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Can you "feel" your CTS shifting gears?

1372 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  lord_galathon
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Hi - I just traded in my first gen CTS (which I loved!) for a 2nd gen - 2009 CTS with 24K miles. It's a great car, and I love the handling. The one thing that's bugging me a bit however is that the shifting seems harsh - i.e., I'm very aware of it while driving. I can't tell if it's a real issue or if I'm just obsessing about something that's normal, and I don't have another CTS to compare it to. Does anyone here have any thoughts? I've seen other threads re: shuddering, but I'm not sure what I'm describing really rises to that level. Thanks in advance!
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I've owned mine for over a year and I haven't noticed anything that has caught my attention.
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I've owned mine for over a year and I haven't noticed anything that has caught my attention.
Thanks. I'm going to take it in on Monday to have someone take a ride with me. It's not awful, it's just not smooth sometimes (which is also weird - it's only an occasional problem).
I test drove a '10 CTS 3.6. It had a harsh part throttle low speed downshift. Big shudder. Certainly didn't shift like I expected a Cadillac to shift. Told the salesman he needed to have it checked out before I was going to make any offer. Long story short, the neighboring Cadillac dealer said there was indeed something wrong, including a flare on the 2-3 upshift that I hadn't noticed.

Manufacturer's warranty had just expired 30 days prior.

Needless to say, I passed on the car in it's current condition. They're still deciding whether or not they will repair or wholesale it. It's a shame because I really liked the car otherwise.

FWIW (and I hope it doesn't come to this for you) I explored the possibility of purchasing the car AS-IS at a deep discount, I was quoted $1900 for a rebuild at a local independent shop.
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Yikes. I have a short powertrain warranty from the dealer, so that's good. My problem is more of an occasional harshness, but I haven't owned the car long enough to know whether it's normal. (It's not looking good, though!)
Guess I'll find out soon enough!
That $1900 was me asking them to quote the worst case scenario for budgetary reasons. There was a possibility that it could be repaired with less drastic measures.
Thanks. I'm going to take it in on Monday to have someone take a ride with me. It's not awful, it's just not smooth sometimes (which is also weird - it's only an occasional problem).
Hello enb,

Congratulations on your recent purchase, and I am glad to hear that you plan on working with your dealership regarding the shifting concern you are experiencing. Please send me a PM if you would like me to contact your dealership to assist in looking further into this situation. In addition, I will need your full name, VIN, mileage, phone number, and the name of your involved dealership to better assist you.

Enjoy your evening,


Brandon M.
Cadillac Customer Care
The only thing I have noticed is shifting from 1st to 2nd. Whenever I'm light on the throttle it's like it doesn't have enough rpms to get into second. Whenever I get on it a lil stronger it feels right like it should. Just irritating to me is all
Hi - I just traded in my first gen CTS (which I loved!) for a 2nd gen - 2009 CTS with 24K miles. It's a great car, and I love the handling. The one thing that's bugging me a bit however is that the shifting seems harsh - i.e., I'm very aware of it while driving. I can't tell if it's a real issue or if I'm just obsessing about something that's normal, and I don't have another CTS to compare it to. Does anyone here have any thoughts? I've seen other threads re: shuddering, but I'm not sure what I'm describing really rises to that level. Thanks in advance!
I have the same doubts. Sometimes I feel power cut off for half of second while shifting 1-2 or 2-3. Mine is 2008 40k. I have 4-gear AT in other car with 130k and there it works always in the same way... better ?
I suspect adaptive functions of CTS AT or bad transmission fluid. I plan to exchange the fluid and filter in 2-3 weeks so I will be able to assess it again.
I heard also that relearn of throttle body can improve shifting, maybe I will try to do se tests.
I've had the 1st gen and now my wife and I both have the 2nd gen. I do not feel this shudder but I can tell you 2 things I liked better on my 1st gen; 1. The trans shifting was beautiful compared to the harsh shift on the 2nd gen (especially the 1st to 2nd). 2.The seats I liked much better in my first gen (more comfortable and way more supportive).
Everything else I like better on the 2nd gen. Just my 2 cents.
Not as smooth as the CVT we had on a Mitsubishi but much less "sucky" in terms of feel. Smoothest "conventional" auto I've ever had for sure.
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