[cts_serenity]

So I finished washing my car on the driveway and was getting ready to Zaino it. Wanted some music while I did my first coat. I turn the ignition to Accessory mode - normally the screen pops up. To my surprise nothing happened. First thought it was a glitch in the system so turned on the car and nothing seem to change. I tried switching on the system by pressing the volume know (power button) - nothing. Then I literally tried all the buttons on the console - nothing. So everything including my A/C, DVD Player, Nav, Climate Control, Heated Seat Control including the OnStar system - nothing works. Tried using OnStar - could see the system dialing in the drivers information in the midst of the Tachometer - but nothing happened - no sound at all.

So there I was - speechless! As some of you might know I just got the CTS a week ago and this is my first American car. I am in love with the car but to have something like this happen in the first week is just shocking.

Already called the dealership and setup and appointment on Friday to have it checked. So my question to all the experts in the forum - what do you think this is? Did I make a mistake getting the CTS? Please don't get me wrong - I get Caddies for the rest of my life if they are loyal to me. I am a single guy and so they are my children - I treat them such. I am just so confused - and to expect it from a Cadillac?

Just wanted to share this depressing experience with all of you

 

[JCruzMovement]

I had a similar experience. My radio actually does not work correctly. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes for it to turn on. It's so annoying. The dealership scheduled an appointment for me at 12pm on a saturday. I got there and they told me that I had to return monday because they closed at two.

Not to mention the fact that they mixed up the registration and i was later pulled over by two police who gave me a citation for which i had to go to court and plea my case.

Other than that I love the car. LOL

 

[cts_serenity]

So did they finally fix the problem or are you still living with it?

 

[cts2008lover]

CTS is also my first American car. I had also some initial quality issues but my dealership is super and they had fixed all major problems.

No need to compare *Apple and *Banana. Some people never had both *Apple and *Banana.

 

[Michael 514]

Last week I started my car, and the entire center console was unlit. All buttons. Radio display. Climate controls. Pitch black. The radio worked, but no display. Weird.

I'm bringing it on Monday for that, and 12 other annoyances.

GM = Generally Mediocre

BUT, I do love the look and handling of the car very much!!!

 

[cts_mark]

cts_serenity,

Sorry to hear you are having problems.
You made an analogy of the CTS being like your children. If I may play on that analogy sometimes children get sick, you bring them to the doctor and they get better. You don't say "Damn, my son is sick, did I make a mistake having him?"
Bring the car back to the dealer, they will fix it and you will get it back and be happy again.

-Mark

 

[C "T" ess]

CTS Mark, great analogy, love it.

 

[2laidback]

Doesn't matter how many nice words some readers have about issues. The fact is when you put down your bucks it really smacks to have problems hit you. I think we all should expect perfection. I don't know of any good reason to expect less. (Todays GM's problem, too many of us kept buying their junk)So far I have had three warranty issues and all have been fixed. I can't say anything but nice things about the dealer. I love my car but without a nice warranty period there would not have been a sale.

 

[cts_serenity]

Mark, I completely agree with your analogy - to tell you the truth I am looking at the situation just like that. Hopefully the "doctor" can give my "daughter" the anti biotic and she gets better as soon as possible. However, I do have to agree with 2laidback too. When I spend our hard earned money we do expect perfection from such an amazing machine. It is just very hard to believe when things like this occur within the span of just a week - makes me question what I will face in the coming years. You are right if the warranty was not appealing - there would have been no sale whatsoever.

I know I might seem to contradict myself - please forgive me, I am just so perplexed with the incident.

 

[GMFAN]

Mark, I completely agree with your analogy - to tell you the truth I am looking at the situation just like that. Hopefully the "doctor" can give my "daughter" the anti biotic and she gets better as soon as possible. However, I do have to agree with 2laidback too. When I spend our hard earned money we do expect perfection from such an amazing machine. It is just very hard to believe when things like this occur within the span of just a week - makes me question what I will face in the coming years. You are right if the warranty was not appealing - there would have been no sale whatsoever.

I know I might seem to contradict myself - please forgive me, I am just so perplexed with the incident.

Hey Bro, sorry to hear about the problem with your new CTS, especially since you made the jump over to a luxury American vehicle. You do have a right to be upset but, try to take it easy 'till the dealer takes a look at it. Possibly something simple like a fuse or loose connection. Please let us know what they find. Good Luck and relax.

 

[Michael 514]

You know what is so ironic?
A CTS is a vehicle that costs more than the average American makes in a year.

I have a very limited knowledge of engineering, but when I sit back and think about how these cars move, it really is amazing. Anti lock brakes; Direct injection; Stabilitrack system; fly-by-wire throttle control. If you sit back and think about it, these $50,000 machines are marvels of engineering.

So, what KILLS me is that 75% of our problems could be solved with about a $100 dollars in parts!!

Wire harnesses that don't come loose ($1.00)
Bezels that don't creak like my grandmother's bones ($2.00 in better quality)
Padding for sunroof noises ($1 in teflon)
Seat memories that do what they should ($0.00 - just program them like the 07 caddies)
Vents that don't rattle (checked the TSB, 50 cent round piece inside the dash)
Hard drives that don't mess up our song names ($0.00 to disable this gracenote garbage)
Windows that open properly each time (again, $1.00 harness)
Headlamps that don't fog ($.50 cents for a better seal)
Seats that you sit IN and not ON that people complain about ($5.00 in more padding?)


..there really is no excuse for some of crappy workmanship we have to endure.

But, oh well....

In the grand scheme of life... wwwwwwwwhatever. At least we're all driving Cadillacs! LOL

 

[cts2008lover]

You know what is so ironic?
A CTS is a vehicle that costs more than the average American makes in a year.
...
So, what KILLS me is that 75% of our problems could be solved with about a $100 dollars in parts!!
...
..there really is no excuse for some of crappy workmanship we have to endure.

:horse: Totally Agree

 

[cts_serenity]

Wow! Michael - I never thought of it that way. It is just so true. Not only Cadillac but all other luxury car makers have this in common to some extent. I owned a Jaguar, Porsche and a BMW. Jaguar spent 40% of its time in the dealer. Porsche and BMW had its share of problems but very little compared to the others. So not only British but German makers have their share of problems. The squeaking and creaking that we so complain about happens in all the cars if we keep an ear out for them. Personally (and this is strictly my humble opinion), I think we have such high expectations from an American icon like Cadillac we have an extra sensitive for all the things that might go wrong. I am being a hypocrite since I am extra sensitive about my CTS - but hey I'm only human

So all in all its not only Cadillacs - I would say all the luxury car makers have their share of problems. I would end by quoting you Michael - "In the grand scheme of life... wwwwwwwwhatever. At least we're all driving Cadillacs!"

I will surely let all of you know what happens after my visit from the dealer. I'm crossing my fingers hoping its not too serious.

 

[cts_serenity]

Hey Guys! Just wanted to fill you in on the dead console issue. The dealer fixed it and it works great. The problem was a faulty wire harness in the system itself. I feel so relieved. Thank God it was not a huge issue like replacing a major part or something. Thank you all for the support. Cheers!

 

[cts_mark]

Glad to hear it's all better now and it didn't require any major work.

-Mark

 

[wylecoyote]

I just had this happen to me yesterday. Since it was a Saturday I couldn't make an appointment with the dealer but I'll be there first thing Monday morning. Hoping it's something simple like yours was.

This is the first issue that I've had that's an actual failure. The only other issue I've had with this car is a rattle in the right rear. Dealer finds and fixes it but it returns. The last time they said some insulation was missing from a part of the rear seat assembly. It's coming back again, wonder what it will be this time.

 

[cts_serenity]

I'm so sorry to hear about your unfortunate circumstances. I hope it is just as simple as mine and the dealers get it fixed as soon as possible. It is just very sad when something like this happens to a brand new car. Then again, its better now than when our warranties are over right? All the best and let us know how it turns out.

 

[blue07cts]

About 2 weeks after getting my car my entire center stack went out. no radio no OnStar, NOTHING so i went into the trunk and disconnected the negative battery cable (very easy since it is a quick connect) left it off for 10 seconds and put it back on, and everything went right back to functioning normal, and best of all i still had all my radio presets and everything. it did it again 2 days later so i reset it yet again and have not had the issue since, and i have had the car for going on 2 years now. hope this helps!

 

[wylecoyote]

As it turns out, disconnecting the negative terminal for 20 minutes did the trick. Started her up, all functions returned to normal. I made an appointment at the dealer before seeing this so I think I'll take it in anyway and let them go through things. Thanks for the suggestion, now I have everything at my disposal since I can't get into the dealer until tomorrow.

 

[ddawson]

This forum is GREAT.