CadillacSRX2012Overview/cadillac/srx/2012/base/

2012 Cadillac SRX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 SRX.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2012 Cadillac SRX is an SUV equipped with a six‑speed automatic transmission (S6), a 6‑quart 5W‑30 oil capacity, and EPA ratings of 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg. Owner data record 416 total complaints for the model year, with exterior lighting the top complaint category and three recalls issued. Across the 2004‑2019 SRX history, the 2012 figure falls well below the 2010 peak of 474 complaints but far above the 2019 low of one, placing it in the middle of the model's complaint range. That mid‑range position indicates the 2012 SRX experiences a moderate level of reported issues relative to other years.

Model year201620152014201320122011201020092008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque110 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter20897358
Spark plug12681660
Battery88866309
Front wiper blades19432582 alt 19432581
Serpentine belt12636139
Thermostat12689039 alt 12681132
Cabin air filter13356914 alt 13503675

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width75.2 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4367 lb
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 63.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the SRX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 2012 Premium 3.6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012Premium 3.6 3.6L V67.20 sec15.90 sec308 hpAWD
2010Premium 2.8T 2.8L Turbo V67.20 sec15.60 sec300 hpAWD
2010Premium 2.8T 2.8L Turbo V67.60 sec15.90 sec300 hpAWD
2010Performance 3.0 3.0L V68.40 sec16.70 sec265 hpAWD
2010Premium 3.0 3.0L V68.60 sec16.80 sec265 hpAWD
2007V8 4.6L V86.40 sec14.90 sec320 hpAWD
2006V8 4.6L V87.40 sec15.60 sec320 hpAWD
2005V8 4.6L V87.10 sec15.40 sec320 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 110 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-6.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.4 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts110 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub184 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub184 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.61 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-100
Injector Primary Resistance1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression140
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 20 psi @ 2000 rpm psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle148 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.080
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.063 in / 0.846 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 15074 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEmission Control System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 97,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Cadillac SRX falls within a period of significantly elevated complaints and technical service bulletins compared to the 2004–2009 era. With 416 complaints and 1,616 TSBs, the 2012 model shows a slight decrease in complaints compared to the 446 and 474 reported in 2011 and 2010, respectively. This year also saw 3 recalls, which is fewer than the 7 and 5 recalls recorded for the 2011 and 2013 models. The most frequent complaints for 2012 center on exterior lighting (205), followed by suspension (25) and service brakes (24), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. Additionally, the record notes 32 crash complaints and 4 fire complaints for the 2012 model year. While it shows a slight downward trend in complaints relative to the 2010–2011 peak, the high volume of TSBs and lighting issues make this a risky year to buy.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1616
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
416
Owner complaints
32 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 416 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting205
Suspension25
Service Brakes24
Unknown Or Other18
Structure12
Electrical System11
Engine10
Air Bags8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V447000Seats:Front Assembly:Power AdjustReported 23/07/2014

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… 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…

14V571000Suspension:RearReported 19/09/2014

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1616 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific SRX. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 SRX take?

6 qt of 5W-30 MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 SRX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the SRX get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.