Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Cadillac CTS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the ignition switch failed, and the steering wheel locked causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle crashed on the driver's side on-ramp. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact and his daughter sustained injuries to the back but did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, then to the dealer. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V394000 (Electrical System). The contact received the recall notification after the crash. The contact stated that the dealer refused to provide a diagnostic test on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle owner was responsible for the cost of the repair. …
The contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle, he attempted to release the ignition key from the ignition switch however, the key remained stuck inside the ignition switch. The message Thief was displayed. The contact was able to release the ignition key after several minutes. The contact stated upon entering the ignition key inside the ignition switch and starting the vehicle in his garage, the message Thief was displayed. The contact turned off the vehicle but could not release the ignition key from the ignition switch. The contact stated that the ignition key had remained stuck inside the ignition key for a week. Additionally, the contact stated that the gear shifter had seized in park(P). An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle in for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. …
When driving my car will shut off by its self and it has done this the whole time I have had the car... When it shuts off the car gets reads stuck in park because the key gets stuck in ignition... When nights are on and I turn right my height lights come on... And my passenger air bag light came on and won't go off
Vehicle primarily failed while parked at owner residence [redacted] and remained inoperable for approximately three weeks prior to tow to Cadillac dealership. The ignition key became trapped and could not be removed. A manual override release beneath the driver-side steering column was required to free the key - confirming the lock was held electronically, not mechanically jammed. Fault confirmed by authorized Cadillac dealer: intermittent electrical fault within the shifter assembly lock mechanism. A similar intermittent concern was previously documented on this vehicle in 2011 (logged as "Customer Concern Not Duplicated"), establishing a recurring pattern. GM Technical Service Bulletin 07-07-30-032D (2006-2011 Cadillac CTS, automatic transmission) explicitly documents this exact condition: key sticking, Shift to Park DIC message, shifter binding, and battery drain. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Cadillac CTS. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle independently surged at a high rate of speed while making a left turn to go into the oppposite direction. The contact applied extreme force to the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed and crashed into a tree. The front driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The driver sustained head and neck injuries as well as pains to the right hand and arm. The crash caused an elevation in blood pressure that required medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed, towed, and inspected by the insurance company's repair shop and the manufacturer who stated that there was no failure. The contact was unable to determine what caused the vehicle to surge at a high rate of speed. The brakes did not prevent the crash. …
While driving car on city street about 2 miles from home, noticed smell coming out of vents. Pulled over to check for problem and found that the engine compartment was on fire. Called fire dept who came and put out the fire but the front of car was completely destroyed. Called GM customer service to report and they basically told me they were not going to get involved. No investigation or help what so ever. It appears to have been caused by some kind of electrical short, not fuel related. Fire appeared to have started on passenger side of engine near the battery.the car continued to run normally while on fire.
The seller lied about everything! The first question I asked was if the car was in an accident. He bragged about being a mechanic, and doing all the work on the car, so everything in the car is in, "tip top shape." he replied, "no, never!" he did not allow us to ride the car on the interstate before the purchase, claiming it was illegal. 10 mins after leaving the car lot, the car cuts off and is unable to crank back up. The seller meets us and claims it the battery. A "new" battery was placed in the vehicle, but the problem persists. My fianc, who is not a mechanic, told him more than once, that the problem was not the battery, but the alternator. He got the car to crank. As we are riding down the interstate, the car cuts off, and we are left aimlessly rolling and are unable to control the wheel. …
I was driving down a major highway with my 2 small children with the ac on when all of a sudden all the gauges in the car dropped to zero and the car inside became very hot and the steering wheel tightened up. I immediately gripped the wheel as tight as I could and moved to the side of the highway. I thought we were going to crash. I had no control over the vehicle, it was shutting itself down while I was driving. When I pulled over I had to force it into park. This is an extreme safety issue, we could have been hit and killed by another car. It happened so fast. Another incident that occurred today was that I parked in my driveway and tried to turn my car off and the key would not move or come out of the ignition switch. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V394000 (electrical system); however, on the way home, the instrument panel momentarily flickered. The contact drove over a bump on the road and the vehicle stalled. The key would get stuck inside the ignition intermittently. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The technician replaced an unknown component on the ignition switch at the owner's expense. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac CTS. While driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the service theft system warning light illuminated. The vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine control module needed to be replaced. The module was replaced but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and it was determined that the ignition failed. The contact was informed by the dealer that their vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V394000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014.
Electrical complaints in other CTS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2007 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the electrical system of the 2007 Cadillac CTS, 19% of the model year's 217 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Cadillac CTS electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-394 (ignition, Jul 2, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2007 Cadillac CTS electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 4 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.