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2011 Cadillac CTS: common problems and reliability
· 2nd generationAn average CTS year.
108 owner complaints, most about air bags. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 CTS?The 2011 Cadillac CTS has 108 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and power train. Owners most often flag timing chain stretch/failure on 3.6l engines (especially 2008-2011 ly7).
Safety record for the 2011 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other CTS years only. How we score it
Is 2011 a good year for the CTS?
Across the 17 CTS model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2010) to 334 (2009). With 108 complaints, the 2011 CTS sits about the same as the model's median of 108.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2011 CTS
air bags
Campaign 14V341000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured October 18, 2010, to June 2, 2011. In the affected vehicles, vibrations from the drive shaft may cause the vehicle's roll over sensor to command the roof rail air bags to deploy.
electrical system:ignition
Campaign 14V394000This 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.
What owners report on the 2nd generation CTS
Owners of the 2008-2014 CTS generally describe it as a good, enjoyable car that rewards proper maintenance, with several noting high-mileage examples surpassing 140,000-180,000 miles on regular upkeep.
- Very frequentTiming chain stretch/failure on 3.6L engines (especially 2008-2011 LY7)
- Very frequentOil consumption and low oil level leading to timing chain damage
- RecurrentCatalytic converter failure (P0430 code)
- RecurrentO2 sensor failures
- RecurrentSunroof drain clogs causing water leaks into cabin
Owner insights for the 2nd generation CTS. Read the full 2nd generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used CTS listings typically run $11,549–$18,393 across 2008 to 2019 model years.
Other CTS model years
Compare every CTS year side by side to see how 2011 ranks against the rest.
Compare the CTS against its rivals
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