Severe and sudden malfunction of the ABS/Stabilitrak system at 45MPH causing loss of directional control of the vehicle. Failure caused by disintegration/cracking of ABS/HUB RELUCTOR RINGS, feeding incorrect wheel speeds to stability system. This failure caused a total loss of power, vehicle veering right despite full left steering input, ABS activation continuously (increasing stopping distance). Vehicle exited road due to loss of control.
Cadillac CTS abs comes on
62 of the 2,220 owner complaints about the Cadillac CTS describe aBS light or ABS activating, most of them for the 2006 model year.
- owner complaints
- 62
- worst model year
- 2006
- typical repair cost reported
- $800
- typical mileage
- 68,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Brake failure 9Check engine light 6Loss of power 4Stalling 2Shudder 2Door locks 2
What owners say
The all wheel drive link is not working. This causes the stabilitrac and abs to go out leaving only rear wheel drive. With very little weight in the rear of the car, it is very difficult to drive in snow or rain conditions as the car slides very easily. This is the 2nd time it's happened.
There have been a collection of other Vin numbers for this year make and model for the symptoms I have been experiencing since taking ownership in 2019. The vehicle will stall while running and randomly disable ALL WHEEL drive, Traction Control, ABS, and send Check engine light on causing me amdy son on infinite number of times to almost be hit In the middle of amd intersection, after a stop sign at low speeds, upon turning the wheels into or put of driveway, parking spaces and worst off at 60 mph on a freeway. This has resulted in multiple near accidents as the vehicle randomly disables itself. It occurs mostly after pressing the brakes to shift gears and almost always causes the vehicle to become inoperable for over an hour where it sits as there is no option to disable AWD or choose from FWD OR RWD. It happens in manual mode (or called performance mode) as well as automatic mode and has been occurring for 5 and a half years. I have been charged an exorbitant amount for supposed repairs from.dealers and mechanics who have claimed to fix it and I have severe autoimmune disease, a foot prosthetic, AND a minor child I have to transport to and from.school in the car. My issue and warning lights and symptoms mirror the recall of the Vin numbers the manufacturer has performed the recall repair on exactly and yet I have been sent from dealers who refuse to check the part that's defective which is I believe the hydrolic brake rod to the brake petal. The bold needs to be simply retorqued to the proper torque to fix the problem as it was either assembled improperly torqued and or can loosen over time resulting in dangerous and immediate and unexpected complete loss of power to the vehicle allowing people to slam into you at any time. I have had it towed numerous times after these incidents. All features, climate control, locks, entertainment, windows and everything functions when this happens. I have replaced batteries, brakes, oil changes etc. Unresolved.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed and the AWD inadvertently deactivated, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. The service brake assist, check engine, traction control, ABS, and stabili-trak warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to two independent mechanics; however, no failure was found. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 11V536000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
During normal driving, my service stibilatrak light comes on. While the message is on, the TCS kicks in and it grabs the wheel and stops the car. I've been reared ended once and two barely missed collisions. When the TCS activates, it stops the car completely and the only way to drive the car is to turn it off for a few second and then restart it. That resets the computer and turn the message light off. The TCS or ABS does not come on in the dash, just the stilibatrak message in the message center. Once it's turned off, it does not come on until the next time the TCS activates. I've had several diagnostic tests to check the problem or get a code but there is no code. I've been told that the car is clear of codes. The dealer cannot find a code or the problem. I've spent several hundred dollars on trying to locate the problem. The car, as is, is a death trap. I can't drive it because I don't know when the traction will kick on. I've taken good care of my car, nice bodywork and low milage but it's not safe to drive and no one knows how to fix it, including the dealer. At $200 an hour to try to find the problem is unforeseeable financially on my pension. One option is to junk the car for $200. I can't donate or sale it because it will not pass MD inspection. I can't trade it; I can't afford another car note. I've had this issue for almost a year. This happens every time I drive it, so I had to buy another car which I was not ready to buy. No major damage to report.
The contact owns a 2012 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control and ABS warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the traction control was off. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Brakes on my cts 2013 cadillac , on march 29, I made a turn to park my car from the right side of the street mamaroneck avenue in white plains to the left there were no parking spaces on the right . As I turn the steering wheel the car went out of control the car speed up and hit the curb, knocking over two parking meters and hurting my finger on my right hand and later my left leg. I had just taken my car to pepe cadillac in white plains ,n. Y. To get my brakes repaired. My car was towed to brennenan towing service in elmsford. They claim it was repaired!!!!since then which was last summer my car has been in and out of the repair shop as many as 9 or 10 times with the brake light coming on and other light such as the traction , the ABS, the lock on passenger did not work until I ask them to repair it! I am afraid to drive my car. When I take it to mt. Kisco cadillac they fix a different thing, but another situation occurs. I am so upset and sad about this situation n, because I am a retired counselor on a fixed income and I paid for my car in full and I have not been able to use it... Please help me or let me know what I can do about this situation.
Was driving and service brake assist message came on two days ago along with the ABS t/c light on the dash. I had no idea what it meant so I've kept driving. About an hour ago I was getting ready to park into my garage and the brakes would not work and I almost crashed into a parked car. Again the service brake assist light came on. I'm 7 months pregnant and this is my only transportation. I'm not looking to get into an accident due to my brakes failing. My service air bags message also comes up and even with a passenger in the car it doesn't state that the passenger air bag is on. I am pretty sure both of these issues were part of a recall but I hadn't owned the car during that time. As of now this car is a fatal accident waiting to happen and I'm unsure as to why there isn't still an open recall to address this brake failure issue.
Check engine light, steering tight when backing up or in tight spaces, door locks, suspension control and ABS light was a recall on air bags that I dont see on the recall list now
I have a 2006 cts cadilliac and my ABS light comes on and there have been several times my car wouldn't stop and I had to quickly put it in park not to have an accident
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
- Risk
- If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 15352.
Recall number 15V358000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
- What is wrong
- Gm is recalling certain model year 2012 cadillac cts vehicles manufactured from october 21, 2011, through october 26, 2011. These vehicles may have a condition in which the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut may not be torqued to the proper specification. If the nut is not torqued to the proper specification, the nut could loosen and allow the pushrod to separate from the brake pedal.
- Risk
- This could result in a loss of ability to brake and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Cadillac dealers will inspect the power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut, and if necessary, torque the nut to the proper specification. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 1, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006.
Recall number 11V536000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- General motors has notified the federal safety agency of a defect in certain model year 2003-2007 cadillac cts vehicles currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the front brake hose fitting at the caliper may corrode due to snow or water, containing road salt or other contaminants, entering and being retained in the routing sleeve. If the fitting corrodes significantly, the brake hose-tube interface may develop a leak.
- Risk
- The brake hose-tube interface may rupture suddenly without prior warning and increase vehicle stopping distance may occur increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers are to replace both front brake hose assemblies free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during may 2010. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 10V105000 · Recall details
Questions about the Cadillac CTS abs
Why does the abs come on in the Cadillac CTS?
Owners who report it most often also describe brake failure, check engine light and sudden loss of power.
Which Cadillac CTS years have aBS light or ABS activating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2006 (19 complaints), 2004 (9 complaints) and 2003 (8 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix ABS light or ABS activating on the Cadillac CTS?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $800 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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