Cadillac

CTS

Midsize Cars · model years 2003 to 2019

Includes CTS, CTS AWD, CTS Sedan and 3 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 121 CTS trims All Cadillac cars

The verdict

Best year: 2019. complaints: 10, below this model's typical 36; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2004. complaints: 224, about 10.2x this model's typical 22; recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Cadillac CTS
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	TSBs	Top complaints
2003	2Gas	19	no data	$4,050	4	313	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 8%
complaints: 313, about 22.4x this model's typical 14 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 complaints reporting a fire: 12 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	3Gas	19	no data	$4,050	6	224	no data	POWER TRAIN 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, AIR BAGS 9%
complaints: 224, about 10.2x this model's typical 22 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 25 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	4Gas	19	no data	$3,300	6	277	no data	POWER TRAIN 21%, AIR BAGS 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 277, about 9.6x this model's typical 29 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 31 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	4Gas	19	no data	$3,300	6	269	no data	AIR BAGS 25%, POWER TRAIN 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 269, about 9.3x this model's typical 29 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	4Gas	19	no data	$3,300	6	217	no data	AIR BAGS 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%
complaints: 217, about 7.5x this model's typical 29 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	6Gas	20	no data	$3,100	2	175	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 175, about 4.1x this model's typical 43 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 21 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	6Gas	20	no data	$3,100	5	167	no data	ENGINE 22%, POWER TRAIN 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 167, about 3.9x this model's typical 43 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	10Gas	21	no data	$2,950	3	67	1,213	AIR BAGS 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 67, below this model's typical 72 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	14Gas	21	304	$2,950	2	101	1,249	AIR BAGS 16%, POWER TRAIN 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%
complaints: 101, in line with this model's typical 101 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	13Gas	21	304	$2,950	2	65	1,284	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12%, SERVICE BRAKES 9%
complaints: 65, below this model's typical 94 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	13Gas	21	568	$2,950	2	73	1,369	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24%, POWER TRAIN 12%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 73, below this model's typical 94 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 68 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	15Gas	21	420	$2,950	6	146	1,683	POWER TRAIN 42%, SUSPENSION 9%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7%
complaints: 146, above this model's typical 108 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 34 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	7Gas	21	301	$2,950	3	48	1,456	POWER TRAIN 29%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%
complaints: 48, below this model's typical 51 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	5Gas	24	335	$3,100	4	31	1,302	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, POWER TRAIN 20%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 31, below this model's typical 36 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 59 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	5Gas	24	335	$3,100	2	27	1,131	POWER TRAIN 27%, STEERING 24%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 27, below this model's typical 36 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	5Gas	24	272	$3,100	2	8	858	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30%, POWER TRAIN 30%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 8, below this model's typical 36 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	5Gas	23	302	$3,100	0	10	618	POWER TRAIN 19%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 10, below this model's typical 36 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3 Score: 91 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2003: 19 to 2019: 23

Owner complaints2003: 313 to 2019: 10

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Cadillac CTS to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.