Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
14–23 mpgcombined; city 12–20, highway 18–29; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120–$28,750U.S. average; Ohio $12,620–$27,080 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2014 CTS. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 CTS. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
84
1
0
0
Suspension
17
0
0
0
Electrical system
13
1
0
1
Steering
13
1
0
0
Unknown or other
13
0
0
0
Engine
9
0
0
0
Wheels
6
0
0
0
Seats
5
0
0
1
Tires
5
0
0
0
Air bags
4
2
0
3
Exterior lighting
4
0
0
0
Structure
4
0
0
0
13 more parts
Service brakes
3
1
0
1
Back over prevention
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Seat belts
2
1
0
1
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
1
0
1
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2014 CTS over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Cadillac CTS-V Sport vehicles equipped with 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 engines. The roll pins in the rear-axle differential may fracture.
Risk: If the roll pins fracture while the vehicle is in motion, the rear wheels may lock up and the driver can lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the rear axle differential, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2020. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N192279370.
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.
Risk: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
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. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Risk: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Risk: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, through February 26, 2014. If the vehicle is turned off with wiper functionality left on and the wipers then become restricted, such as when covered in ice or snow, and the vehicle's battery goes dead and needs to be jump started, upon being jump started, the wipers will be inoperative.
Risk: An inoperative windshield wiper system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2104 (as written in NHTSA's record). Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14157.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 2,069 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2014 CTS, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (845), electrical system (430), engine and engine cooling (222), engine (202), power train (148).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2014 CTS.
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 29 / 23
CTS All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
19 / 28 / 22
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S8)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 28 / 22
CTS All-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 27 / 21
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
CTS All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 24 / 18
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 19 / 16
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Automatic (S6)
Premium Gasoline
12 / 18 / 14
CTS V Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 19 / 16
CTS V Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Automatic (S6)
Premium Gasoline
12 / 18 / 14
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data