| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2008 Cadillac CTS repairs by problem area
Engine (21%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (7%)
Brakes and Traction Control (5%)
Suspension and Steering (3%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (27%)
Other (8%)
Chart based on 377 repairs.
2008 Cadillac CTS engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (4%)
$1000 - $2499 (6%)
$500 - $999 (6%)
$100 - $499 (24%)
< $100 (60%)
Chart based on 68 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
304-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 26000 mi | Noisy exhaust resonance/vibration heard in passenger cabin when at idle with foot on brake. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, dealer finally replaced entire dual exhaust system from engine exhaust manifolds to chrome exhaust pipe tips. |
| 40500 mi US $200 |
Excessive oil consumption (1qt. in 1650mi. confirmed by oil consumption test). Rebuilt engine (heavy carbon buildup; new piston rings, bearings, seals, gaskets, etc.) Check engine light and codes. Replaced timing chain tensioners. |
| 44900 mi | Previous engine rebuild failed to correct excessive oil consumption (1qt per 1200mi after rebuild). Disassembled engine again and detected out-of-round cylinder bores. Replaced rebuilt engine with crated new LLT engine. |
| 6000 mi | 1. Check engine light on. |
| 8000 mi | Engine stopped while driving. Dealer claims that due to Gas Tank Design, car can stall when going uphill with 3 gallons of gas in the tank. Car would not restart until it had been shaken (not stirred) for 15 miles on the back of a flatbed. |
| 29000 mi | reprogrammed for timing |
| 48000 mi | Timing chain adjustment |
| 94000 mi | timing belt failed |
| 100500 mi US $210 |
Spark plugs and coils |
| 35000 mi | High pressure fuel pump failed. Car went into reduced engine power mode. Pressure was 55 psi rather than 3000. Part replaced on day 2. |
| 49000 mi | Car went into limp home mode briefly and service engine soon light illuminated. Took to the dealer the next day and they replaced the TAC module under the powertrain warranty. |
| 29700 mi | OnStar & GM Remote Diagnostic results indicated a failing coolant pump that should be checked at the dealer within 7 days. Part was replaced under warranty. |
| 86000 mi US $135 |
Vacuum hose & broken elbow were replaced. RE: How badly? - Engine misfire noticeable when cold & on hard acceleration as well as check engine light on. RE: How discovered? - Driver noticed the engine misfire and THEN noticed the warning. |
| 92000 mi US $501 |
Engine misfire/running rough. They did a "top engine clean." Engine misfire/running rough. This time they pulled the heads & manually cleaned out heavy carbon build-up. |
| 23000 mi US $123 |
check engine light on after oil change, fuel mixture sensor stuck,needed to disassemble and reassemble |
| 24000 mi | coolant temp sensor failure |
| 37200 mi | water pump, transmission sensor; also oil change and all air filters |
| 80000 mi US $130 |
failed smog check |
| 82200 mi US $2500 |
fuel and emissions sensor replacement |
| 107000 mi US $265 |
Waterpump |
| 9000 mi | Rattling exhaust system. Mounting needed adjustment. |
| 42800 mi | Replaced all timing chains and chain tensioners. |
| 47000 mi | ECU reflash |
| 16200 mi US $133 |
Excessive end play on left end camshaft. Installed 2 seals, a gasket kit and 2 washers. |
| 29000 mi US $1500 |
Engine light came on so I took it to dealer who said they had to drop the engine to check out the problem. Whatever it was, the problem was fixed. However, 95% of my bill was labor. |
| 21000 mi US $101 |
Auxiliary pump faulty, warning from onstar under engine cooling section, replaced, fixed |
| 7000 mi | Car used two quarts of oil in 5,000 miles. Presently performing an oil usage test supervised by the dealer. |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
304-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 34000 mi US $25 |
Local oil change didnt use OEM Oil filter & it set off a code which needed to be looked at. Car ran great. Just found out the local tire store used cheap oil filters and it set off VVT variance code. Change to OEM Filter and all is well. |
| 64000 mi US $666 |
Water pump |
| 40000 mi | Computerized oil change interval changed so that oil changes are done more frequently. |
| 54000 mi | Check engine light, repair code DTC P0011 intake camshaft position (CMP)came up. Dealer said problem occurs with dirty or low oil. Neither were the case, but I had dealer change oil anyways. Problem not fixed, check engine light still on Replaced cam chain |
| 26000 mi | The Service Engine Light came on. I took it into the dealer, they found it was a timing belt that had stretched. Dealer replaced belt. Successful Repair. |
| 12995 mi | Check engine activated a dealer found a faulty O2 sensor. Part replaced, problem solved. Oxygen sensor replaced. |
| 31000 mi | Timing belt needs replacement. |
| 8000 mi | The camshaft needed to be replaced as their was some movement in that area. |
| 15000 mi | Accelerator sensor failed. |
| 19000 mi | Timing chains defective from supplier. Replaced stretched defective timing chains. |
| 2000 mi | The is a rumble coming from the rear end of the car starting at 45MPH. GM sent engineers out to do some driving with me and agreed that there is a problem and that it was not normal. They attempted to repair the car immediately by swapping parts from anot |
| 44200 mi US $45 |
I had constantly complained to the dealer about the carbon buildup and black exhaust with rapid acceleration. They did nothing. Finally asked if air filter ever replaces. ANS: NO Replaced air filter, no further problems and better mileage. |
| 38000 mi | Car had several errors. Check engine light never worked. Car engine hesitated (noticed while on highway). Dealer replaced tensioners(?) which fixed problem. Dealer said problem was a result of not changing oil enough. |
| 35000 mi US $450 |
While driving, the "check Engine" light came on and stayed on. I called OnStar and they confirmed there was a problem. I took the car to the dealer and they determined that one coil had failed. They replaced the Coil and Spark Plug. |
| 44000 mi | After starting my engine I noticed that the "Check Engine" light had come on. I called Onstar. they diagnosed Cam sensor. I called dealer and they told me not to drive. They sent tow truck to bring car to dealership. |
| 44000 mi | While returning home I noticed a miss in the engine and the check light came on.I contacted Onstar.It was a bad sparkplug. It was towed to dealer.The plug and coil was replaced. Because of the promised savings I had them all relaced. |
| 51346 mi US $670 |
had to replace Ignition Switch and Cylinder |
| 48300 mi US $2300 |
Brought in to dealer. They claimed it was low on oil which caused issue. Came back 3 days later with same issue. Brought it back to the dealer for same CEL code. They realized after it burnt a quart of oil in 4 days the timing chain had stretched. Replaced timing chain and some other misc. gaskets. |
| 60600 mi US $150 |
#6 cyclinder went coil went bad. Finally convince us to get rid of car. 7th trip to dealer in less then 2 years of buying it. Cadillac is a POS. |
| 71627 mi US $3298 |
replace water pump replace water pump; replace air filter; rep cabin air filter; front brakes and rotors replaced; cleaned injection sys; brake sys flush; power steering service |
| 72000 mi US $760 |
check engine light on: dealer diagnosed one spark plug and coil replacement. Also diagnosed and replaced water pump belt and AC belt, both worn. |
| 77000 mi US $200 |
Engine not firing on all cylinders; changed plugs |
| 99200 mi US $350 |
Fuel tank pressure sensor replaced. |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
304-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed manual RWD
| 14000 mi | Chaffed wires in engine harness at engine cover stud bracket. Harness was repaired using extra insulation around entire engine harness. |
| 28000 mi | continued vibration on 2008 CTS-304 HP direct injection-Rset the TCM-Back in shop did a MOD ON THE Exhaust Sys-did not fix the problem-it is now in the shop again for same problem-VIBRATION-I hope this time it is fixed. Dealer replaced the exhaust system. Still minor vibration. |
| 3000 mi | Car turned off, and ignition would not turn to restart. |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
263-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 13000 mi US $250 |
There is a defective thrust bearing in the engine causing a rattle that I could hear. They are replacing the thrust bearing, heads, and timing chains. |
| 1000 mi | Exhaust vibration. Repaired exhaust hanger/mounting as per factory bulletin. |
| 6000 mi | Exhaust rattle when in drive with brakes applied. Exhaust rattle while in drive with brakes applied. |
| 46000 mi | Replaced broken gas cap |
| 95000 mi | Replaced timing chain and component parts |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
263-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 48000 mi | Warranty replacement of timing chain and chain guides |
| 65000 mi US $100 |
Replaced a failing cool pack and spark plugs at the same time |
| 76000 mi US $250 |
Drivers side catalytic converter replacement |
| 48000 mi US $1300 |
Fuel system cleaning, Two new tires, Oil change, |
| 38000 mi | Knock/Ping, Items replaced: The Timing Chain, Cam Shaft Actuators, Lifters, O2 Sensors, Top Engine Cleaning done, Oil O ring Replacement, Retarded Timing, Field Engineer Visit, and problem still is not fixed, GM wash their hands of it. |
| 41300 mi US $7100 |
Camshaft bearings, cylinder scouring, Engine was replaced |
| 48000 mi US $55 |
New motor with 5K miles & Engine again is making a knocking noise when under load also excessive vibration at idle, tech duplicated noise suggested premium fuel, conclusion it still knocks. Returned techs do not recognize any knocking now?? |
| 11000 mi | engine stumbling at start up |
| 128000 mi US $1890 |
Needed new timing chain |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
263-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed manual RWD
| 28520 mi | reprogram transmission |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan
210-horsepower 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| 4340 mi | Mounting of exhaust too close to underbody. Required the brackets to be lowered 1/4". |
2008 Cadillac CTS 4-door
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| 59000 mi | Check engine light came on. Had to replace Timing Chains. Actually, this entire ordeal took two months. Long story. Bottom line, The repair was done with no cost to me. |
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