VehicleVerdict

2009 Cadillac CTS problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 222 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.5 times the median CTS year — the 2009 model ranks #7 of 17 CTS years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 5 deaths and 12 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across engine (50), electrical system (32), and transmission (29), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

222

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

0

Investigations

18

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

12

Injuries

5

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2009 compare to other CTS years?

See all CTS years to avoid →

What are the most common 2009 Cadillac CTS problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine5023%
Electrical System3214%
Transmission2913%
Brakes146%
Other136%
Airbags136%
Steering125%
Suspension115%
Speed Control115%
Fuel System105%
Body & Structure94%
Tires & Wheels84%
Seat Belts42%
Lighting31%
Latches & Locks21%
Visibility & Wipers10%

Does the 2009 Cadillac CTS have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

14V394000Electrical SystemJuly 2, 2014 · 554,328 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

11V089000SuspensionFebruary 11, 2011 · 44,147 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A WAX COATING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK JAM NUTS MAY ALLOW THE NUT(S) TO LOOSEN. IF A NUT SUFFICIENTLY LOOSENS, THE TOE LINK COULD SEPARATE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. OWNERS MAY HEAR A METALLIC CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT MAY WARN OF A LOOSENING NUT.

Consequence

THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE SUDDEN CHANGES WITH VEHICLE HANDLING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL CLEAN ALL WAX RESIDUE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK AND INSTALL TWO NEW JAM NUTS. IF NECESSARY THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK MAY BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

10V414000OtherSeptember 13, 2010 · 20,224 units

Defect

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CTS-V VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF LEG INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY AND, IN SOME VEHICLES MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STRUCTURE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

10V240000Electrical SystemJune 4, 2010 · 1,365,070 units

Defect

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence

IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

08V582000AirbagsNovember 5, 2008 · 12,662 units

Defect

GM IS RECALLING 12,662 MY 2009 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A SOFTWARE CONDITION WITHIN THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MAY DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED OR ENABLE IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED.

Consequence

IN A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED, INCREASED PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TREE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE BENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AUTO STAR (4395 BUFORD HWY, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 1, 2018 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TREE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE BENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AUTO STAR (4395 BUFORD HWY, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 1, 2018 · crash

WE WERE LEAVING A DINER PARKING LOT IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN I HAD TO STOP FOR A DELIVERY TRUCK BLOCKING OUR EXIT. WHEN THE TRUCK PULLED FORWARD I LIGHTLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD AND TO OUR LEFT(MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME). I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · June 17, 2011 · crash

To whom it may concern, My name is [XXX] . I am writing this correspondence with regard to a purchase of a 2009 Cadillac CTS . I purchased the vehicle for my mother in Missouri December 2022. I reside in California and had the vehicle shipped to California when my mother relocated to California.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · September 19, 2024 · crash

2009 Cadillac CTS — common questions

Is the 2009 Cadillac CTS reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 222 complaints put the 2009 model at #7 of 17 CTS years. It is one of the CTS years to avoid.

What are the most common 2009 CTS problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (50 complaints), electrical system (32 complaints), transmission (29 complaints).

Does the 2009 Cadillac CTS have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2009 Cadillac CTS. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Cadillac CTS years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the CTS years to avoid are 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2004, 2008, 2009. The cleanest record among CTS years belongs to 2018.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.