Most common 2015 Cadillac CTS problems
Share of the 49 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 →
2015 Cadillac CTS recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available.
Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.
What 2015 Cadillac CTS owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 20 →
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving, the air bag warning light and the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Service Vehicle Soon" was displayed. Additionally, the rear end of the vehicle made an abnormal roaring sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a multi-point inspection was performed. The dealer replaced the purge valve due to a leak, an oil change was performed, and the check engine warning light was reset. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnose regarding the roaring sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The dealer determined that the rear differential was leaking due to a pinion bearing failure and needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failures with NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V038000 (Power Train) and 26V329000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was approximately 143,145.
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact also became aware of an abnormal sound near the brake pads; however, the contact stated that the sound was not coming from the brake pads. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who determined that the differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related to the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V038000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a loud grinding and squeaking sounds coming from the vehicle. Additionally, there was a high-pitched sound coming from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the water pump was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced, and the rear differential was leaking. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The water pump was replaced under the warranty. The contact stated that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced every two months. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH and attempting to stop, the braking system malfunctioned, and the brake pedal became very difficult to depress. The failure almost caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle and crash. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and the "Brake Assist" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vacuum pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.
Suspension
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a loud grinding and squeaking sounds coming from the vehicle. Additionally, there was a high-pitched sound coming from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the water pump was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced, and the rear differential was leaking. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The water pump was replaced under the warranty. The contact stated that the brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced every two months. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Cadillac CTS. The contact discovered a recall on the vehicle under NHTSA campaign number: 20V038000 (suspension). The contact stated that prior to knowing about the recall, the service rear axle warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact called Cadillac of bellevue 600 116th ave ne, bellevue, wa 98004 where he was informed that the part was not available for the recall repair. The contact had not spoken with the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 62,500. The VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2015 Cadillac CTS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 18 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 6-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Cadillac CTS a good car?
Based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 CTS rates better than average: 66% fewer complaints than 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 2015 Cadillac CTS?
The transmission & drivetrain — 20 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline › differential unit. Next are the brakes (9) and suspension (5).
How many recalls does the 2015 Cadillac CTS have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2015 Cadillac CTS, the most recent from May 21, 2026 (inflator module). 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 2015 Cadillac CTS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 48% 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.