repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
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.
2009 Cadillac CTSProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 168 owner complaints about the 2009 Cadillac CTS, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-394 the manufacturer reports only 59% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Cadillac CTS has problems
168 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
50Engine1 crash/fire/injury
28Power train1 crash/fire/injury
26Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
13Air bags4 crash/fire/injury
12Steering
11Vehicle speed control
11Suspension
9Fuel/propulsion system
9Structure
4412 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50 | 1 |
| Power train | 28 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 26 | 1 |
| Air bags | 13 | 4 |
| Steering | 12 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 4 |
| Suspension | 11 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 0 |
| Structure | 9 | 0 |
| 12 other systems | 44 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2009 Cadillac CTS recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Suspension: rear
Risk. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE SUDDEN CHANGES WITH VEHICLE HANDLING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Equipment
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF LEG INJURY.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Air bags: frontal
Risk. IN A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED, INCREASED PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Cadillac.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
88kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 41 engine complaints. 68% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles28under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
9 owners mentioned a cost$2,650median
Middle half: $2,200 – $3,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other CTS year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CTS median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Cadillac CTS safety ratings
2009 Cadillac CTS 4-DR. w/SAB Later Release in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What CTS owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On October 30, 2026, at approximately 3:10 PM, my 2009 Cadillac CTS experienced an apparent engine and brake system failure while I was operating the vehicle. The vehicle lost power, and I was unable to stop despite applying the brakes. The exact component or components that failed have not yet…
The car constantly makes a noise. Even when it's parked you can still smell gas. It jerks all the time. Been having problem with it since day one I got it.
My 2009 has 112,000 miles on it. Over a period of time we started to smell gasoline. Thought it may be simply from putting gas in the car. The smell got stronger. Fortunately we had to have a tire replaced. The tire service owner advised we had a major gas leak and advised us not to drive it far.…
Own a 2009 CTS?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.