ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 19TH, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES FROM MY HOME, AN INCREDIBLY LOUD BANGING SOUND SHOCKED ME INTO STOPPING THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH THE FLOOR AND INTO THE INTERIOR CONSOLE OF THE CAR. PANIC-STRICKEN, I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE THE CAR AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED MY HUSBAND, HE INSTRUCTED ME TO DRIVE EXTREMELY SLO…
2008 Cadillac CTS powertrain problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
THE CARS ENGINE RUNS AWAY WITH MY CAR WHEN I AM SITTING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR AT VERY SLOW IDLE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE PROBLEM IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MILEAGE,( 29,000-32,000 MILES ). I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE MY CAR IS AT THE DEALER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I REFUSE TO TAKE MY…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Cadillac CTS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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