2008 Cadillac CTS: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Feb 25, 2024 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

Ever since I purchased this 2008 CTS vehicle, I have dumped thousands of dollars to repair the vehicle even after the "recall repairs". Problems persist and the car has become more dangerous than ever. The vehicle had inspected by the dealership a number of times the first 5 years of ownership the first 3, listed below, were the replaced recalls from dealership, the rest are known safety issues that gm denies to admit to faults and recalls. *Ignition starter replacement (still have starter failure issues after 2 repairs from gm) *washer fluid warmer removal (they just snipped the wires and removed the component but left hot wires exposed in vehicle) *motherboard ecm replacement recall(ecm is still faulty and has caused dozens of electrical issues. **************** battery drains over night. On my 6th battery (just bought new one 3 days ago) gauge cluster never recalibrated and is completely disabled. Don't know how fast im going how much gas or any other info related to. sunroof constantly leaking, flooding vehicle and destroying the electrical components which fried many relays including the door lock and power window components vehicle refuses to turn but cranks on fuel often will not allow a fill up ecm throwing irrelevant codes headlight failure due to seal defect that allows moisture into headlight casing frequent oil loss. 2018: vehicle engine failure whilst driving on freeway with zero warning nearly causing a fatal crash. Purchased new alternator (Shade tree auto in san Clemente) and had to pay 2000 for tow and alternator transmission failure and near miss collision into another vehicle on a steep incline road I have taken this vehicle to a multitude of repair shops and auto supply to get a diagnosis. Even the dealership didn't have any answers. Now I am out of a car. and money. These issues had been confirmed by Rorick Cadillac, Shade tree auto, oreily, s and s auto, auto zone.

Filed Dec 15, 2018 · Body · VA

Finish up on previous complaint concerning front door latches on 2008 cadillac cts4 that will not allow front doors to open from the outer latches setting up a dangerous situation in case of accident or fire. The dealer that diagnosed the problem didn't seem to take it to serious, a mere $1800.00 should fix it. Hope you people realize the possible danger involved here. Thanks

Filed Aug 15, 2017 · Body, Suspension · PA

The passenger door does not open from the outside of the vehicle. The motor for the door lock failed. The driveshaft bolts broke and make a "flapping" noise when the vehicle is driven. My mechanic cannot find the replacement assembly and was told by cadillac that it is unavailable at this time. Operating the vehicle is dangerous because the vehicle fails to accelerate in traffic. I contacted gm/cadillac about the problems and was told there is nothing they can do because my vehicle is not under warranty and the door lock issue was on recall in 2013 and has expired. My concern is if I am involved in an accident with a passenger, first responders may not be able to safely remove the passenger because the door will not open from the exterior handle.

Filed Jun 5, 2016 · Electrical · CT

My sunroof drain is often clogged resulting in the interior being soaked during slight or heavy rain fall. Maintenance has been done several times to no avail. Also whenever the weather is warm outside, the back doors will not unlock from the outside or when exiting the car. I always have to manually lock the doors upon leaving the vehicle. These problems have been virtually present since the car was purchased and have become a nightmare. The water log inside the vehicle almost always happen when the car is stationary.

Filed May 30, 2016 · Electrical · 147,000 miles · PA

The d/s door will not unlock or open from the outside. Read numerous complaints on same issue and no recall issued

Filed Aug 3, 2015 · Electrical · 67,000 miles · FL

Intermittently, the door locks do not lock/unlock with the remote. The safety concern is ingress/egress from the vehicle.

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Airbags, Engine · 20,000 miles · FL

Car w/ 95,000 miles. Problems at 15,000 miles. Airbag sensors faulty. "ECM" (engine control module) replaced but no issues with how the car was running. Told by the dealership "alot" of ECM's are replaced. Is ECM failure common in this vehicle or is it the dealership replacing ECM's that do not need repair to make money? Ecm was a $1,000.00 repair to fix a gas smell from the car. New ECM and gas smell is still there. Then told now faulty fuel pump and leak in the fuel line as reason for gas smell. Both dealer and gm have refused refund for replacing ECM that did not have to be replaced. Replacing ECM did not fix the gas smell! Prior to "ECM " all six of the oxygen sensors also replaced. Another costly repair. I have pampered this vehicle since I have purchased it from factory. Very suspicious so many issues needing repair have occurred with this car. Now, ignition switch is being recalled and will need repair. I am left driving my family around in a potentially dangerous car. Will my family be the next victim of a faulty gm ignition switch? Also the door locks in the rear of the car are faulty ever since I have had the car. The rear door locks jam and the doors won't open from the outside. The dealer in the first three months replaced one rear door lock mechanism. Before I realized my warranty expired the other rear door lock also had the same problem. Gm refuses to fix it. Now an expense of > $400. Having an infant who rides in the back this is concerning that rear door lock jams. Repairs on this 2008 cadillac cts are endless and should not have to be so numerous considering I have been the single owner of this vehicle and have kept the vehicle very well maintained. I would like to know if other owners of this make and model of vehicle have had similar problems? Is there a manufacturing issue??

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Electrical, Locks · GA

For quite some time now I've been experiencing problems with locking/unlocking rear doors. Rear doors will not lock/unlock with keyless entry or front/passenger door pads. I have to manually cling to back to unlock doors. Have purchased several batteries for keyless remote. Due to doors remaining unlocked I cannot auto start vehicle unless I manually lock doors myself. Also computer is not recognizing keyless remote. I have purchased several batteries within the past 8 months. Car always tell me keyless remote not detected. To crank car I have to put keyless remote in middle of console to ignite. Both issues are very annoying and unsafe.

Filed Aug 1, 2013 · Brakes, Steering · 122,538 miles · NY

While trying to park, the steering wheel becomes stiff. I took it to the dealer to correct problem and it cost me $2,558.35 to replace steering pump and to get a wheel alignment. A week later I had to take the car back to the dealer for noises after applying the brakes and they had to replace both control arms and stabilizer links to correct problem. That job cost me $1,362.93. In april 2013, my front passenger door handle didn't open from the outside. The dealer had to replace the inside door handle housing split, trim pad and handle housing. This job cost me $1,376.99. Not sure why I'm having all of these problems when I get all the required maintenance and all jobs are done at a gm cadillac dealership.

Filed Apr 30, 2013 · Locks · NC

D/s door lock will not open outside with remote control or handle. Must use key. Have research and found numerous complaints regarding this issue and no recall was established.

Filed Apr 29, 2013 · Electrical · 105,834 miles · VA

There have been multiple electrical problems with the cts starting with wiring melt down in the front end. Recently, both the driver side and passenger side door latch assembly's went bad resulting in situations where the doors could not be opened from the outside or inside. If there had been an accident, the doors would not have opened and the driver or passenger would not have been able to open them from the inside.

Filed Aug 23, 2012 · Engine · 44,200 miles · CA

Although I loved the car overall at the time I decided to own, , my dream car cadillac cts has turned into my dream nightmare. Cadillac cts 3.6 2008 when I get on it a little bit acceleration it makes a sound that sounds like all air leaks inside the car. The dealer was reported ever since my first early visit to service center but it's only during my last visit to the dealer they mentioned gm has sanctioned approval ie. At the time the odometer reads 65000km? Strange! The door locks are terrible?despite rectifying; time and again by your dealer the problem still persist to date. Safety hazard indeed. The computer had error as for tyre low air pressure very bad on safety standards. On 12th aug 2012 while I was en-route to the cadillac service center the vehicle had a break down. On the display screen near odometer it displayed engine temperature too high ?. Due to this I had to pull the car towards safety and got stranded in the middle of the road under the hot sun. How can you justify a car which is regularly maintained by your authorized agency at regular periodic intervals to have such a fate? I felt it was good to have it serviced during my absence in town before the regular km interval; but, only to get stranded on the road in the hot sun. It is indeed, too much to suffer after buying a car of gm flagship brand and suffer agony on the road side. Not to mention the dealerships warranty you provide with the purchase of the new car from your authorized agents, probably don't fix anything with the warranty service program. If the job was right then the engine should not have over heated especially when the car is just run 71000 kms. Approx...