What are the most common problems with the 2006 Cadillac CTS?

Owners name the air bags group most often, followed by brakes, power train and the electrical system. See the problems section above.

Does the 2006 Cadillac CTS have recalls?

Yes. The by-year facts show 7 recalls for this model year. The recalls section lists each one.

How many complaints are there for the 2006 Cadillac CTS?

NHTSA has 272 owner complaints on file. They are unverified and not adjusted for sales.

What is the gas mileage of the 2006 Cadillac CTS?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Is 2006 the best year for the Cadillac CTS?

See the by-year comparison on this page to compare model years side by side.

2006 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 272 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Cadillac CTS^[1]. The air bags group is named most often, with 87 complaints^[2].

272owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[3]

17–19MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners name most often for this car.

Air Bags. 87 complaints^[2]. Owners describe crashes where the air bags did not go off, and a sensor that stopped working and came with a repair bill after the warranty ended.
Brakes. 56 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe the pedal sinking, wheels locking without warning, and a brake warning light that led to a costly repair at low miles.
Power Train. 45 complaints^[6]. Owners describe oil leaking from the rear differential, clunks and whining from the back of the car, and in some cases a car that would not move at all.
Electrical System. 43 complaints^[7]. Owners describe sudden stalling, dimming headlights and dash lights, a fuel gauge that read wrong, and one car that caught fire while driving.
Engine. 37 complaints^[8]. This group is smaller, and the stories we read here were too thin to say more.
Suspension. 11 complaints^[9].
Speed Control. 10 complaints^[10].
Exterior Lighting. 7 complaints^[11].

These are unverified reports sent in by owners, and one complaint can name several parts.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2006 CTS is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (15V225), April 2015. About 4,907 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (14V542), September 2014. About 10,005 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Electrical System › Ignition (14V394), July 2014. About 554,328 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-Inactive (10V644), December 2010. About 95,927 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (10V105), March 2010. About 139,131 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal (07V589), December 2007. About 275,936 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, loss of drive power. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery (06V020), January 2006. About 17,462 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
CTS, 2.8L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	15 / 25 / 19	$3,550
CTS, 2.8L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[19]	16 / 24 / 19	$3,550
CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[20]	15 / 24 / 18	$3,700
CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[21]	16 / 25 / 19	$3,550
CTS-V, 6.0L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[22]	14 / 23 / 17	$4,850

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR RWD^[23].

How 2006 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each CTS model year. The 2006 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2003	313	4
2004	229	7
2005	284	7
2006	272	7
2007	218	7
2008	175	2
2009	167	5
2010	68	3
2011	108	2
2012	67	2
2013	73	2
2014	146	7
2015	50	4
2016	31	4
2017	27	2
2018	8	2
2019	10	0

NHTSA's counts for the CTS show 272 complaints and 7 recalls for 2006^[3]. Among the 17 model years listed, 14 have fewer complaints than 2006 and 2 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2018 (8) and the most are for 2003 (313)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2006 CTS?

The 2006 Cadillac CTS has a long complaint record, with 272 reports on file^[1]. Air bags and brakes lead the list^[2]^[5]. Owners also describe trouble at the back of the car and with electrical parts^[6]^[7]. The counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so check the recalls section and ask for repair records before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Cadillac CTS?: Owners name the air bags group most often, followed by brakes, power train and the electrical system^[2]^[5]^[6]^[7]. See the problems section above.
Does the 2006 Cadillac CTS have recalls?: Yes. The by-year facts show 7 recalls for this model year^[3]. The recalls section lists each one.
How many complaints are there for the 2006 Cadillac CTS?: NHTSA has 272 owner complaints on file^[1]. They are unverified and not adjusted for sales.
What is the gas mileage of the 2006 Cadillac CTS?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is 2006 the best year for the Cadillac CTS?: See the by-year comparison on this page to compare model years side by side.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Cadillac CTS

2004 229 complaints, 7 recalls
2005 284 complaints, 7 recalls
2006 this page
2007 218 complaints, 7 recalls
2008 175 complaints, 2 recalls
2009 167 complaints, 5 recalls
2010 68 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 108 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 73 complaints, 2 recalls
2014 146 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 50 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 31 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Cadillac CTS

All Cadillac models

Similar cars from 2006: midsize cars

2006 Acura RL 32 complaints, 8 recalls
2006 Acura TL 247 complaints, 4 recalls
2006 Dodge Stratus 74 complaints, 0 recalls
2006 Lexus GS 180 complaints, 8 recalls
2006 Mazda 6 173 complaints, 3 recalls
2006 Mercury Milan 214 complaints, 4 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 272 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Cadillac CTS (23 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 13 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
87 complaints name the air bags component group (12 crashes, 0 fires, 11 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Cadillac CTS model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for CTS, 2.8L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 25 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
56 complaints name the brakes component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,500). NHTSA vehicle records
45 complaints name the power train component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
43 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,801). NHTSA vehicle records
37 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 78,850). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the suspension component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,500). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 15V225, filed April 15, 2015: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V542, filed September 9, 2014: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V394, filed July 2, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V644, filed December 17, 2010: Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor / Control Module-Inactive . NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V105, filed March 17, 2010: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 07V589, filed December 20, 2007: Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 06V020, filed January 25, 2006: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for CTS, 2.8L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 24 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS-V, 6.0L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 23 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2006 Cadillac CTS: problems, recalls and fuel economy