Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Cadillac CTS. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Ignition Switch may Turn Off
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER MODULE SHORT CIRCUIT
- Summary
- GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.
- Consequence
- IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (175)
175 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 175 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 39 | 22.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 23 | 13.1% |
| Engine | 22 | 12.6% |
| Service brakes | 22 | 12.6% |
| Power train | 21 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 17 | 9.7% |
| Structure | 14 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 8% |
| Steering | 13 | 7.4% |
| Air bags | 12 | 6.9% |
How 2008 compares with other CTS years
Best and worst CTS years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 224 | 6 |
| 2005 | 277 | 6 |
| 2006 | 269 | 6 |
| 2007 | 217 | 6 |
| 2008 | 175 | 2 |
| 2009 | 167 | 5 |
| 2010 | 67 | 3 |
| 2011 | 101 | 2 |
| 2012 | 65 | 2 |
| 2013 | 73 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2008 CTS for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2008 Cadillac CTS FAQ
How many recalls does the 2008 Cadillac CTS have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 14V394000 (electrical), 10V240000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2008 Cadillac CTS problems?
Owners filed 175 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (39), Fuel/propulsion system (23), Engine (22) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2008 Cadillac CTS get?
EPA rates the 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 18 city, 26 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2008 CTS compare with other years?
Among the 2004–2013 Cadillac CTS model years at least five years old, the 2012 drew the fewest complaints (65) and the 2005 the most (277). The 2008 drew 175. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.