Cars / Cadillac CTS-V (Gen 1 / Gen 2)

Cadillac CTS-V (Gen 1 / Gen 2) (2004–2015)

Gen1 (04–07) · Gen2 (09–15) · Gen1: LS6 5.7 · Gen2: LSA 6.2 supercharged

Verdict: American supersedan energy. Gen1 cars need a careful rear-diff check; Gen2 cars need supercharger-bearing honesty and the usual LSA maintenance trail.

At a glance

Risk 3/5 Market: Gen1 = LS6 sedan; Gen2 = LSA rocket

Must-have records:

Gen1: rear differential inspection/service
Gen2: supercharger bearing / noise history
Cooling and oil-service records
Suspension / electronic fault history

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Buy-risk rundown

Issue	Symptom	How to check	Typical cost (as of Nov 2026)
Gen1 rear differential failures (esp. 2004–05)	Whine, clunk, failure under load	Dealer/specialist diff inspection before buying	Not yet verified as a single price — budget for a serious driveline job [1]
Gen1 LS6 valley-cover oil leaks	Oil smell, wet valley	Inspect under the intake area	Not yet verified [1]
Gen2 LSA supercharger bearing noise	Idle rattle/knock; cold screech	Listen cold and at idle; ask about GM coverage/repairs	Bearing repair paths exist; cost not yet verified on this page [2][3]
Gen2 suspension / electronics / sunroof drains	Warning lights, damp headliner	Full scan; water-test drains	Not yet verified [2]
Modifications without paperwork	Pulleys, tunes, cams	Demand invoices; compression/leakdown	Mystery power-adders are a flag

Cost figures checked against the sources below in Nov 2026. Bracketed numbers refer to the source list.

Notes

No 2008 CTS-V — gap year between generations.
AFM lifter issues belong to later (2016+) V cars, outside this page's Gen1/Gen2 focus.

Before you buy

Use our printable pre-purchase inspection checklist and get a PPI from a marque specialist.

Sources

Car and Driver, What to Buy: 2004–07 CTS-V (accessed Nov 2026)
AutoTrader.ca, 2009–15 CTS-V used review (accessed Nov 2026)
NHTSA/GM supercharger bearing TSB material (accessed Nov 2026)

Last updated 2026-11-05. Costs vary by region and shop.

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