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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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??
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.
See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how
frequently 2008 Cadillac CTS problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.