2012 Cadillac CTS reliability
The 2012 Cadillac CTS has 67 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most CTS years here — over the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Ignition and Vacuum.
67
6
2
15
The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (10 of 67), then Exterior lighting (10) and Service brakes (7). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 6 that report an injury.
The 2013 CTS has 73 complaints, 11 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Cadillac CTS. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (2)
Complaints by component (67 total)
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Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"Front subframe crack around lower control arm bushing area. Common problem that’s going to end up killing someone when it completely separates"
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""service air bag" light is illuminated. Deal states the replacement part is out of production. Apparently, this is a relative common problem with this vehicle. The illumination of the warning light indicates the air bag…"
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"A combination of the lower control arm alignment adjustment bolt, it is just a slot and standard bolt. The alignment becomes loose over time and begins to work side to side in the slot, so retightening the bolt is the…"
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"There have been a collection of other Vin numbers for this year make and model for the symptoms I have been experiencing since taking ownership in 2019. The vehicle will stall while running and randomly disable ALL…"
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"The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and the AWD inadvertently deactivated, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. The service…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS 2 DR RWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS SW AWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS SW RWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTS | 3.6L, 6-cyl | Manual 6-speed | Rear-wheel drive | 16 | 26 | 19 MPG | $3400 |
| CTS | 6.2L, 8-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 12 | 18 | 14 MPG | $5700 |
| CTS | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 18 | 27 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS | 3.6L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 18 | 27 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS | 6.2L, 8-cyl | Manual 6-speed | Rear-wheel drive | 14 | 19 | 16 MPG | $5000 |
| CTS all-wheel drive | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | All-wheel drive | 18 | 26 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS all-wheel drive | 3.6L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | All-wheel drive | 18 | 26 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS Wagon | 6.2L, 8-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 12 | 18 | 14 MPG | $5700 |
| CTS Wagon | 3.6L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 18 | 26 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS Wagon | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 18 | 27 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS Wagon | 6.2L, 8-cyl | Manual 6-speed | Rear-wheel drive | 14 | 19 | 16 MPG | $5000 |
| CTS Wagon all-wheel drive | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | All-wheel drive | 18 | 26 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
| CTS Wagon all-wheel drive | 3.6L, 6-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | All-wheel drive | 18 | 26 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
Specs and fitment
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Cadillac CTS reliable?
The 2012 Cadillac CTS has 67 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most CTS years here — over the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Ignition and Vacuum.
What are common problems with a 2012 Cadillac CTS?
The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (10 of 67), then Exterior lighting (10) and Service brakes (7). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 6 that report an injury.
Is the 2012 Cadillac CTS more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2013 CTS has 73 complaints, 11 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.
Has the 2012 Cadillac CTS been recalled?
The 2012 Cadillac CTS has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
Owners have filed 67 complaints about the 2012 Cadillac CTS with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2012 Cadillac CTS get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Cadillac CTS is 19 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.
What oil does a Cadillac CTS take?
US notes list 5W-30 for all temperatures, with 0W-30 as an alternative below -29°C (about 6.0 qt with filter).
Does recall 19V-086 cover the Cadillac CTS?
It covers certain 2016-2018 CTS vehicles (and ATS/Camaro/Corvette years named in the campaign): electric power steering assist may fail; dealers replace the EPS assembly as directed.
What generation is a 2015 Cadillac CTS?
3rd generation (2014-2019). Model years 2012-2013 are 2nd generation in this catalog.