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Verdict

2011 Cadillac CTS: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2011 Cadillac CTS — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.

Owners filed 108 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 55% of 2011 sedans. Power Train leads the reports (21%). 2 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2011 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

108

Reports to NHTSA, 2011

Safety recalls

2

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

19

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

More complaints than 55% of 2011 sedans

The bar is this car's percentile among 2011 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Power Train issues lead owner complaints (21% of 108 reports), followed by air bags (19%).

Power Train21% · 23 reports
Air Bags19% · 20 reports
Electrical System17% · 18 reports
Steering10% · 11 reports
Exterior Lighting6% · 7 reports
Engine6% · 6 reports
Structure4% · 4 reports
Vehicle Speed Control4% · 4 reports

+ 10 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 108 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 10533623, ODI 11544014, ODI 11462739, ODI 11372947, ODI 11353953.

Recalls(2)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Electrical SystemFeb 2014 · 14V394000Details +

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.

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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

Air Bags · 14V341000Details +

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.

Risk: If the roof rail air bags deploy unexpectedly, there is an increased risk of crash and injury to the occupants.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear drive shaft assembly, free of charge. General Motors distributed an interim letter to owners on August 27, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14233.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2011 Cadillac CTS 2 DR RWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

2011 Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover

2011 Cadillac CTS SW RWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover

2011 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

2011 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover

2011 Cadillac CTS SW AWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
CTS3.0L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive182721
CTS3.6L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive182721
CTS3.0L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive162619
CTS3.6L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive162519
CTS6.2L 8-cylRear-Wheel Drive141916
CTS6.2L 8-cylRear-Wheel Drive121814

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2011 Cadillac CTS: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2011 Cadillac CTS?

Owners filed 108 NHTSA complaints about the 2011 Cadillac CTS — more complaints than 55% of comparable 2011 sedans, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2011 Cadillac CTS?

The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (21% of complaints) and air bags (19%).

How many recalls does the 2011 Cadillac CTS have?

2 recalls have been issued that affect the 2011 Cadillac CTS, covering components such as electrical system. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Cadillac CTS get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Cadillac CTS between 14 and 21 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.