Of the 20 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Cadillac CTS,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
1 (20%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
1 (20%)
100-125k
2 (40%)
125-150k
1 (20%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
What owners are reporting
8 most recent
airbags · 112,000 mi
· filed 12/18/2019
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 condition. No fault codes. Vehicle structure maintained very well for a highway speed crash, however, I have a…
airbags
· filed 12/16/2021
The air bag light comes on intermittently. It has been identified as a problem on several of the CTS and CTS-V forums.
airbags · 101,000 mi
· filed 12/03/2018
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Cadillac cts-v. While operating the vehicle, the passenger side air bag indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to rick hendrick city Chevrolet (5101 east independence blvd, charlotte, nc) where it was diagnosed that the passenger side air bag sensor located inside the seat was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact…
airbags
· filed 11/30/2017
While driving the vehicle the passenger seatbelt light comes on with or without a passenger being present. I took vehicle to the dealer and was told the passenger detection module was going out and when the seat belt light comes on the passenger side air bags are disabled meaning the airbags will not function if I were to get into an accident....I was also told that this module is necessary…
airbags
· filed 11/22/2023
My air bag light is on. I brought it to the dealer for repair. The dealer told me the airbag is unfixable due to the fact that the "Passenger seat presence sensor is broken and no longer manufactured". I now have a car that is fully functional aside from this issue and it's unsafe to drive. The dealer also refused to buy the car back from me for fair market value.
airbags · 20,000 mi
· filed 10/25/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Cadillac cts. While driving 35 MPH, the brakes malfunctioned. When the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop and rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. Bentley Cadillac in florence, alabama 35630 was made aware of the crash and…
airbags · 82,000 mi
· filed 10/22/2018
Airbag sensor detects problem with passager airbag.
airbags · 129,851 mi
· filed 10/21/2019
The airbag indicator has come on. I own two Cadillac vehicles and coincidentally the escalade has an airbag recall and, the same indicator light has illuminated on both vehicles. I am concerned that this recall is a potential hazard. We live in florida where it's hot, so we constantly drive in the sun. For the recall to be unresolved and now both indicators for airbags are illuminated I believe…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 Cadillac CTS?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 Cadillac CTS?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 31,000 and 101,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,000; a quarter make it past 101,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Cadillac/CTS.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.