There are 4 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2012 Cadillac CTSin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING UNDER THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS THEN STOPED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT 2 BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND ONE HAD SHEARED. HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2011 CTS. I HAD PURCHASED A WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018, CAR WAS REPAIRED. I DID NOTIFY CADILLAC. RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT HAS MOISTURE. UNDERSTAND CADILLAC USED INFERIOR SEALS PREVIOUSLY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. LIGHT COST APPROXIMATELY $250.00.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOORE CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 25450 PLEASANT VALLEY RD, CHANTILLY, VA 20152, (703) 939-9351) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TWO DRIVESHAFT BOLTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,318.
BOLTS BACKED OUT OF DRIVE SHAFT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS. THE CAR WILL VIBRATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AND CAUSE ME TO OCCASIONALLY HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR SPEED UP IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE ISSUE IS REFLECTING IN THE RPM GAUGE, WHICH WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THE RPMS APPEAR TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN UNTIL THE GEARS FULLY ENGAGE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE CAR WILL VIBRATE WHILE UPSHIFTING AND I WILL HAVE TO EITHER LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL OR PUSH DOWN MORE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE ISSUE STOP. SHIFTING IS FAR FROM SMOOTH IN THIS VEHICLE. ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE MARCH OF 2015 WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD CADILLAC AND GM ARE AWARE, BUT THE DEALER WAS ADVISED NOT TO CONDUCT ANY REPAIRS.
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