2008 Cadillac CTS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 39 of 175 complaints (22%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 218 in 2007 to 175 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–4,550 | 3,300–4,850 | 2,950–3,300 | 2,950–3,300 | 2,850–5,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–19 | 16–19 | 19–21 | 19–21 | 14–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 23–25 | 14–16 / 22–25 | 16–18 / 25–26 | 16–18 / 25–26 | 12–18 / 18–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–523 | 468–555 | 423–468 | 423–468 | 404–635 | |
| Complaints filed | 272 | 218 | 175 | 167 | 68 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 23 | 26 | 12 | 10 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 13 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Cadillac CTS have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Cadillac CTS?
Electrical: 39 of 175 NHTSA complaints (22%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac CTS get?
EPA rates it 19–21 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Cadillac CTS?
EPA estimates $2,950–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 26 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 26 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 444 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 39 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 15 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 14V394000 · Jul 2, 2014
Defect: 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.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · Campaign 10V240000 · Jun 4, 2010
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.
Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.