Cadillac CTS Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 219 of the 859 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2019 Cadillac CTS (25.5%) name the transmission, 2.0× the median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2014, 2009 and 2011.
Transmission complaints
219
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2019 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
25.5%
of 859 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Cadillac CTS transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 21 | 12% | 0 | — | 107 |
| 2009WORST | 28 | 16.7% | 1 | — | 111 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 144 |
| 2011WORST | 25 | 23.1% | 2 | — | 147 |
| 2012 | 4 | 6% | 0 | — | 142 |
| 2013 | 13 | 18.1% | 1 | — | 146 |
| 2014WORST | 84 | 58.3% | 1 | 14V338000 | 164 |
| 2015 | 19 | 40.4% | 0 | — | 146 |
| 2016 | 9 | 29% | 0 | — | 167 |
| 2017 | 9 | 34.6% | 0 | — | 153 |
| 2018 | 3 | 37.5% | 0 | — | 130 |
| 2019 | 4 | 33.3% | 0 | — | 111 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Cadillac CTS transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 219 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Cadillac CTS years to avoid for the transmission
2014 Cadillac CTS
84 transmission complaints (58.3% of the year's 144). Most often described: whining, grinding or humming noise. Covered by transmission recall 14V338000.
2009 Cadillac CTS
28 transmission complaints (16.7% of the year's 168). Most often described: shudder or vibration.
2011 Cadillac CTS
25 transmission complaints (23.1% of the year's 108). Most often described: whining, grinding or humming noise.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Cadillac CTS years to avoid.
Cadillac CTS transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Cadillac CTS model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 14V338000 · 2014-06-19 · 2014 models
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Which transmission does the Cadillac CTS use?
- GM 8-speed automatic — 2016–2019
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2014 Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 84 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Cadillac CTS, 58.3% of all 144 complaints for that year. The most common description is "whining, grinding or humming noise" (15 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 14V338000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2009 Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 28 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2009 Cadillac CTS, 16.7% of all 168 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (6 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2011 Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 25 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Cadillac CTS, 23.1% of all 108 complaints for that year. The most common description is "whining, grinding or humming noise" (4 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Cadillac CTS years have the most transmission complaints?
2014 (84), 2009 (28) and 2011 (25), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Cadillac CTS transmission problems?
In the 219 transmission complaints, owners most often describe whining, grinding or humming noise (14.2%), jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (10.5%) and shudder or vibration (10%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Cadillac CTS model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration