2012 Cadillac SRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
515 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Cadillac SRX, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 94/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 75,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2012 Cadillac SRX sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2006–2009.
Avoid
Where 2012 sits among all SRX years
What owners report
“Can not see the road with low beams on. Very dangerous. Can not drive car at night”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 SRX
“While driving the pedal will go all the way to the floor and suddenly your break line will be full of air.The car's hard to stop. This is the second time it's happened. Really scary, almost in an accident.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 SRX
“2012 cadillac srx. Consumer writes in regards to rear suspension toe link safety recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 SRX
“The vehicles lights on the low beam are so low you can't see at night. Have researched and asked cadillac and they know there is a problem and will not correct it or recall it”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 SRX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 323 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 76,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,917 and 98,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
Fix: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 21V473000.
Technical service bulletins
1,615 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2012 Cadillac SRX. 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 SRX reliable?
The 2012 Cadillac SRX drew 515 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 94/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2012 Cadillac SRX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Cadillac SRX are electrical (266 complaints), brakes & stability (45), and suspension (41).
At what mileage do 2012 Cadillac SRX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Cadillac SRX problems around 76,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,917 and 98,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Cadillac SRX have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Cadillac SRX. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
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.