Your vehicle report
2012 Cadillac SRX
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 417
- Received Feb 2012 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Headlights dim or fail at night167 complaints · 40% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Unintended acceleration despite braking18 complaints · 4.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Water leaks into cabin during rain17 complaints · 4.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #21V473000Do not driveGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
- Recall #14V571000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Headlights dim or fail at nightFirst signal: Feb 2016
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 32 crashes, 4 fires, 32 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 16 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- Engine stalls and loses power while driving
- Vehicle rolls backward out of park
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
- Water leaks into cabin during rain
- Tailgate or trunk latch fails
- Glass shatters or cracks without impact
1 more problem
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 48 |
| 2019 | 87 |
| 2020 | 62 |
| 2021 | 49 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 5 |
| Total | 417 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 167 | 40% | 16× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Feb 2016 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 18 | 4.3% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 17 | 4.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 16 | 3.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 3.1% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 12 | 2.9% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 6 | 1.4% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 1.2% | – | |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 5 | 1.2% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 4 | 1.0% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 0.7% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 0.7% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 3 | 0.7% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 0.7% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 3 | 0.7% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 3 | 0.7% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #21V473000June 24, 2021380,498 vehicles affected
Do not drive: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.
suspension: rear
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.
NHTSA recall #14V571000September 19, 2014290,241 vehicles affected
suspension: rear
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.
NHTSA recall #14V447000July 23, 2014414,333 vehicles affected
seats: front assembly: power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2012 Cadillac SRX.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN