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EnginePart report

2008 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

Complaints
22about this part
Share
13%of 175 total for the year
Median mileage
78,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the engine of the 2008 Cadillac CTS, 13% of the 175 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,500 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The vehicle will stall while cruising to a stop light, while at idle and sometime while accelerating. I've read a lot of posts online about this issue but no one has a solution. I got stranded on the highway in the middle lane once too. Gm will not do anything about it. The vehicle is in the shop right now and my diagnosis fee its over $750 and there is still no resolution for this issue!!! This issue is an ongoing issue for years now!!!”

NHTSA complaint #11015632, filed 2017-08, 122,600 miles

“The car only has 35000 miles on it. The engine misfires constantly when giving gas especially if your going up hill and there is more load on the vehicle. After I had $5000 worth of work to fix the problem at a Cadillac dealership. They couldn't fix the issue so they came back and said that we needed a new engine. We told them over and over again that we don't think it's the engine but they guaranteed us the new engine would fix the problem. So another $5000 later and still not fixed. The vehicle idles fine, it only happens while driving. …”

NHTSA complaint #11315350, filed 2020-02, 35,000 miles

“I brought a 2008 Cadillac back in sept. 2014. April of 2015 I had a crankshaft sensor went out on me three times all three times I took it in to roth Cadillac of erie pa and I also contact Cadillac headquarters at the same time. I pay all three times. They fixed the sensor and repaired the wiring harness all three times. It seems like every 3-6 months it would break down. We were told by the mechanic at roth Cadillac that they got a memo about this problem. But wasn't going to do a recall on it.”

NHTSA complaint #10860349, filed 2016-04, 83,000 miles

“I was driving in a parking garage so my speed was about 5-10mph when the whole system shut down. The car stopped moving and all of the system warnings popped off (ABS, stabiltrack,engine). The car would not turn back on. I had it towed to the shop where I was told that it was an electrical problem. The PCM was replaced and I was told that the problem was fixed. Cost was approx $200. After the original system shut down, I was driving on an exit ramp to the interstate when once again the whole system shut down. All of the system warnings popped up and the car would not turn back on. …”

NHTSA complaint #10712327, filed 2015-04, 74,000 miles

“Although I loved the car overall at the time I decided to own, , my dream car Cadillac CTS has turned into my dream nightmare. Cadillac CTS 3.6 2008 when I get on it a little bit acceleration it makes a sound that sounds like all air leaks inside the car. The dealer was reported ever since my first early visit to service center but it's only during my last visit to the dealer they mentioned GM has sanctioned approval ie. At the time the odometer reads 65000km? Strange! The door locks are terrible?despite rectifying; time and again by your dealer the problem still persist to date. …”

NHTSA complaint #10471971, filed 2012-08, 44,200 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2019220%
2018113%
201714%
2016413%
201548%
201496%
2013710%
201269%
20111313%
20101015%
20094929%
20082213%
20072210%
20062810%
2005249%
200452%
2003299%

Other parts of the 2008 Cadillac CTS

Electrical system
39 complaints
Fuel system
28 complaints
Brakes
22 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
21 complaints
Other or unknown
18 complaints
Body and structure
14 complaints
Vehicle speed control
14 complaints
Steering
13 complaints
Air bags
12 complaints
Electronic stability control
7 complaints
Engine cooling
7 complaints
Exterior lighting
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Cadillac CTS

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology