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2008 Cadillac Cts reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Cadillac Cts — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source ↗
NHTSA complaints
252
26 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
38 complaints
Recalls on record
2
see below
Reported harm
15 reported crashes · 8 injuries · 8 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#2,105

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Cadillac median

+55

median 197 across 61 Cadillac records

Vs 2006-2010

-20

median 272 complaints in 785 records

Top component share

15%

Electrical System: 38 complaints

What owners report fails — 2008 Cadillac Cts

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38
  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 23
  • ENGINE 22
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17
  • POWER TRAIN 16

2 recalls on record for the 2008 Cadillac Cts

  • NHTSA 14V394000 · 2014 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION 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
  • NHTSA 10V240000 · 2010 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Cadillac Cts

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Cadillac Cts units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Cadillac Cts reliable?

NHTSA has 252 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Cadillac Cts and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (38 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Cadillac Cts units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Cadillac Cts?

Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (38), fuel/propulsion system (23), engine (22), unknown or other (17). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2008 Cadillac Cts?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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