Most common 2011 Cadillac CTS-V problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac CTS-V complaints by model year
Best CTS-V years: 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
What 2011 Cadillac CTS-V owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
My CTS-v currently has 56,000 miles and very well cared for. My problem started at 25,[redacted] miles with a rear seal leak, it was replaced by dealer and 9 months later started leaking again. After the 4th trip to the dealer, they are now telling me it's the rear differential that is a 'known issue' (with recalls on the earlier CTS-v's for the same problems) that needs to be replaced. The problem is there are no rear differentials! GM has discontinued the part ( my car is 6 1/2 years old and they made this car through 2015 and GM says the part is discontinued! The dealership has informed me that the care is 'unsafe' to drive and suggest I pick the car up on a flat bed truck and take back home and garage it.
My 2011 CTS-v rear differential has now failed for the second time. First off, my car has been babied and extremely well taken care of. The differential first failed at approximately 17,500 miles and now this second time at approximately 38,900 miles. Both times the differential has started to make whining and/or growling noises that progressively get worse. My dealership replaced the first one and has had the second one back ordered now for 2 months (none in inventory & no estimated shipment). This is a well reported issue (109 occurrences found on line) for these cars. Why has Cadillac not issued a recall and affected a fix? What are the NHTSA investigation results?
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 CTS-V rates average: 4.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the CTS-V at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (2) and fuel & propulsion system (1).
How many recalls does the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac CTS-V?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 2005. See the full Cadillac CTS-V years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Cadillac CTS-V problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.