My car was unsafe to drive. It would not shift into drive. I had it towed to a mechanic who diagnosed the problem. I was informed the differential was the problem. I could not drive my car until the repair was done. No one had the differential part in the USA. My car is 2014 CTS with only 66,000 miles. Can I be reimbursed for this repair?
Cadillac CTS won't shift problems
14 of the 2,220 owner complaints about the Cadillac CTS describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 2004 model year.
- owner complaints
- 14
- worst model year
- 2004
- typical mileage
- 37,247
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20171
- 20161
- 20151
- 20141
- 20131
- 20111
- 20091
- 20081
- 20072
- 20052
- 20042
Often reported together
Transmission failure 2Grinding brakes 2Airbag light 2Won't start 1Whining noise 1Sudden acceleration 1Hesitation 1Harsh shifting 1
What owners say
Was simply driving my normally and out of no where there was a loud pop and driving the car all I heard was a loud grinding noise as I stepped on the gas, and the car would not shift into reverse. No lights or warnings had ever popped up into the dash. Also very strong burning and metal smell came from the car. I have taken the car to an independent repair shop and was determined the rear differential has gone bad. Apparently many other people with similar year vehicles have had the same issues with this make and model of car, to add on another car like mines came into the same shop with the same problem.
I have 2 complaints. #1 The transmission shifts extremely hard in and out of gear 1. This issue a known issue, but GM has no resolution. There is a bulletin. The problem is, my car is no shifting poorly in all gears and causing a serious safety issue at all speeds and gears. It won't go into gear causing safety concerns. I have reported the transmission issue multiple times while under warranty and it is now worse outside of warranty! #2 Adaptive cruise has also been reported multiple times and I have paid to get both front sensors replaced. Only to have the issue continue. The dash will show a car is in the path, but there is a 2-3 second delay before car starts to slow down. Often brakes do not engage and the alarms just go off. I have driven a loaner car of similar years and they do not operate the same. This car is an outlier.
When driving my car will shut off by its self and it has done this the whole time I have had the car... When it shuts off the car gets reads stuck in park because the key gets stuck in ignition... When nights are on and I turn right my height lights come on... And my passenger air bag light came on and won't go off
The car has 37250 miles on it. 6 months ago, it started shifting roughly between 1st and 2nd gear. We took it to waldorf cadillac/gm in waldorf, md. They acknowledged it was a known issue and would take the following steps: flush the transmission, re-program the transmission, replace the valve, and ultimately, replace the transmission. They have done all the actions except replace the transmission and won't take further action. The car shifts so violently at times that you don't know if you're going to hit the car in front of you. We live in the washington dc area, so traffic is usually stop-and-go. When the car gets to the top end of 1st gear (around 9 MPH) it hesitates, then slams into second gear. It has also gotten "stuck" in first gear, while turning onto a street. The engine accelerated but the car wouldn't shift so I had to pull off immediately or risk being hit by oncoming traffic. It has only done this once since we started having problems.
I purchased my vehicle in may 2016. In november 2016 I went to drive the vehicle but it would not go into gear. It was towed to lindsay cadillac. I was told the draft shaft needed to be replaced. On january 18, 2019 after being parked for approximately 15 minutes upon starting and putting it into gear I heard a clicking noise. It was towed to capitol cadillac where again I was told there was a problem with the drive shaft. I was further told that the bolts were sheared off. This is no coincidence that I had the same issue two years later and $841.00 later. I am concerned that this could happen again. How do bolts get sheared off. I was told that the dealership could have used used the wrong size bolts or the parts could have been defective. In any event I am without fault and have a genuine concern that this could happen again. Could it happen while I am driving?
The car is running like it is stuck in some kind of safety mode. It does not want to accelerate unless it starts accelerating in third gear. It does not come out of 3rd gear at all. The engine light and airbag lights are lit up on the dash. There is a couple of recalls listed for the same exact year make and model but it says that this VIN number is not under recall. I think that this vehicle needs to be inspected to see if it actually does need to be listed under those recalls. It is not just this one specific VIN number having these issues either. I have talked to quite a few cadillac owners that are having the same problems and their vehicles are not listed under those recalls either. If you turn on the car you put it into drive the car remains stuck in 3rd gear and will not shift through the gears properly.
While driving my service traction control light came on I pulled over turn it off but not my car will not shift into gear and it has a loud roaring sound when driving
My car has been in the shop due to engine issues, now that engine is replaced I'm seeing stabilitrak, service AC, and brake assist lights appear. Also when driving the speedometer is not engaged and car won't shift gears. Codes will not appear when hooked up to diagnostic reader and their is moisture that gets inside my car through the sunroof.
I have a 2004 cadillac cts I have replaced the ECM, throttle body 3 times, gas pedal, wiring harness for the throttle body, but the throttle body position will be learned for about a month then my vehicle would go into limp mode almost causing several car accidents. I have tried just about everything I have had the engine replaced as well. I don't want to let this vehicle go but this issue will not stop. It is a huge safety issue and I need it fixed before me or one of the other gm owners lose their lives.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 14V338000 · Recall details
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the rear axle pinion seal does not meet all of the specifications and may experience a fluid leak.
- Risk
- A rear differential failure may cause loss of motive power and possibly loss of control increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the pinion seal free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2008. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or http://www.cadillac.com; pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 or http://www.pontiac.com; and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or http://www.saturn.com.
Recall number 07V589000 · Recall details
Questions about the Cadillac CTS won't shift
Which Cadillac CTS years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2004 (2 complaints), 2005 (2 complaints) and 2007 (2 complaints).
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