2012 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability
81 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 19/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 28,400 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2012 Cadillac CTS has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2012 sits among all CTS years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 57 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 43,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 20,000 and 65,300 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 2012 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO THE PROPER…
Fix: CADILLAC DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT, AND IF NECESSARY, TORQUE THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE…
Technical service bulletins
1,551 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2012 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 2012 Cadillac CTS reliable?
The 2012 Cadillac CTS drew 81 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 19/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2012 Cadillac CTS problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Cadillac CTS are electrical (20 complaints), brakes & stability (9), and other (8).
At what mileage do 2012 Cadillac CTS problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Cadillac CTS problems around 43,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 20,000 and 65,300 miles.
Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 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.