Most common 2012 Cadillac SRX problems
Share of the 417 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac SRX complaints by model year
Best SRX years: 2009, 2008, 2007. Years to avoid: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2012. Compare all years →
2012 Cadillac SRX recalls (3)
Suspension › Rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving.
Suspension › Rear
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge.
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Cadillac SRX:
Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation
On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V-571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V-571 had been performed on their vehicle.
What 2012 Cadillac SRX owners say
Lights all 234 →
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the low-beam headlight bulbs became inoperable without warning. The contact was forced to use the high-beam headlights for the duration of his trip. The headlight bulbs were replaced at the dealer. The contact had initially received a warranty notice from the manufacturer about the headlights that informed him that he would be reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses for his headlights. The dealer informed him that they were unable to reimburse him for the repair and referred him to the manufacturer. The manufacturer informed him that they were no longer reimbursing customers for headlight bulb replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that headlights were extremely dim and failed to properly illuminate while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that due to water seeping through the rubber sealant on the headlights, condensation had built up inside the headlight module which had caused the failure. The contact used the hi-beam headlights while driving at night due to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle for the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
Brakes all 45 →
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to come into a complete stop, the contact drove over a bump in the roadway and the brakes made an abnormal grinding sound and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a stopping distance delay, which caused the vehicle to stop after the stop sign. The contact stated that she pumped the brake pedal and was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 5 MPH from a complete stop, the vehicle in front of her stopped abruptly. The contact stated that the vehicle hit a bump while she quickly depressed the brake pedal, and the failure recurred, causing the vehicle to rear-end the other vehicle. The contact stated that it was a fender-bender. There were no injuries sustained. …
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the brakes were replaced for routine services at a local dealer. The contact then stated that while driving at an unknown speed, she drove over a pothole and while attempt to stop the vehicle, the brakes failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the brake failure reoccurred after driving over potholes and then depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the brake failure. The independent mechanic informed the contact that replacing the front brake pedals could possibly help with the brake failure. The front brake pedals were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. …
Suspension all 42 →
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension). The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer where the recall remedy was completed. The contact stated after the repairs were completed, she felt the rear side of the vehicle would sway side to side and she would notice it would be worst in the rain. The contact stated on 8/10/2022 while driving 42 mph, she heard an abnormal noise and noticed the rear driver side of the tire blew out. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she decided to continue driving. The contact stated after parking the vehicle, she noticed the inner part of the rear driver tire belt was showing. The contact's husband drove the vehicle to their residence with the faulty tire. …
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while attempting to drive over 25 MPH, the vehicle began to vibrate. The contact was able to continue driving under 25 MPH to his residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The contact stated that he received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
2012 Cadillac SRX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Cadillac SRX a good car?
Based on 417 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 SRX rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the SRX at the same age. It is one of the SRX years we suggest avoiding. 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 2012 Cadillac SRX?
The lights — 234 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year, most often about headlights. Next are the brakes (45) and suspension (42).
How many recalls does the 2012 Cadillac SRX have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Cadillac SRX, the most recent from June 24, 2021 (rear). 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 SRX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2008 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010 and 2012. See the full Cadillac SRX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Cadillac SRX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 miles; 25% 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.