There are 4 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2006 Cadillac CTSin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP , EVEN AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE PINION SEAL WAS COMPLETED. MY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY.
I HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND WAITED AT THE END OF THE RAMP FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE. I WAS PROCEEDING INTO THE INTERSECTION AFTER WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE. I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND ANOTHER CAR RAN THE LIGHT AND HIT MY CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE RESPONDERS SAID I WAS T-BONED. WHEN I GOT HIT THE CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE CAR CAME OUT OF GEAR, THE GEAR MECHANISM INSIDE THE CAR CAME APART, THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT SHUT DOWN. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME FROM HITTING THE METAL GUARDRAIL WAS THE CAR ENDED UP ON THE CURB ON LEFT OF ROAD IN THE BUSHES. THE PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED AND WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR AND NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE RESPONDER'S COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AS HARD AS I WAS HIT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AS THE DAMAGE IS EXTENSIVE. PREVIOUSLY ON A FEW DAYS HAVE HAD TO JIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEYS IN IGNITION TO TURN SO THAT I COULD START MY CAR. I HAD PREVIOUSLY CHECKED THE GM SITE AND ENTERED MY VIN BECAUSE I HAD TIMES WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR WOULD NOT WORK. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR
FATAL CAR CRASH RESULTED IN DEATH OF DRIVER (ONLY PERSON IN THE AUTOMOBILE). HISTORY OF SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC PROBLEM ON THE 2006 CADILLAC CTS--PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL AND LUNGING OR SUDDEN ABNORMAL ACCELERATION WITH LOSS OF STEERING. *TT
RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. SOUNDS LIKE PLASTIC BEING STRESSED WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON 3 OCCASIONS (GROMMETS LUBRICATED) AT 2 DIFFERENT CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS AND NOISE HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED. WILL BE RETURNING CTS BACK TO DEALER AGAIN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ALSO NOTED POPPING NOISE IN DASH PANEL. NOISE NOTED AS A FLAW IN DESIGN OF VEHICLE BE ONE DEALER UNREPAIRABLE. NOISE DETRACTS FROM PLEASURE OF OWNING A CADILLAC. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026