Experiencing repeated inner wear on rear tires only after N212340980 Safety Recall - Rear Toe Link Separation was performed. New set of Michelan Cross Climate 2 tires installed two months prior to recall. Approximately 17,000 miles after recall, rear tires presented severe inner wear with cords exposed. Rear tires replaced and first alignment attempted where it was determined there is no point of adjustment for the rear toe. Approximately 18,000 miles later during a rotation service, the inner tread of both rear tires were at 0% resulting in the tire rotation being canceled and the warranty voided. Took vehicle to previous tire shop for rear suspension parts and bushings inspection. No issues found. Section of cord showing on rear driver's tire. Second alignment performed with camber adjustment only. Secondary inspection performed by mechanic shop with no rear suspension structural issues found. Lack of adjustability on the rear suspension suspected cause of extreme wear. Contacted Cadillac Customer Care for resolution. Dealership diagnosis required before opening claim. Dealership recorded diagnosis as no visible components to cause tire wear. Alignment out of specs. Recommended replacing rear tires and 4 wheel alignment with alignment check after 5,000 miles. Left rear cord exposed, not safe to drive. (Previous alignment performed 100 miles prior.) Opened claim with Cadillac Customer Care and submitted supporting documentation and photos. Included concern of slight shift? of driver's side rear when merging onto interstate with wet road conditions. Previously attributed to difference in tread of new directional tires. Awaiting acceptable resolution.
The worst 2011 Cadillac SRX problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights198
- Suspension63
- Brakes40
- Electrical40
- Transmission36
- Engine28
- Body26
- Visibility22
- Airbags17
- Steering13
- Wheels13
- Driver assistance12
- Acceleration11
- Fuel system7
- Seat belts6
- Seats3
- Locks1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Cadillac SRX
Headlights 200Check engine light 14Water leak 13Stalling 11ABS 10Hesitation 10No deployment 9Loss of power 7Brake failure 5
Recalls 7
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
- Risk
- A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.
Recall number 21V473000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
- Risk
- Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or Saab customer service at 1‑800‑955‑9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.
Recall number 14V571000 · Recall details
Seats: front assembly: power adjust
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
- Risk
- If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300 (Buick), 1‑800‑458‑8006 (Cadillac), 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), or 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Recall number 14V447000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 cadillac srx vehicles manufactured from october 26, 2008, through june 23, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, theft protection. these vehicles may have a transmission shift cable that was improperly installed and may come out of the transmission bracket.
- Risk
- The driver may be unable to shift the transmission out of gear, resulting in no motion or the shifter may inaccurately indicate that the transmission is in park when it is not, allowing the vehicle to roll away and cause a possible crash.
- Remedy
- Gm will notify owners, and dealers will ensure that the transmission shift cable is properly routed and seated in the transmission cable bracket. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during january 2012. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339.
Recall number 11V595000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 cadillac srx passenger vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no 208, "occupant crash protection." the airbags are programmed to turn off the right side roof-rail airbag if the passenger sensing system determines that the right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
- Risk
- The right rear occupant may not be protected and suffer injuries in certain frontal and side crashes.
- Remedy
- Gm dealers will reprogram the sensing and diagnostic module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about june 17, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339 and at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com .
Recall number 11V308000 · Recall details
Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system: windshield: electrical heating element
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 buick lacrosse and cadillac srx vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems". On these vehicles, the software in the electronic climate control (ecc) module may disable the ability to adjust the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system settings. If this happens, the driver will not be able to control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle.
- Risk
- If this condition affects the defrost system when it is required, it may decrease the driver's visibility, and could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the ecc module free of charge. The safety recall began on march 11, 2011. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 11V149000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 cadillac srx, chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles. The driver and /or front passenger safety belt buckle anchor may fracture and separate near the seat attachment in a vehicle crash.
- Risk
- The safety belt system may not restrain the occupant(s) as designed and could increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will modify the passenger and/or the driver safety belt buckles as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 18, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463 and at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 10V623000 · Recall details
See all 7 recalls for the 2011 Cadillac SRX
Defect investigations
Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation
On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V‑571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V‑571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V‑571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V‑571. The remedy for recall 14V‑571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V‑571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V‑473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V‑571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. the federal safety agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.
PE20019
Technical service bulletins for the 2011 Cadillac SRX 1,559
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size...
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Provide info on that parts restriction ending for the rear diff clutch control 19435910
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of...
2011 Cadillac SRX crash test ratings
Government 5-star crash tests. Higher is safer. Each row is a body style and drivetrain that was tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac SRX SUV AWD | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | 4 |
| Cadillac SRX SUV FWD | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | 4 |
2011 Cadillac SRX fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | AWD | 17 | 22 | 19 |
| 2.8L 6‑cyl | AWD | 16 | 22 | 18 |
What 2011 Cadillac SRX owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I received a flyer that my Cadillac was included in the urgent Rear Toe Link Safety Recall, so I took it to the local Cadillac dealership in Ridgeland, MS. My 2011 Cadillac SRX had the same warnings on my dashboard that were included in the flyer that I received. The warning lights and message were Service StabiliTrak, and my car chimed in combination with the message and the lights stayed on while I drove. When at the dealership, I was told that they were locating the part, and would let me know if they were able to service my car that day. Not long afterwards, I was told that they were able to locate the part and my car could be serviced today for the Rear Toe Link safety recall. The shuttle took me home a while later and once I received a call back from the dealership that my car was ready for pick up, I returned back to the dealership. I then received my key and paperwork at the checkout counter and my car was driven back to me. The car was still on so I drove it back home, parked in my garage and turned it off. After 30 minutes, I started my vehicle and the same warning lights and message to Service the StabiliTrak, as well as the chiming were still on my dashboard as if the part was never replaced. When I spoke with the dealership service representative and the service manager later on, both men told me that the message warnings on my car and on the flyer about the Rear Toe Link Safety Recall had nothing to do with the Rear Toe Link Safety Recall. They said that I would have to pay a diagnostic fee to determine the cause for the message/chimes which could be other things. None of this information was on my checkout paperwork or discussed with me when I picked up my car that same day. At this point, I don't trust the information told to me over the phone and I don't trust if I pay for a diagnostic test, they would be honest to say that it was because of the safety recall. I'm questioning the actual service or if the part was replaced at all.
The low beam headlights are useless for night driving. The operator is required to run high beam during any night time or low light operation. This creates a safety issue for both the operator and any incoming vehicles.
Transmission cable and roll away not right gear
The headlight low beam illumination is extremely dangerous for driving at night. Very poor illumination distance and very poor overall lighting. Can barely even see pedestrians walking if on the side or crossing the road, VERY DANGEROUS!! Have to turn on high-beams when possible just to see at night.
There were recalls on this vehicle. I just purchased and trying to get assistance.
I own a 2011 Cadillac SRX and have experienced a serious issue with the headlights. Over time, the headlights became extremely dim, making it difficult and dangerous to drive at night. This was not due to the bulbs themselves, but rather an issue with the headlight housing or design, which many other Cadillac SRX owners have also reported. The visibility is so poor that it creates a major safety concern for myself, my passengers, and others on the road. Despite the widespread nature of this issue and media coverage (including WSOC-TV Channel 9’s investigation), there has been no recall or extended warranty to cover the cost of repairs, which can be significant. I am submitting this complaint in hopes that the federal safety agency will investigate and consider opening a recall to address this recurring and dangerous issue with the 2011 SRX headlight system.
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear suspension. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with severely corroded suspension. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised not to drive the vehicle. In addition, the contact was informed that the vehicle was unrepairable. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that several service appointments were scheduled within two years; however, the part was still not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
I’m sending in this complaint which is a common problem with the Cadillac SRX. The ABS breaks go soft when activated. I have no breaks , the breaks go to the floor. This is so dangerous. Now I have to turn the car off and pump the breaks. This sometimes take a whole day to get the breaks back. Why isn’t this a recall??
Just randomly if I have to brake the brakes go all the way to the floor. Sometimes have to pump the brakes to stop. Last couple of days when there’s rough road it feels like the brakes are on when accelerating and car begins to shake.
Compare the 2011 Cadillac SRX
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Questions about the 2011 Cadillac SRX
Is the 2011 Cadillac SRX reliable?
Owners have filed 447 complaints about the 2011 Cadillac SRX, 2.1 times a typical SRX model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2011 Cadillac SRX year score?
The 2011 Cadillac SRX scores 44 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Cadillac SRX: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Cadillac SRX?
Lights, with 198 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles. Next is suspension (63).
How many recalls does the 2011 Cadillac SRX have?
7 recalls, covering suspension, seats and power train.
Is the 2011 Cadillac SRX safe in a crash?
The 2011 Cadillac SRX was crash tested, but no overall score was published. Partial scores: rollover 4 out of 5.
What year does the Cadillac SRX have the most lights problems?
The Cadillac SRX model years with the most lights complaints are 2015 (302 complaints), 2014 (266 complaints) and 2012 (234 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Cadillac SRX get?
Official estimates for the 2011 Cadillac SRX range from 18 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 24 highway.
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