26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Cadillac CTS cite electrical system, 15% of all 168 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.
“May car just stopped working come to find out water was leaking from my sunroof which I always keep my closed. Found out water in leaking from sunroof to my mom board now mechanic is saying to take to dealership I no its gonna be a lot of money to fix electric issue smh.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed May 15, 2023·Electrical systemODI 11521986
“The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle was not able to start immediately. The accelerator pedal was pumped to start the vehicle. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact related the failure to a faulty purge solenoid; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and suggested filing a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed May 12, 2022·Electrical systemODI 11464343
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CMA'S COLONIAL AUTO CENTER (LOCATED AT 100 MYERS DR, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22901, (434) 951-1000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Dec 3, 2019·Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11286652
“CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR JUST WHEN KEY IS ON.WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS FIRST CAR SHUTS OFF JUST LIKE IF SOMEONE TURNED KEY OFF.2ND STABITRAC LIGHT COMES ON FOR A FEW SECONDS 3RD SHUTS OFF CRUISE AND WILL NOT LET YOU USE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES 4TH LOCKES DOORS....IF YOU ARE STOPPED AND THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE TO START IT MANUALLY....IF YOU ARE DRIVING IT WILL SHUT OFF AND START UP BY ITS SELF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Oct 31, 2019·Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11277278
“SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ON IN VEHICLE, DIAGNOSIS SAYS IT IS THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. THROUGH RESEARCH, MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE MODULE NEEDS TO BE FIXED, NOT JUST REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FAULTY MODULE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Feb 8, 2019·Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11175721
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TREE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE BENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AUTO STAR (4395 BUFORD HWY, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30071, (770) 446-8772) TOWED THE VEHICLE AWAY AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER WAS SUING THE CONTACT FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE OWED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT PAYING THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA·Filed Jan 23, 2019·Power train, Electrical systemCrash reportedODI 11171692
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.