Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Cadillac CTS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I was driving down the road going Bout 29 miles per hour when I heard a big boom. It sounded ND felt like I had hit something . So I slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road put the car in park looked underneath nothing was there . I then preceeded to my at. Which thank God was only another block away .I started going only going maybe 5 miles per hour at this point because it sounds like I'm dragging like metals on the ground . When I got to my apt. I went to park the car when I went to put it into park it would not go when I went to reverse it would nit go it still went into drive and thTs it and even getting it into driveyou really had to push it and it felt like the tires were going to wobble off , I mean bye this time it just felt like the car was gonna fall apart shaking abd wobbling all over because I kept trying g to go from drive to neutral to get it to go into park …
On the morning of October 19th, while driving approximately three miles from my home, an incredibly loud banging sound shocked me into stopping the car on the side of the road. It felt as if something was going to come through the floor and into the interior console of the car. Panic-stricken, I didn't want to move the car again. When I called my husband, he instructed me to drive extremely slowly to the very short distance of a local mechanic's garage.upon inspection the mechanic found that the bolts on the driveshaft connected to the transmission were never torqued when the car was built at the GM plant. My mechanic informed me that the bolts unscrewed and fell into his hand without using a wrench and several of the bolts were sheared off, causing the driveshaft to come away from the transmission and almost penetrate the floor of the car. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. While driving 45 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there were cracks in the bearing on the drive train, which needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where it was still being diagnosed. The local dealer (alaska sales and service anchorage, 1300 e 5th avenue, anchorage, ak 99501) was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact filed a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
On April 8 2016 my wife was on the way to the bank at peach and liberty in erie pa. She was stopped at a red light when the light turn green she had no transmission or brakes. Luckily for her the emergence break worked because she was going backwards. Had it towed to roth Cadillac in erie pa. Was told that the transmission and transfer case broke (there was no warning) and they didn't know why the brakes went out when the transmission went. So again my wife contacted Cadillac headquarters and my wife got an email from Cadillac headquarters saying sorry for your problem but we will give you one hour of diagnostic for free. And from the dealership said this been happening a lot.
For the fourth time a wheel speed sensor malfunctioned. I was turning left across traffic and all of the sudden the stability control light started blinking and my speed was limited to about 5 MPH, putting me in danger of being t-boned. After about 15 seconds of this the car finally figured out that something was wrong and lit up the service stabilitrak, service brake assist, and service traction control warnings and allowed me to accelerate again (exactly as it's done three times before when wheel speed sensors have gone out). This is a massive safety issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. While driving 25 MPH and depressing the clutch pedal, it failed to respond and the pedal traveled to the floorboard. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and waited thirty minutes for the clutch pedal to retract to its normal position. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle slowed down to approximately 30 MPH. The traction and "satellite off" indicators illuminated. The failure recurred three times and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic each time. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not provided.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Cadillac CTS. While driving 35 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Transmission complaints in other CTS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Cadillac CTS, 12% of the model year's 175 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Cadillac CTS transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2008 Cadillac CTS, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Cadillac CTS transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 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.