 162012

CTS

  • 2,000 miles
Due to the recent GM problems with ignition switch I wanted to file this complaint on my 2011 Cadillac Cts as I am not hearing my car mentioned for recall. Twice within the first couple months of owning the Cts I started to accelerate into traffic from a stopped position and the car completely shut off like a light switch flipping. No sound was made but simply everything lost all power and forced me to coast into traffic...twice!! I threw the car into neutral to try and restart it with no luck. It wouldn't even turnover. I had to come to a full stop (coasting to side of road after having traffic fly by me on a 3 lane highway) and then the car would restart like nothing happened. I took the Cts to ken dixon Chevy/Cadillac (now waldorf Cadillac) in waldorf, md and also to capitol Cadillac in greenbelt, md. The techs told me the car showed no errors on the computer and also they could find no fault on the car and returned it to me. One tech did mention something about a heavy keychain could cause this. I passed him my keys and he said that my keys certainly shouldn't cause that due to the light weight. I am still driving the car and this latest news from GM has me very scared to drive this car in Washington, DC traffic and put me and my family at daily risk. I posted this problem on the edmunds.com Cadillac Cts car forum in March of 2012. No action was taken by GM customer service.

- Brandywine, MD, USA

problem #3

Jan 162014

CTS

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle began to shake violently as the service traction control and engine power reduced warning lights illuminated. Also, the contact stated that when attempting to accelerate there was a reduction of engine power and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 45,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #2

Apr 012013

CTS 8-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
Loud supercharger grinding noise.

- Mclean, VA, USA

problem #1

Dec 042012

CTS 8-cyl

  • 21,000 miles
The supercharger started to make a noise which sounded like marbles. It now is getting louder sounding like it is going to fall off. It is a Cts-V.

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

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