3.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,221 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.

2012 Cadillac SRX engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Cadillac SRX Owner Comments

problem #15

May 292024

SRX

  • miles

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

Car completely quit running while driving. Almost hit a car with no control of my vehicle.Took it to mechanic, they said engine was locked up, they say this is very common with any srx from 2008 to 2014. Got another opinion. Said the same thing. Many blogs on this. Now this cost me around $8000 to get fixed. If so many has the same problem. Why is this not fixed or recalled.

- Lavergne , TN, USA

problem #14

Dec 282021

SRX

  • miles
UNKNOWN- Took my vehicle in for the recall listed above, to then be told that my Timing Cover Gasket: timing cover gasket leaking. Service advisor indicated that this is a known issue with SRX's. I did search for a recall on all years, but not on the 2012's. Not sure why they were not included. I was informed at the price of $2134.53 it could be repaired. I only have 87 plus miles on this vehicle. While I have not had any warning lamps or messages appear, or leaking, why is this. I whole heartedly believe that this should be inspected and a recall should occur for this years make and model.

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #13

Jan 312020

SRX

  • 61,000 miles
Was driving to work when my car sputtered then shut off, I didn't have a code or warning on the dash I had 30 percent oil left and 2000 miles before next oil change. Had it towed to a Cadillac dealership and they found the engine is seized, after opening up the engine there was sludge. It only has 61,000 miles and I have all the paperwork where all oil changes were done on time. Extended warranty co. Won't cover sludge. I had read online that this is a common problem, GM need to recall these engines, this is a $10,000 defect. I have only owned this car 10 months.

- Trussville, AL, USA

problem #12

May 062019

SRX

  • 78 miles

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

Accelerating is stalled. Engine is goes into a pull and tug mode in engine. Cant get in RPM speed in pedal. Engine is heavy. Brake pedal becomes stiffens and slight brake makes Srx stop suddenly. All this is happening while on highway and city driving in with the vehicle in motion. Also I've taking the Srx in for diagnostics several times. And no code are found to report on the vehicle

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #11

Jan 142019

SRX 6-cyl

  • 146,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Srx. While driving 40 mph, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle's speed decelerated. The vehicle was towed to bud davis Cadillac Inc. (5433 poplar ave, memphis, tn 38119, (901) 881-0177) where the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000. Consumer stated vehicle is repaired.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #10

Jan 282018

SRX

  • 52,000 miles
We were told the timing chain needed repair at 3 weeks outside of the factory 5 year warranty, at the time the vehicle only had 52,000 miles. We produced service records as they asked but the warranty department a Cadillac ultimately offered us no help and we had to pay $2100 for the repair. We checked online prior to this and found numerous posts, and some recalls for this exact problem as it is extremely common on these vehicles and obviously a design/manufacturing issue. There probably should have been a recall, and again Cadillac assumed no monetary responsibility.

- Ocean City, NJ, USA

problem #9

Jan 092017

SRX

  • 127,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Srx. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that there was no oil in the vehicle after having replaced the oil seven weeks prior. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.

- Commerce Township, MI, USA

problem #8

Feb 282016

SRX

  • 58,000 miles
Had driven the vehicle 30 mins prior, stopped, shut it off left in drive way for 20 minutes, returned tried to start with button - information panel stated it could not find remote, made several attempts to start without success. Got a ride home 30 miles away to get spare remote, it was not recognized by the vehicle either. Had vehicle towed to dealer, who could not find the problem and believed it to be a frequency problem based on where the vehicle was parked. Two weeks later it happened again, and after waiting 2 minutes it started.

- Crete, IL, USA

problem #7

Aug 212015

SRX

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Srx. While driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle stalled without warning. While at a complete stop, the vehicle shook. The contact also stated that the interior lights would independently dim. The contact stated that the failures occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #6

Jan 072015

SRX 6-cyl

  • 31,850 miles
I was entering the freeway during rush hour traffic, and needed to cross 4 lanes of traffic. I got to the second lane and started to move into the third lane. When I pressed on the accelerator, it was as if I slammed on the brakes. The car had no power and would not accelerate for a few seconds. The car behind me nearly rear-ended me because there was no warning, no brake lights, since I was pressing on the accelerator, yet the car behaved as if I had hit the brakes. This is the 3rd near miss due to this happening. I have experienced this occasionally for the past year and a half, but it is happening more frequently now and I fear an accident is inevitable. I have taken it to the dealer but, since I couldn't make it happen on demand, they took no action. They said there were no diagnostic codes appearing. In that case, I don't see what difference it makes if I can reproduce it for a tech or not. If there are no codes appearing then my thorough description of the problem should be sufficient because the tech is not going to get any further information other than experiencing the loss of acceleration problem. There are others reporting this behavior on cadillacforums.com, and there was even a recall for the 2013 Srx for this behavior. I fear for my safety since I never know when this is going to happen as I try to accelerate, especially when entering another lane. Sometimes the car bucks and jerks back and forth a few times, other times it just acts like I hit the brakes and slows down, but eventually it accelerates and returns to normal behavior. Very disconcerting.

- Seatac, WA, USA

problem #5

Sep 052014

SRX

  • 17,792 miles

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

I was attempting to gain speed when all of a sudden my vehicle lost acceleration and the engine rpms increased as if my vehicle was accelerating. I took it to the dealer and my transfer case module needs to be replaced.

- California, MD, USA

problem #4

Jan 082013

SRX 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Srx. The contact stated that once the accelerator pedal was depressed the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 8/11/14

- West Minister, MD, USA

problem #3

Nov 182012

SRX 6-cyl

  • 3,000 miles
Loss of power. Two months after we had purchased this new Srx, my wife and I were driving South on interstate 77 in North Carolina at 65 mph when suddenly the car had no power. I was in the left of two lanes and was able to steer and brake into the median which was divided by a concrete barrier from the North bound traffic. I put the car in park, then pushed harder and harder on the accelerator, but there was no sound, no power. GM offered to tow us to the nearest dealer, but no one was open because it was Sunday. So we decided to try to restart the car. I pushed the brake and ignition and it started. I slowly moved onto the highway and accelerated. The car worked. After arriving at my destination, I took it to a Cadillac dealer who was unable to find any codes stored and could not duplicate the problem. Then early in 2014, the same thing happened, this time as I came to a stop--no power, car restarted, no codes, could not duplicate. Both dealers said that GM had not sent them bulletins about this problem.

- Auburn Twp., OH, USA

problem #2

Nov 102013

SRX 6-cyl

  • 8,600 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac Srx. The contact stated that the engine failed without warning while traveling 65 mph. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who discovered that there was a hole in the engine motor. The engine and motor were replaced. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 8,600. Updated 2/4/14 updated 02/06/14

- Avon Park , FL, USA

problem #1

Aug 012012

SRX

  • 12,000 miles
The Srx 3.6 liter detonates continuously when 87 or 89 octane is used and the outside air temp. Is 70 degrees or above. The current program in the 2012, 2013 and current Srx crossovers can not retard the timing enough when the knock sensors sense the pinging. GM has replaced engines to resolve this issue but has found that it is a software issue and is working on writing a new program for all Srx crossovers, they claim a software update in a year. Driving a continuously detonating engine will permanently damage the engine and can cause an unsafe vehicle to the consumer.

- Burlington, MA, USA

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