VehicleVerdict

2010 Cadillac SRX problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 632 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.4 times the median SRX year — the 2010 model ranks #1 of 14 SRX years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 38 injuries in total across these filings.

Lighting leads the complaint categories with 226 reports (36% of the total).

632

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

33

Crash-involved

10

Fires reported

38

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2010 compare to other SRX years?

SRX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2010 highlighted632 complaints2004: 324 complaints2005: 162 complaints2006: 96 complaints2007: 69 complaints2008: 71 complaints2009: 31 complaints2010: 632 complaints2011: 575 complaints2012: 515 complaints2013: 493 complaints2014: 451 complaints2015: 535 complaints2016: 208 complaints2019: 2 complaints
SRX NHTSA complaints by model year, 2010 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all SRX years to avoid →

What are the most common 2010 Cadillac SRX problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Lighting22636%
Electrical System8513%
Engine609%
Transmission477%
Suspension477%
Other335%
Brakes254%
Body & Structure244%
Steering173%
Airbags152%
Visibility & Wipers142%
Speed Control91%
Tires & Wheels91%
Fuel System71%
Seat Belts61%
Seats51%
Latches & Locks20%
Driver Assistance10%

Does the 2010 Cadillac SRX have recalls?

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

21V473000SuspensionJune 24, 2021 · 380,498 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.

Consequence

A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.

14V571000SuspensionSeptember 19, 2014 · 290,241 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Consequence

Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.

14V447000SeatsJuly 23, 2014 · 414,333 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence

If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

11V595000TransmissionDecember 20, 2011 · 8,789 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 26, 2008, THROUGH JUNE 23, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 114, “THEFT PROTECTION.” THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE THAT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAY COME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION BRACKET.

Consequence

THE DRIVER MAY BE UNABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR, RESULTING IN NO MOTION OR THE SHIFTER MAY INACCURATELY INDICATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK WHEN IT IS NOT, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy

GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE IS PROPERLY ROUTED AND SEATED IN THE TRANSMISSION CABLE BRACKET. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

10V450000SteeringSeptember 30, 2010 · 3,459 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L GAS ENGINES (LAU) OR 3.0L GAS ENGINES (LF1). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH PROCESSING OF THE CRIMP DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE LINE. IF THE LINE WAS DAMAGED, A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK MAY DEVELOP. IF THERE IS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF FLUID LOSS, THE DRIVER WILL HEAR NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND INCREASED EFFORT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR STEERING.

Consequence

IF POWER STEERING FLUID SPRAYS ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE POWER STEERING LINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

10V223000EngineMay 25, 2010 · 547 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CADILLAC SRX EQUIPPED WITH A 2.8L V6 ENGINE. IF LOW OCTANE (REGULAR) FUEL IS USED IN THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED HIGH OCTANE (PREMIUM) FUEL AS STATED IN THE OWNER MANUAL AND ON THE FUEL FILLER DOOR, THE COMBINATION OF REGULAR FUEL USAGE AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING MANEUVERS MAY INDUCE PRE-IGNITION. IF PRE-IGNITION OCCURS, YOU MAY HEAR A PINGING OR KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE.

Consequence

IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE ONSET OF THIS NOISE, A CONNECTING ROD OR PISTON MAY BREAK, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE, AND PERHAPS ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH WOULD DISABLE THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN AND OR FOG ON THE HIGHWAY ALL THE HEADLIGHTS HIGH AND LOW BEAM FAILED DUE TO THE OUT DOOR MOISTURE CAUSING THE CAR TO UNSAFELY LEAVE THE ROAD WAY AND CRASH DUE TO UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD WAY OR ROAD SIDE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE MOISTURE SHORTS OUT THE LIGHTING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · October 1, 2015 · crash

CAR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF AND PARKED FOR 4 HOURS. LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE MELTING LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WITHIN MINUTES OF FIRE DEPT BEING NOTIFIED. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 22, 2014 · fire

I WAS IN A MINOR COLLISION. RAN INTO THE BACK OF SOMEONE. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND IN A FEW MINUTES MY WHOLE CARE WAS ON FIRE AND DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO KNOWN REASON HOW OR WHY THE FIRE STARTED.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 16, 2016 · crash · fire

2010 CADILLAC SRX. CONSUMER STATES WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT ROLLED BACK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE READ WHERE A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE RECALL STATED THE SHIFTER MAY INACCURATELY INDICATE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK, WHEN IT IS NOT,…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 10, 2010 · crash

WHILE DRIVING MY SRX THROUGH DOWNTOWN AREA, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AND IT SUDDENLY WOULDN'T STEER IN THE DIRECTION I WANTED IT TO AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE BRAKES IT DIVED DIRECTLY INTO A BRICK WALL AND ALL FOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CAR WAS DECLARED AS TOTAL LOSS.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · September 23, 2020 · crash

2010 Cadillac SRX — common questions

Is the 2010 Cadillac SRX reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 632 complaints put the 2010 model at #1 of 14 SRX years. It is one of the SRX years to avoid.

What are the most common 2010 SRX problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are lighting (226 complaints), electrical system (85 complaints), engine (60 complaints).

Does the 2010 Cadillac SRX have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2010 Cadillac SRX. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2010 Cadillac SRX under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Cadillac SRX years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the SRX years to avoid are 2010, 2011, 2015, 2012, 2013, 2014. The cleanest record among SRX years belongs to 2019.

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.