Is the 2007 Cadillac CTS a bad year?
217 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CTS years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 Cadillac CTS are in line with other CTS years. Air bags, brakes and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 CTS owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 81,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 64 (29%) | 51k–114k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 59 (27%) | 30k–95k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 41 (19%) | 82k–130k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 33 (15%) | 15k–108k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 29 (13%) | 73k–132k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 16 (7%) | 36k–124k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 6 (3%) | 57k–103k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 8 (4%) | 29k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 81,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 217 complaints: 26 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I own a 2007 Cadillac cts. On monday, march 17th, at 5:45AM, I was driving south bound on I-75.
Engine began burning oil. GM replaced damage to timing chain but did not fix the problem in the engine that causes it to burn oil.
Timing chain has been loosened and possibly ready to break. Service bulletin #11340C was issued and gm/cadillac never contacted me for the special coverage repair.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 81,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Cadillac CTS: 6
In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material. If the flange melts, a hole may be created allowing the fuel pump to leak fuel, causing the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. 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. 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.
Some of these vehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the front passenger seat may cause the mat to kink, bend, or fold. This flexing can break the connections in the mat. Non-deployment of the front passenger air bag in the event of a crash necessitating that air bag's deployment may reduce protection of the passenger and increase the risk or severity of injury to them.
General motors has notified NHTSA 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… The brake hose-tube interface may rupture suddenly without prior warning and increase vehicle stopping distance may occur increasing the risk of a crash.
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear axle pinion seal does not meet all of the specifications and may experience a fluid leak. A rear differential failure may cause loss of motive power and possibly loss of control increasing the risk of a crash.
Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 118, 'power operated window, partition, and roof panel systems.' under the standard, the sunroof may only be closed when the ignition is on, or after the ignition is turned off… This standard specifies requirements for power operated window, partition, and roof panel systems to minimize the likelihood of death or injury from their accidental operation.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Cadillac: 267
Repair instructions Cadillac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Cadillac CTS. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
Failure of the rear differential
Neighbouring years
2006 CTS: 269 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2008 CTS: 175 complaints, keep it.
Every Cadillac CTS year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All CTS years side by side
Other Cadillac models: Cadillac ATS · Cadillac DTS · Cadillac Deville · Cadillac Escalade · Cadillac Escalade ESV · Cadillac Lyriq · Cadillac SRX · Cadillac STS · Cadillac Seville · Cadillac XT5 · Cadillac XTS. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 Cadillac CTS a bad year?
217 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other CTS years. At 81,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Cadillac CTS?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (64), brakes (59), electrical system (41), transmission and drivetrain (33), engine (29).
How many recalls does the 2007 Cadillac CTS have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 14V-542), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-394), Air bags (NHTSA 10V-644), Brakes (NHTSA 10V-105) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.