2008 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability
252 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Cadillac CTS, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 47/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 78,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2008 sits among all CTS years
What owners report
“The d/s door will not unlock or open from the outside. Read numerous complaints on same issue and no recall issued”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 CTS
“Check engine light on. Failed emission testing. Diagnostic testing indicate a trouble code 2008 and recommends replacing timing chains. 74,000 miles”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 CTS
“Takata recall: my service air bag light keeps coming and off. Also my tire gage ,keeps flashing after my air levels has been check. It will not go off on its on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 CTS
“The car smells really bad like gas at the rear of car from gas tank underneath car and looks like a leak from top can not see were from exactly.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 CTS
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 173 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 69,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 32,000 and 98,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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.…
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.…
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…
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
1,137 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2008 Cadillac CTS. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Cadillac CTS reliable?
The 2008 Cadillac CTS drew 252 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 47/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2008 Cadillac CTS problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Cadillac CTS are electrical (45 complaints), engine (29), and other (29).
At what mileage do 2008 Cadillac CTS problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Cadillac CTS problems around 69,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 32,000 and 98,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Cadillac CTS have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Cadillac CTS. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.