Cadillac · CTS · 2014
6
Recalls
142
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2014 Cadillac CTS has 6 recalls and 142 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: power train (64 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
10.1% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GMs number for this recall is 14515.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, through February 26, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off with wiper functionality left on and the wipers then become restricted, such as when covered in ice or snow, and the vehicle's battery goes dead and needs to be jump started, upon being jump started, the wipers will be inoperative.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2104. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14157.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V038000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the recall remedy could not be performed because the transmission and axle had failed and required repair and replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
My 2014 Cadillac CTS has been making what sounded like road noise. After another person road in my car that was not in it daily like I was, they told me how loud it really was. After further investigation, my rear differential has gone out at only 80,000 miles. It’s impossible to drive due to the extreme safety concerns for not only myself but other drivers on the turnpikes and highways.
own a 2014 Cadillac CTS (VIN: [XXX] ) that was serviced under GM Recall N192279370 for rear axle differential seizing. On [XXX], the dealership replaced the rear differential carrier assembly and performed the required hydraulic system bleed. At intake, their own multi-point inspection documented no issues with the transmission, radiator, or cooling system. Immediately after the recall repair, my vehicle experienced severe issues: transmission slipping and radiator contamination with transmission fluid. These problems did not exist prior to the recall service. The dealership now claims the damage resulted from “stop leak” in the system and refuses warranty coverage. However, stop leak was not used until after the failure occurred, and only as an emergency measure to get the car home safely. The evidence strongly indicates that the failure resulted from the recall service, possibly from improper reconnection or contamination during the repair. Their refusal to acknowledge responsibility leaves me with significant repair costs for a problem that began directly after their mandated safety recall work. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in investigating this case, as the failure appears to be linked to the recall repair and raises concerns of improper procedures during service. Documentation, including service invoices, inspection sheets, and repair notes, are available to support this complaint. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am filing a complaint against Wagner Cadillac in Tyler, Texas, regarding mishandled recall service that resulted in severe damage to my 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport (3.6 Twin-Turbo). Timeline of Events: Wagner Cadillac performed Recall #N192279370 (rear differential). At the time, only the differential code was present. Their own multipoint inspection showed no issues with the cooling or transmission systems. Immediately after recall service, my rear axle warning light came on for the first time. Shortly after, the transmission cooler line at the radiator burst, causing coolant and transmission fluid to mix. This led to overheating, hard shifting, and slipping. To limp the car home safely, I used a stop-leak additive only after the breakdown. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act clearly states warranty coverage cannot be denied unless the additive directly caused the failure, which it did not. The damage had already occurred from the ruptured line. When I returned the vehicle, Wagner Cadillac falsely accused me of voiding coverage due to the additive. They then refused to repair my transmission or cooling system, leaving me with a $30,000+ estimate. Why They Are Responsible: The problems began only after recall work. During service, Wagner Cadillac could have: Over-pressurized the system during testing. Improperly disturbed or reinstalled transmission cooler lines. Failed to secure or bleed the cooling system. Any of these actions could have caused the rupture. Their refusal to acknowledge this shifts unlawful blame onto me. Additional Concerns: Instead of helping me, Wagner Cadillac attempted to solicit me to sell them my broken car and buy another vehicle from them — both before and after they denied repairs. This is unethical and exploitative. Impact: I paid cash for this car not long ago. I have now lost reliable transportation, lost my job due to lack of mobility, and face financial INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The gear shifter cable on my 2014 Cadillac CTS failed completely and without warning. The vehicle became totally inoperable and could not be shifted into Park, Neutral, Reverse, or Drive. There were no dashboard alerts or signs of failure. This matches the exact symptoms described in GM Recall No. 21V473000. However, my vehicle was excluded from further action because it had previously received a visual-only inspection during the recall window. No functional testing was performed. Despite being marked as “repaired,” the shifter cable failed exactly as described in the original recall. GM confirmed that the recall case was closed after a visual inspection per their protocol. But this inspection clearly failed to detect a dangerous mechanical defect. I have now been without a working vehicle for over two weeks, with the earliest dealership appointment not available until the week of July 7 — and a $180 diagnostic fee quoted, with no guarantee of repair coverage. This breakdown could have resulted in a crash or rollaway if it had occurred while driving or parked on an incline. It poses a serious safety risk not just to me but to the public. Vehicles cleared with insufficient inspection should not be excluded from protection. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this failure, hold GM accountable for prematurely closed recall cases, and consider requiring them to reopen and expand the campaign to include VINs like mine. I am willing to provide photos, documentation, and records as needed. Thank you for your attention and swift consideration.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the contact heard an extremely loud bang, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway and observed smoke coming from the rear axle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the rear axle differential. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V038000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 170,000.
The 2014-2015 CTS-V Model has a safety recall for the exact same safety problem (differential) my 2014 CTS is experiencing. Why is the V series only included in the recall when other 2014-2015 CTS's have the same issues?
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS A. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH she heard an abnormal sound from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that it sounded like an amplified road noise. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an intermittent sharp jarring of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was downshifting to a lower gear independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who had diagnosed and determined that the differential was cracked and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V038000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
I just recently purchased my Cadillac. And the rear end is going out! I literally cannot even drive it anywhere because it is about to lock up completely. It will barely go and definitely doesn't want or like to go uphill. I could hardly go 20 miles per hour when I parked it the other night. There has not been an incident yet but if I hadn't parked it, it could've locked up completely when I was going down the highway is what my mechanic friend told me. It was not bad until just the day before it got to this point. It was making a little bit of a humming noise which I thought was just a wheel bearing the other night because that's exactly what it sounded like. But, the night I parked it it had started making like a loud thumping noise when I would try to accelerate. The more I would accelerate the louder the noise and it just didn't want to go. So, I parked it and that's where it's been since. So, I got online to look and see if there were any recalls for this issue. I find that there is a recall for the 2014 Cts-V for the rear end. I think it's not only the Cts-V models I think it's the regular Cts's as well. Can you check into this for me because I literally just bought this car and haven't even gotten my license plate yet and now I can't even do that or go anywhere for that matter. I am a business owner and I rely on my vehicle and I can't even get to work to open my store right now,. I would greatly appreciate it if you could check into if this recall shouldn't be extended to the regular Cts models as well. Thanks and have a great day.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a rattling noise present coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear of the vehicle was very unstable and was vibrating and shaking abnormally. The contact that the rear suspension warning light was illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the rear differential needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
The gears inside the rear-differential of a 2014 CTS Luxury 3.6 liter Cadillac, with 48,000 miles, failed to the point where the whole differential had to be replaced. This defect is extremely dangerous to the owner of the vehicle, as well as others on the road. If the differential fails to the point where the tires lock up, the driver can lose control of the car. There were no warning messages relating to the problem and the problem did not come on gradually. There was a sudden loud grinding noise that came from the rear of the car, while driving, and the car was immediately taken to a Cadillac dealership for inspection. The dealership mechanic/technician determined that the rear differential completely failed and needed to be replaced. (The oil was drained from the differential and there were metal shavings inside the oil.) Upon research on the internet, it was determined that this rear-differential defect is an extensive problem, as other 2014 Cadillac CTS owners are experiencing a similar problem. Cadillac has recalled the 2014 CTS-V for this rear differential defect but has not acknowledged the same problem with the 2014 CTS 3.6 liter (it appears to be the same product/part design.)
My car was unsafe to drive. It would not shift into drive. I had it towed to a mechanic who diagnosed the problem. I was informed the differential was the problem. I could not drive my car until the repair was done. No one had the differential part in the USA. My car is 2014 CTS with only 66,000 miles. Can I be reimbursed for this repair?
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, he heard a loud abnormal scraping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear axle differential assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V038000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 94,000.
At the moment, the vehicle is releasing a strong order smells like burning oil or gasoline. It’s coming from the rear of the vehicle. You can smell it immediately when you step out and in the car. The rear is making a loud cranking noise and starting to shake. It appears based on the information that it’s a huge possibility it’s my rear differential going out. It posses a threat due to the anticipation of the brakes locking and causing a serious accident to my family or other on the road. Ive taken very good care if the vehicle and done all the required maintenance on the vehicle. Went though GM motors repair shops
245/45R17 CONTINENTAL EXTREME TIRE WORN NEAR THE SIDE WALL TO THE PLY WITH THE CENTER TREAD BEING OK ON BOTH FRONT TIRES.
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear wheels. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with metal shavings inside the rear differential. The contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,500.
2014 CTS 3.6 Differential was replaced in 2019 under manufactures warranty. Les than 50k miles later the differential has gone out again. The dealer will not honor the previous install and wants to charge me close to $6k to fix. This is a known problem with every model because they all have the same differential. GM will only honor the turbo version of the 2014 CTS with the same defective rear end. This can be very dangerous if the rear end locks while driving at any speed. GM is putting my family and others on the road by ignoring a known issue. I am calling out Putnam Cadillac in Berlingame Ca. taking a blind eye to a known issue.
Differential is going bad and it’s only got 60k miles on it and if the wheels lock up that is bad. And I can’t find the part nowhere.
The rear differential is making a howling noise. The CTS V sport was recalled but not the regular CTS. Many other customers have made compliant on different websites. I am hoping to have the recall done so I don’t have to spend money on the car. It will be an expensive fix.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2014 Cadillac CTS has 6 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 142 owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Cadillac CTS.
The 2014 Cadillac CTS received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2014 Cadillac CTS are power train (64 reports), electrical system (8 reports), suspension (8 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 6 recalls on record for the 2014 Cadillac CTS. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.