BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2012-CADCTS-6576

2012 Cadillac CTSProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 81 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
81
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Recalls
2
TSBs
1,553
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 81 complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

bolts backing out of drive shaft

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

hopping when backing turning

2 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

poor fog driving lights

2 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
4

side mirror safety feature temporarily unavailable

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

transcooler failure

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

9 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 35K miles.

!Inspect the LightsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

27
0–30K
13
30–60K
16
60–90K
1
90–120K
2
120–150K
1
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (27 reports) • Median: 35K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (9 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical9 (11%)
Lights9 (11%)
Brakes8 (10%)
Suspension7 (9%)
Engine6 (7%)
Speed Control6 (7%)
Airbags5 (6%)
Other5 (6%)

2012 Cadillac CTS: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 35,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 35K-mile mark.

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, with 8 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2012 Cadillac CTS, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

5
12
2
13
17
14
9
15
4
16
6
17
6
18
10
19
7
20
3
21
4
22
4
23
2
24
1
25
1
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2012 Cadillac CTS. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (2 recalls)

11V536000Nov 2011

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE POWER VACUUM BRAKE BOOST PUSHROD RETENTION NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. IF THE NUT IS NOT TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND ALLOW THE PUSHROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

14V394000Sep 2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

2012 Cadillac CTS NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Cadillac CTS is the 2009 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2012 Cadillac CTS vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

81

Class avg

307

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 81 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Cadillac CTS Model Years

20192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003
View all Cadillac CTS years →

2012 Cadillac CTS: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2012 Cadillac CTS is related to the electrical, with 9 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2012 Cadillac CTS reliable?
The 2012 Cadillac CTS has 81 complaints, 10 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How safe is the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA rates the 2012 Cadillac CTS 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2012 Cadillac CTS problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have any recalls?
Yes, the 2012 Cadillac CTS has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Cadillac CTS problems start?
Based on 60 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 35,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2012 Cadillac CTS data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2012 Cadillac CTS Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 81 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees