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.
2011 Cadillac CTSProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 101 owner complaints about the 2011 Cadillac CTS, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 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 May 28, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Cadillac CTS has problems
101 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
23Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
22Power train2 crash/fire/injury
20Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
13Engine2 crash/fire/injury
11Steering1 crash/fire/injury
9Structure2 crash/fire/injury
8Exterior lighting
6Service brakes
6Vehicle speed control
2411 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 23 | 6 |
| Power train | 22 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 20 | 4 |
| Engine | 13 | 2 |
| Steering | 11 | 1 |
| Structure | 9 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 |
| 11 other systems | 24 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2011 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.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Air bags
Risk. If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.
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.
Best & worst years
2011 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
2011 Cadillac CTS safety ratings
2011 Cadillac CTS SW AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- 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 air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My air bag light is on. I brought it to the dealer for repair. The dealer told me the airbag is unfixable due to the fact that the "Passenger seat presence sensor is broken and no longer manufactured". I now have a car that is fully functional aside from this issue and it's unsafe to drive. The…
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started to make an abnormal sound and the vehicle was inadvertently vibrating. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the…
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. Additionally, the "Service Air Bags" warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The…
Own a 2011 CTS?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.