2009 Cadillac CTS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 50 of 167 complaints (30%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more deaths (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 175 in 2008 to 167 in 2009.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2009 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–4,850 | 2,950–3,300 | 2,950–3,300 | 2,850–5,550 | 2,950–5,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 16–19 | 19–21 | 19–21 | 14–22 | 14–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 22–25 | 16–18 / 25–26 | 16–18 / 25–26 | 12–18 / 18–27 | 12–18 / 18–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–555 | 423–468 | 423–468 | 404–635 | 423–635 | |
| Complaints filed | 218 | 175 | 167 | 68 | 108 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 26 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 17 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 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 2009 Cadillac CTS have?
5 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 2009 Cadillac CTS?
Engine: 50 of 167 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Cadillac CTS get?
EPA rates it 19–21 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 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 | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| 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 | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 26 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | 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 |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 17 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 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 (5)
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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 11V089000 · Feb 11, 2011
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH A WAX COATING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK JAM NUTS MAY ALLOW THE NUT(S) TO LOOSEN. IF A NUT SUFFICIENTLY LOOSENS, THE TOE LINK COULD SEPARATE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. OWNERS MAY HEAR A METALLIC CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT MAY WARN OF A LOOSENING NUT.
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE SUDDEN CHANGES WITH VEHICLE HANDLING AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN ALL WAX RESIDUE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK AND INSTALL TWO NEW JAM NUTS. IF NECESSARY THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK MAY BE REPLACED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
EQUIPMENT · Campaign 10V414000 · Sep 16, 2010
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CADILLAC CTS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CTS-V VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER MAY BE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF LEG INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASSEMBLY AND, IN SOME VEHICLES MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STRUCTURE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 08V582000 · Nov 6, 2008
Defect: GM IS RECALLING 12,662 MY 2009 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A SOFTWARE CONDITION WITHIN THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MAY DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED OR ENABLE IT WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED.
Consequence: IN A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED, INCREASED PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .