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2012 Cadillac CTS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Cadillac CTS. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.
Better than 85% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 16 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 16%).
Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac CTS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 48% and the 2013 scores 31%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Cadillac CTS years
Of the 7 Cadillac CTS years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the best on engine and transmission share (22%). The worst is the 2014 (65%). By volume, the 2012 drew 67 complaints (11 drivetrain), against 108 for the 2011 and 73 for the 2013.
Cadillac CTS years to avoid and best years →
2011 CTS problems · 2012 · 2013 CTS problems · 2014 CTS problems · 2015 CTS problems · 2016 CTS problems · 2017 CTS problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Cadillac CTS
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Cadillac CTS engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Cadillac CTS, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Cadillac CTS? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Cadillac CTS have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 51 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Cadillac CTS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Cadillac CTS is exterior lighting: 10 of 67 complaints (15%) name it, followed by electrical system (10) and service brakes (9). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 22% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Cadillac CTS reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 22% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 85% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Cadillac CTS years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Cadillac CTS?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Cadillac CTS, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Cadillac CTS years are better?
The 2012 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Cadillac CTS years we track (22%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/cadillac-cts
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.