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2014 Cadillac CTS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
65% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2014 Cadillac CTS are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 62%).
Does the 2014 Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 90 of 139 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Cadillac CTS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (65%), and the largest group is filed under power train (84). For comparison, the 2013 scores 31% and the 2015 scores 47%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. 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 2014 compares with other Cadillac CTS years
Of the 7 Cadillac CTS years with enough complaints to score, the 2014 is the worst on engine and transmission share (65%). The best is the 2012 (22%). By volume, the 2014 drew 146 complaints (90 drivetrain), against 73 for the 2013 and 48 for the 2015.
Cadillac CTS years to avoid and best years →
2011 CTS problems · 2012 CTS problems · 2013 CTS problems · 2014 · 2015 CTS problems · 2016 CTS problems · 2017 CTS problems
The rest of the picture on the 2014 Cadillac CTS
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2014 Cadillac CTS said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- 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 90 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2014 Cadillac CTS transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2014 Cadillac CTS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total. 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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Cadillac CTS-V Sport vehicles equipped with 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 engines. The roll pins in the rear-axle differential may fracture.
Risk: If the roll pins fracture while the vehicle is in motion, the rear wheels may lock up and the driver can lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the rear axle differential, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2020. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Risk: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014.…
5 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 2014 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2014 Cadillac CTS
Does the 2014 Cadillac CTS have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 90 of 139 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Cadillac CTS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (65%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Cadillac CTS?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2014 Cadillac CTS is power train: 84 of 146 complaints (58%) name it, followed by suspension (17) and steering (13). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2014 Cadillac CTS reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 65% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Cadillac CTS years we score, it ranks worst. 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 2014 Cadillac CTS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2014 Cadillac CTS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 20V038000 (power train: driveline: differential unit), 14V338000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Cadillac CTS years are better?
Among the Cadillac CTS years we track, the 2012 (22%), the 2013 (31%) and the 2017 (36%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (65%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. 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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.