Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Cadillac SRX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights were very dim, making it difficult to see the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlamps assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that while turning the steering wheel, there was a grinding noise coming from the steering wheel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights were extremely dim. The contact stated while driving in the dark for four hours, the headlights remained dim, and did not provide adequate illumination farther than six feet in front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that he was unable to see the road while driving in inclement weather with the low-beam headlight activated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and he was informed that the headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the headlights appeared too dim obstructing the view to the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the headlights needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had authorized a recall for the headlights however, the recall had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the contact became aware that the low-beam headlights had moisture inside the headlight housings. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was repaired under an unknown recall; however, the failure progressed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the low-beam headlights were extremely dim, causing a visibility hazard to the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the headlight assemblies were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also contact but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 72,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated she noticed that the headlight of the vehicle was lower than usual. The headlight was replaced. On a separate occasion, the contact had the vehicle diagnosed by a mechanic who stated that the body control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Very poor visibility. Head lights turn on but the lens is so cloudy it has severely reduced visibility for night driving. I have been calling GM/Cadillac routinely for at least a month but I feel like I'm getting a run around. On 4/4/22 I was told the problem has been resolved and I would be getting a call to set up an appointment to have the lenses replaced. But I still haven't heard back. The head lights had already been inspected by a Cadillac service dealer on 3/15/22 and GM/Cadillac was made aware of this and has spoken with the Cadillac dealer so I'm not sure what the hold up is. I've been calling to find out but my call gets transferred to voice mail. They do not return my calls. I also made them aware that we are planning to be doing lots of night driving in the next couple weeks for a vacation. So there is a need for the lights to be replaced ASAP. …
Headlight complaints in other SRX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2012 Cadillac SRX?
NHTSA has 234 complaints about the lights of the 2012 Cadillac SRX, 56% of the model year's 417 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Cadillac SRX headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2012 Cadillac SRX, though it has 3 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 2012 Cadillac SRX headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to lights 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.