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2012 Cadillac CTSProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 65 owner complaints about the 2012 Cadillac CTS, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-394 the manufacturer reports only 59% of affected cars repaired.

2012 Cadillac CTS
65
CarFlaw IndexSolid year45% below the CTS median · #11 of 16 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 59%Owner complaints6512 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage29kExterior lighting, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 14, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Cadillac CTS has problems

65 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Exterior lighting100
Electrical system100
Suspension72
Service brakes73
Engine60
Air bags63
Vehicle speed control61
Structure51
Power train40
10 other systems151

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2012 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.

59%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 14V-394 · Jul 2, 2014 · 554,328 vehicles · 324,312 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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

2012 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

2012 Cadillac CTS safety ratings

2012 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What CTS owners report

Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I WAS SENT A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL AND I SENT IT BACK SAYING I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY UP FRONT. THE SENT ANOTHER LETTER ABOUT THE DEADLINE AND I SENT BACK I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY UP FRONT. I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE BACK. MY LIGHTS ARE GETTING DIMMER AND CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD…
Complaint 11415097 · May 4, 2021
THE HEAD LAMP HAS CONDENSATION AND WATER BUILT UP IN IT CAUSING THE BULB TO SHORT OUT. THE CLEAR COVER HAS BECOME STAINED YELLOW RUST COLOR FROM THE WATER. *TR
Complaint 11324556 · May 14, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC OF NAPERVILLE [PHONE], LOCATED AT 1507 W OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL 60540) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Complaint 11254777 · Sep 11, 2019 · 30,000 miles

Own a 2012 CTS?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.