2009 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

49Engine complaints

29.3%Of all 167 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE49 · 29.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25 · 15%

POWER TRAIN22 · 13.2%

AIR BAGS13 · 7.8%

STEERING12 · 7.2%

Share of the 167 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Cadillac CTS overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND…”NHTSA complaint 11039179 — filed 10/24/2017

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND CURRENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…”NHTSA complaint 11013425 — filed 08/07/2017

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO…”NHTSA complaint 10979127 — filed 04/18/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Cadillac CTS have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2009 Cadillac CTS: 49 of 167 complaints on file (29.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Cadillac CTS have in total?

167 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 10 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and 3 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.