I PURCHASED A NEW 2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE. IT CONTINUOUSLY MAKES A GROANING SOUND WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE DEALER CHANGED THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I BELIEVE THIS SOUND IS PRODUCED…

12/30/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10373523.0

2011 CTS · powertrain

VEHICLE ENTERS A MODE AT RANDOM THAT ABRUPTLY REDUCES AND INHIBITS OR STOPS THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THIS CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. AS IN MY CASE, I WAS INMOST STRUCK BY SEVERAL VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF…

12/20/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10936624.0

2011 CTS · airbags Crash

ON 12-2-19 AT 730AM EASTERN TIME, I WAS INVOLVED IN A 55 MPH SIDE IMPACT CRASH TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BY A SEMI TRUCK ON INTERSTATE 475 NORTH IN TOLEDO, OHIO, MILE MARKER 10, NEAR HOLLAND, OHIO. NO SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE IS IN 100% EXCELLENT MAINTAINED…

12/18/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11289844.0

2011 CTS · airbags

The air bag light comes on intermittently. It has been identified as a problem on several of the CTS and CTS-V forums.

12/16/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11444070.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 14V341000 19/06/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011

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

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2011 Cadillac CTS reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Cadillac CTS is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2011 Cadillac CTS?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 23 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Cadillac CTS has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Cadillac CTS?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 108 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 9 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with cadillac. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.