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Cadillac CTS Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2003 to 2019, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Cadillac CTS model years through 2024, 2019 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2 more years have the most (7). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Cadillac CTS: Key Facts

Model years with data
17 (2003–2019)
Distinct recall campaigns
29
Fewest recalls
2019 (0)
Most recalls
2004, 2005, 2006 and 2 more years (7)
Most recalled system
Electrical system (16)
5-star overall rating
2012, 2013, 2014 and 2 more years

Cadillac CTS Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Cadillac CTS — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2003–2019
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2019 0 4–5 stars None on record
2018 2 4–5 stars Steering
2017 2 4–5 stars Steering
2016 4 5 stars Steering, Air bags, Seats
2015 4 5 stars Air bags, Power train, Seats
2014 7 5 stars Electrical system, Power train, Seats
2013 2 5 stars Electrical system
2012 2 5 stars Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic
2011 2 Not rated Air bags, Electrical system
2010 3 Not rated Electrical system, Equipment, Suspension
2009 5 Not rated Electrical system, Air bags, Equipment
2008 2 Not rated Electrical system
2007 7 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Electrical system
2006 7 Not rated Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags
2005 7 Not rated Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags
2004 7 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Electrical system
2003 4 Not rated Electrical system, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20190 recalls
  2. 20182 recalls
  3. 20172 recalls
  4. 20164 recalls
  5. 20154 recalls
  6. 20147 recalls
  7. 20132 recalls
  8. 20122 recalls
  9. 20112 recalls
  10. 20103 recalls
  11. 20095 recalls
  12. 20082 recalls
  13. 20077 recalls
  14. 20067 recalls
  15. 20057 recalls
  16. 20047 recalls
  17. 20034 recalls

Cadillac CTS: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Cadillac CTS recalls are electrical system (16), service brakes, hydraulic (11), air bags (8), steering (8) and fuel system, gasoline (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 8 of these 17 model years, and 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Cadillac CTS Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Cadillac CTS?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2019 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Cadillac CTS model years have the most recalls?

2004, 2005, 2006 and 2 more years have the most, with 7 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "CTS", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy