Most common 2008 Cadillac CTS problems
Share of the 175 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac CTS complaints by model year
Best CTS years: 2018, 2019, 2017. Years to avoid: 2006, 2005, 2007, 2003. Compare all years →
2008 Cadillac CTS recalls (2)
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 system
GM is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Buick, lucerne; Cadillac dts; Hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 Buick enclave; Cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; Saturn outlook; and model year 2009…
Remedy: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently…
What 2008 Cadillac CTS owners say
Electrical system all 39 →
Vehicle Purchase Statement - Top Tier Auto I, [redacted] , purchased a vehicle from Top Tier Auto on [redacted]. The vehicle details are as follows: VIN: [redacted] Warranty: 30-day coverage for the transmission and engine After owning the vehicle for only 15 minutes, I entered the freeway, and the car began to shake violently. Shortly after, a gentleman driving behind me alerted me that sparks and fire were falling from beneath the car. I immediately pulled over, just before the engine burst into flames. The Columbus Police Department responded to the scene and had to extinguish the fire. This incident occurred within minutes of purchasing the vehicle, despite the supposed 30-day warranty covering the transmission and engine.
I was pulled over by the Police because my 2008 Cadillac CTS license plate lights were not working and my rear brake lights were not working. These light failures were caused by a known design flaw with the wiring harness in the trunk lid near the right trunk lid hinge in where the wires inside the harness that go to the brake lights break in half after repeated opening and closing of the trunk lid because of the poor design of the wiring harness and it's mounting brackets. There should have been a safety recall from GM as I could have been killed if a car in back of me did not stop because my brake lights were not going on when I would step on my cars brake peddle! Now the car dealership service center wants to charge me $335.00 to replace the broken wires that were caused by GM/Cadillac's poor and unsafe design of this wiring harness. Regards [redacted]
Engine & cooling all 29 →
Vehicle Purchase Statement - Top Tier Auto I, [redacted] , purchased a vehicle from Top Tier Auto on [redacted]. The vehicle details are as follows: VIN: [redacted] Warranty: 30-day coverage for the transmission and engine After owning the vehicle for only 15 minutes, I entered the freeway, and the car began to shake violently. Shortly after, a gentleman driving behind me alerted me that sparks and fire were falling from beneath the car. I immediately pulled over, just before the engine burst into flames. The Columbus Police Department responded to the scene and had to extinguish the fire. This incident occurred within minutes of purchasing the vehicle, despite the supposed 30-day warranty covering the transmission and engine.
Car went crazy one day while behind the wheel everything malfunctioned then car shut off and won't start again. I could of easily got into an accident had there been any other vehicles around. Kids were scared. Codes come up as U0100,U0140,U0101,C0242,B0081-0F,B0081-71,B1370-01,B1370-06,U0155-00,U0170-00,P0856-00.
Fuel & propulsion system all 28 →
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, he noticed there was a puddle of fuel on the ground coming from the passenger's side fuel line. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with corrosion on the fuel line causing the fuel leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
Fuel supply stops and engine stalls when I get near or below 1/4 tank. I can restart the engine and it will run for anywhere from a few seconds to sometimes a minute, but mostly only a few seconds. Limp my car this way to a gas station, fill the tank, problem solved. I know it had fuel in the tank as it only took 11 gallons with my 16 gallon tank. Installed a new fuel pump, problem continues. This can put someone in a life threatening situation. The first time it happened I was passing a semi truck on a 2 lane Interstate with cars and trucks behind me. Just as I got half way on the semi's left, I'm doing about 70 mph, the engine stalls. Luckily, I kept a cool head and turned on my blinker as the car slowed down. The semi behind me took a hint and backed off so I could coast to the right shoulder. This could very easily have caused a fatal accident. …
2008 Cadillac CTS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Cadillac CTS a good car?
Based on 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 CTS rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the CTS 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 2008 Cadillac CTS?
The electrical system — 39 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the engine & cooling (29) and fuel & propulsion system (28).
How many recalls does the 2008 Cadillac CTS have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 Cadillac CTS, the most recent from July 2, 2014 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac CTS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2019 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2005, 2007 and 2003. See the full Cadillac CTS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Cadillac CTS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 44% 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.