2009 Cadillac CTS Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2009 Cadillac CTS, and owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2009 Cadillac CTS
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact…
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Suspension: rear
General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 cadillac cts vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which a wax coating on the rear suspension toe link jam nuts may allow the nut(s) to loosen. If a nut sufficiently loosens, the toe link could separate and the rear wheel would be able to turn inboard or outboard.…
Remedy: Dealers will clean all wax residue from the rear suspension toe link and install two new jam nuts. If necessary the rear suspension toe link may be replaced. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety…
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Equipment
GM is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 cadillac cts all wheel drive and cts-v vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the glove compartment assembly and, in some vehicles modify the instrument panel structure. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 20, 2010. Owners may…
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Electrical system
GM is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 buick, lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 buick enclave; cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; saturn outlook; and model year 2009 chevrolet…
Remedy: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently…
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Air bags: frontal
GM is recalling 12,662 my 2009 cadillac cts vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' under certain conditions, a software condition within the passenger sensing system may disable the front passenger air bag when it should be enabled or enable it…
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the passenger sensing system module free of charge. The recall began on november 18, 2008. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or through their website at <a…
167 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2009 Cadillac CTS have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash. Reports cite 7 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 60,788 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 22 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“To whom it may concern, My name is [XXX] . I am writing this correspondence with regard to a purchase of a 2009 Cadillac CTS . I purchased the vehicle for my mother in Missouri December 2022. I reside”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 13, 2025 · Unknown or other
“The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was swaying to the left or the far right without the contact moving the steering wheel. The c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 11, 2025 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2009 Cadillac CTS (CTS AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–18 / 25–26 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Cadillac CTS model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac CTS model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Cadillac CTS | 4 | 313 |
| 2004 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 224 |
| 2005 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 277 |
| 2006 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 269 |
| 2007 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 217 |
| 2008 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 175 |
| 2009 Cadillac CTS | 5 | 167 |
| 2010 Cadillac CTS | 3 | 67 |
| 2011 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 101 |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 65 |
| 2013 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 73 |
| 2014 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 146 |
| 2015 Cadillac CTS | 3 | 47 |
| 2016 Cadillac CTS | 4 | 31 |
| 2017 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 27 |
| 2018 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 8 |
| 2019 Cadillac CTS | 0 | 10 |
Checking a specific 2009 Cadillac CTS
How do I know if my 2009 Cadillac CTS has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2009 Cadillac CTS; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 08V582000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Cadillac models
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- Escalade ESV533 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- Catera468 complaints
- STS430 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.