Reliable Auto DB

2014 Cadillac CTS reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 Cadillac CTS holds 146 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 8 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 6 recalls on file, including Seat heater, Electrical system, and Seats.

2012 Cadillac CTS
Photo by MercurySable99, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

146

Per year

8

Recalls

6

Years on the road

13

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (84 of 146), then Suspension (17) and Electrical system (13). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2013 and 2015

The 2013 CTS has 73 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2015 has 48 complaints, 2 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

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 2014 Cadillac CTS. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (6)

Recall seats, front assembly, seat heater 2018-09-07 · NHTSA campaign 18V595000
Summary 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 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.
Recall Electrical system 2014-10-01 · NHTSA campaign 14V614000
Summary 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 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). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.
Recall Seats 2014-07-23 · NHTSA campaign 14V446000
Summary 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 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.
Recall electrical system, ignition 2014-07-02 · NHTSA campaign 14V394000
Summary 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 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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2014-06-19 · NHTSA campaign 14V338000
Summary 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 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.
Recall visibility, windshield wiper, motor 2014-05-15 · NHTSA campaign 14V253000
Summary 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 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.

Complaints by component (146 total)

Powertrain
84
Suspension
17
Electrical system
13
Steering
13
Engine
9
Wheels
6
Seats
5
Tires
5
Air bags
4
Exterior lighting
4
Structure
4
Service brakes
3
Back-over prevention
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
Forward collision avoidance
2
Lane departure
2
Seat belts
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Equipment
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Interior lighting
1
Speed control
1
Visibility
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1201372014102015620167201752018112019272020202021242022132023520244202562026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the rear axle, rear differential, and another undisclosed warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under…"
    Suspension · filed 2026-08-19
  • "The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Caution - Pull Over Immediately - Turn off Engine and Wait to Restart Vehicle" was displayed on the…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-17
  • "I have taken my vehicle or rather had my vehicle towed back to my dealership on three different occasions for repair of a Shift Cable Replacement I can have a very bad accident in my vehicle or lose my life or injure…"
    Steering, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-06-04
  • "On April 30,2026 I was pulling into a parking space and the gear shifter wouldn't go in to park with my foot the brake and the gear shifter wouldn't go in to park with my foot the brake and the gear shifter wouldn't go…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-05-03
  • "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…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-02-07

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2014 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2014 Cadillac CTS 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2014 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2014 Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2014 Cadillac CTS SW AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2014 Cadillac CTS SW RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

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 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 12 18 14 MPG $5700
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 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 18 26 21 MPG $3100
CTS Sedan 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $2800
CTS Sedan 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 18 28 22 MPG $2950
CTS Sedan 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 16 24 18 MPG $4450
CTS Sedan all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 19 28 22 MPG $2950
CTS Sedan all-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 18 26 21 MPG $3100
CTS V 6.2L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 19 16 MPG $5000
CTS V 6.2L, 8-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 12 18 14 MPG $5700
CTS Wagon 6.2L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 19 16 MPG $5000
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 26 21 MPG $3100
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

3rd generation, 2014–2019
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-30 (all temps); 0W-30 below -29°C , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/45R17, 245/40R18, 255/35R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V-086 covers certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS vehicles (and ATS/Camaro/Corvette years named in the campaign): the electric power steering assist system may fail, requiring higher steering effort especially at low speeds. Dealers replace the power steering gear assembly. Recall 25V-175 covers certain 2016-2018 CTS vehicles among other GM models for the same EPS assist failure mode; dealers replace the power steering gear assembly.

Compare

Previous year 2013 Cadillac CTS Next year 2015 Cadillac CTS See every Cadillac CTS model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Cadillac CTS reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 Cadillac CTS holds 146 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 8 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 6 recalls on file, including Seat heater, Electrical system, and Seats.

What are common problems with a 2014 Cadillac CTS?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (84 of 146), then Suspension (17) and Electrical system (13). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2014 Cadillac CTS more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 CTS has 73 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2015 has 48 complaints, 2 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

Has the 2014 Cadillac CTS been recalled?

The 2014 Cadillac CTS has 6 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 2014 Cadillac CTS?

Owners have filed 146 complaints about the 2014 Cadillac CTS with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2014 Cadillac CTS get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2014 Cadillac CTS is 18.9 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.