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Exterior lightingPart report

2012 Cadillac SRX Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
233about this part
Share
56%of 417 total for the year
Median mileage
76,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 233 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Cadillac SRX, 56% of the 417 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 76,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“I had an accident due to the low beam lights on my 2012 Cadillac SRX. It was still dark at 5:30am when I failed to see the outer road turned which caused me to collide with a curb and become airborne. This accident caused 3 blown out tires and 2 ruined rims. This cost me $1700 and it was all caused by the extremely dim low beam headlights.”

NHTSA complaint #11193516, filed 2019-04, 102,000 miles

“My 2012 Cadillac SRX while driving at night on low beam is very, very dim. It's basically like driving with no lights on. This only effects low beam, not high. I can not visually see well. This problem has steadily gotten worse. While driving in the rain, you can barely see the road on low beam. There are 1000's and 1000's of complaints on the internet, but I could not find a recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11302721, filed 2020-01, 73,000 miles

“We were driving back from dinner it was dark and raining all of a sudden the driver side low beam headlight stopped working I could not see the centerline and almost had a head-on collision then there was a police car in back of me and pulled us over for no headlight saying that he knew off other people with the same happening issued a warring and we proceeded up the roar with caution”

NHTSA complaint #11301702, filed 2020-01, 96,432 miles

“Biggest problem with this vehicle is the headlights in the dim setting. It is almost impossible to see the road in this mode. Have changed to bulbs to the most expensive I can get with no better results. I have read many forums with the same complaint how does this go on without getting recalled, huge safety issue. The issue with stability track is has to be set every few months”

NHTSA complaint #11268137, filed 2019-10, 15,000 miles

“Headlights get very dim, to the point that they appear to be turned off. They do not even illuminate the lines on the road. This happens whenever there is any mist or rain, or humidity. Very dangerous as I cannot even tell where the lanes of the road are without flashing on my high beams, which oncoming traffic does not appreciate.”

NHTSA complaint #11150059, filed 2018-11, 37,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20169858%
201530268%
201426668%
201321755%
201223356%
201119844%
201022547%
200824%
200724%
2006710%
200543%
200484%

Other parts of the 2012 Cadillac SRX

Brakes
45 complaints
Suspension
42 complaints
Electrical system
32 complaints
Other or unknown
27 complaints
Body and structure
19 complaints
Steering
18 complaints
Air bags
15 complaints
Engine
15 complaints
Vehicle speed control
14 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
11 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaints
Electronic stability control
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Cadillac SRX

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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