26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Cadillac CTS cite electrical system, 36% of all 73 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.
“My 2013 has only 75k miles on it and all the dash lights flash and the car fails every couple of days. It has a brand new battery but the gauges on the dash continue to dance. I’m not sure what the problem is but it’s a huge safety factor in drivability.”
“driving to work on very busy highway. The engine light and Service Battery charging system came on, then went to battery saver almost instantly. Radio cut off, heat cutt off and the Car cut off in the middle of the highway before I could safely get over. this caused me to fear for my life as the cars behind me barely had time to stop. a hair probably could not have fit between us. I did eventually safely get off the highway, had the car towed to a service center. There was 14 different codes.(low voltage, engine running lean, low voltage and more. battery was checked and was 95 %, Alternator fine. was told it was the ECM. After looking on google some sites say there is a recall for 2013 cts some say there is not. there are multiple complaints on this issue and it is not safe. I called Cadillac gave my vin number and was told there was not a recall. Cadillac/GMC really need to issue a recall before something tragic happens, as it almost was me. Thank God that it wasn't.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM WIRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE WIRING WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND ECM. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.”
“THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE ENGINE HAS JUST STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN THIS POSITION IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ON AT ALL TIMES (EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD). AS OF YESTERDAY THE POWER SEATS TO BE LAGGING, SOME OF THE BUTTONS TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO WORK.”
“AIR BAG LIGHT HAS CAME ON. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW CAME DOWN ON IT'S OWN AND WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. MY CAR ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES.”
“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY FROM DEAD STOP, CTS ACCELERATED ON ITS ON TO AND UNKNOWN AND UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED. CAUSING COLLISION TO NEIGHBORS VEHICLE IN OPPOSTITE DRIVEWAY DRIVEWAY DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM WHERE CTS WAS PARKED. VEHICLE ALSO HAD POWER FAILURES AS WELL, DOORS NOR WINDOWS WOULD WORK. HAD TO EXIT VEHICLE BY CRAWLING OUT ON THE WINDOW. CAUSE DAMAGED TO BOTH VEHICLES AND PROPERTY DAMAGES FROM NEIGHBOR VEHICLE PUSH BY CTS INTO GARAGE AND STRUCTURE.”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.