There are 7 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2011 Cadillac CTSin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT QUIT WORKING. I REPLACED THE LIGHT WITH A NEW LIGHT. I FOUND OUT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS GONE OUT NOT THE LIGHT AND WILL BE AROUND $600 TO REPLACE. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF OTHER CADILLAC CTS HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
HEADLIGHTS DIMMING OVER TIME. CAR IS BARELY DRIVABLE AT NIGHT. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AND WIRING HARNESS. STATED THAT WIRING HARNESS WAS LIKELY MELTED. I ESTIMATE THAT HEADLIGHTS WILL BE AT TOTAL FAILURE BY 12/31.18. DEALER WANTS $1200+ TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AND DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. CADILLAC REFUSES WARRANTY SUPPORT. AT LEAST TWO CLASS ACTION COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED IN USDC. FIRE RISK! FIRE RISK! FIRE RISK!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. ON MARCH 25, 2017, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBURBAN BUICK OF TROY (1810 MAPLELAWN, TROY, MI 48084 (248), 643-0070) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. ON FEBRUARY 15, 2018, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-3904418827. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,532. *TT *TR
PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012 FROM CAMARGO CADILLAC IN CINCINNATI,OHIO VECHILE HAS 41,000 MILES AND WELL TAKEN CARE,IN 2015 NOTICED HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE HAVING A LOT OF CONDENSATION.TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD CAR OUT OF WARRENTY. 6 MONTHS LATER DRIVERS SIDE DOING SAME THING. TOLD IT WOULD COST 2800.00 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. IF I HAD KNOWN THESE HEADLIGHTS WAS SUCH A PROBLEM WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED VECHILE. AT THIS TIME DRIVERS SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT IS OUT. THE LIGHTS ARE CALLED HID/XENON LEDS.
BOTH REAR TAILLIGHTS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE BODY AT THE TOP. THERE IS A GAP OF APPROX. 1/4-3/8 INCH FROM THE TOP PEAK OF TAILLIGHT TO BODY. THIS IS ON A 2011 CADILLAC CTS AWD LUXURY WAGON. *TR
BOTH REAR TAILLIGHTS ARE SEPARATING FROM THE BODY AT THE TOP. THERE IS A GAP OF APPROX. 1/4-3/8 INCH FROM THE TOP PEAK OF TAILLIGHT TO BODY. *TR
THIS CONCERNS THE PWM FREQUENCY USED ON MANY LED RUNNING LIGHTS BEING USED ON RECENT MODEL CARS. MY WIFE IS VERY SENSITIVE TO MANY OF THE NEW LED RUNNING LIGHTS AND REFUSES TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THEM. THE STROBING OF THE LED LIGHTS MAKES THEM APPEAR TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS MAKES DRIVING BEHIND THEM AND PASSING THEM VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER. I DON'T NOTICE IT BUT SHE DOES AND SHE WILL COVER HER EYES WHEN WE'RE OUT DRIVING AT NIGHT AND GET CLOSE TO THEM. READING ON THE INTERNET, SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT THESE LIGHTS. AS AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEER I UNDERSTAND HOW PULSE WIDTH MODULATED DRIVE CIRCUITS ARE USED TO CONTROL THE BRIGHTNESS OF LEDS AS WELL AS THEIR COLOR TEMPERATURE. HOWEVER, I SEE NO REASON FOR THE LOW FREQUENCY BEING USED IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS. CERTAINLY RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE AS TO WHAT PWM FREQUENCY IS ACCEPTABLE TO 99.9% OF THE POPULATION. I THINK THAT LEDS HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE, INCLUDING IN VEHICULAR APPLICATIONS, AND AM ALL FOR THEIR USE. HOWEVER, THEY NEED TO BE DRIVEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT DOESN'T COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *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