2011 Cadillac CTS Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2011 Cadillac CTS, and owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2011 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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Air bags and driveshaft (power train)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at…
101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2011 Cadillac CTS have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 48,078 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 20 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a p”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 28, 2025 · Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that upon inspection underneath the frame rail, the contact became aware that there was rust on both sides of the vehicle. The local dealer was”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 16, 2025 · Structure
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2011 Cadillac CTS (CTS AWD, CTS Wagon, CTS Wagon AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–18 / 18–27 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/3.6/6.2 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 2011 Cadillac CTS
How do I know if my 2011 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2011 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 14V341000).
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.