Car Record Book

2014 Cadillac CTS recalls & problems

The 2014 Cadillac CTS has 6 safety recalls and 146 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (84 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls
Complaints146filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints
2014 Cadillac CTS in an NHTSA crash test
2014 Cadillac CTS in an NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler

NHTSA recall 18V595000 · Sep 7, 2018 · 52,867 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.

Risk: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.

Electrical system

NHTSA recall 14V614000 · Oct 1, 2014 · 106,307 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

Seats

NHTSA recall 14V446000 · Jul 23, 2014 · 124,007 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

Risk: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.

Electrical system › Ignition

NHTSA recall 14V394000 · Jul 2, 2014 · 554,328 vehicles

Problem: 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 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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 Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

Power train › Automatic transmission

NHTSA recall 14V338000 · Jun 19, 2014 · 90,750 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.

Risk: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.

Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor

NHTSA recall 14V253000 · May 15, 2014 · 19,225 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, through February 26, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off with wiper functionality left on and the wipers then become restricted, such as when covered in ice or snow, and the vehicle's battery goes dead and needs to be jump started, upon being jump started, the wipers will be inoperative.

Risk: An inoperative windshield wiper system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2104. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14157.

Components: Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor; Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2014 Cadillac CTS NHTSA side crash test
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2014 Cadillac CTS NHTSA side pole crash test
NHTSA side pole crash test

2014 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2014 Cadillac CTS 2 DR RWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2014 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.1%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2014 Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.1%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2014 Cadillac CTS SW AWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2014 Cadillac CTS SW RWD

OverallNot Rated
Frontal crashNot Rated
Side crashNot Rated
RolloverNot Rated

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

CTS Sedan

23mpg combined
City / highway20 / 29 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

CTS Sedan AWD

22mpg combined
City / highway19 / 28 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

CTS Sedan

22mpg combined
City / highway18 / 28 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

CTS Sedan AWD

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 26 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS AWD

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 26 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 27 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS Wagon

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 26 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS Wagon AWD

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 26 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS Wagon AWD

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 26 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS Wagon

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 26 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

CTS Sedan

18mpg combined
City / highway16 / 24 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

CTS

16mpg combined
City / highway14 / 19 mpg
FuelPremium Gasoline

6.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem areaComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesTypical mileage*
Power train
Driveline › Differential unit
8410078,000 mi
Suspension
Front › Wheel bearing; Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly
1700060,000 mi
Electrical system
1310123,962 mi
Unknown or other
1300036,700 mi
Steering
1310040,400 mi
Engine
900085,000 mi
Wheels
6000—
Seats
500167,918 mi
Tires
Sidewall
5000—
Structure
Body
4000—
Air bags
420342,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Headlights
400038,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.