Is the 2009 Cadillac CTS a bad year?
168 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 51, 5.1× a quiet CTS year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 66k–102k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 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 86,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 51 (30%) | 66k–102k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 28 (17%) | 6k–102k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 26 (15%) | 35k–94k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 13 (8%) | 52k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (6%) | 52k–103k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 9 (5%) | 27k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 15 (9%) | 4k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 12 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 5 (3%) | 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 86,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 168 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 7 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I had a P0008 check engine code come up on my car for timing chain issues.
Timing chain broke, car is immobilized. Timing chain has been faulty since 34,000 miles.
Premature timing chain wear. Needs to be replaced for approximately $3000. Check engine light alerted us of the situation.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 86,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Cadillac CTS: 5
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 a wax coating on the rear suspension toe link jam nuts may allow the nut(S) to loosen. If a nut sufficiently loosens, the toe link could separate and the rear wheel would be able to turn inboard or outboard. The driver may experience sudden changes with vehicle handling and may not be able to control the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Model year 2009-2010 Cadillac CTS all wheel drive and cts-v vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "Occupant crash protection." In the event of a crash, the front passenger may be at an increased risk of leg injury.
However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
12,662 my 2009 Cadillac CTS vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' under certain conditions… In a vehicle crash, if the front passenger air bag does not operate as designed, increased personal injury could occur.
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: 402
Repair instructions Cadillac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 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…
Neighbouring years
2008 CTS: 175 complaints, keep it · 2010 CTS: 67 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 2009 Cadillac CTS a bad year?
168 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 51, 5.1× a quiet CTS year. At 86,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 66k–102k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Cadillac CTS?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (51), transmission and drivetrain (28), electrical system (26), air bags (13), fuel system (10). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 66k–102k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Cadillac CTS have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-394), Suspension (NHTSA 11V-089), Equipment (NHTSA 10V-414), Electrical system (NHTSA 10V-240) 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.