BUSHING FOR THE SHIFTER LINKAGE ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED RENDERING THE CAR NOT TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS
2013 Cadillac Ats
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ats years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Cadillac Ats are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ats years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
124 reports with mileage · 36 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
160 reportsCAR WON'T DRIVE PAST 40MPH WITHOUT SERIOUS SHAKING AND VIBRATIONS. HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD MULTIPLE THINGS FIXED WITH THE VEHICLE BUT STILL HAVE MAJOR CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR PAST 40MPH. LAST ESTIMATE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. 4-5K TO REPAIR. CADILLAC TOLD ME IT WAS THE COIL RODS WHICH THEY R…
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CAR WON'T DRIVE PAST 40MPH WITHOUT SERIOUS SHAKING AND VIBRATIONS. HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD MULTIPLE THINGS FIXED WITH THE VEHICLE BUT STILL HAVE MAJOR CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR PAST 40MPH. LAST ESTIMATE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. 4-5K TO REPAIR. CADILLAC TOLD ME IT WAS THE COIL RODS WHICH THEY REPLACED. BROUGHT IT BACK AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PIPE THAT WAS CRACKED GOING TO THE ENGINE. STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM. HAD THE TIRES AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED. THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT TO ANOTHER PLACE THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE ENGINE. ISSUE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SPEEDS OVER 40MPH.
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON JANUARY 8, 2020 TO SOUTHTOWNE GMC IN NEWNAN,GA . I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. I TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON MY CAR WAS TAKING A LITTLE TIME ONCE I PUT IT IN DRIVE MODE. THE SERVICE GENTLEMAN TOOK A HAN HELD DEVICE AND PLACED IT UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE AND…
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I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON JANUARY 8, 2020 TO SOUTHTOWNE GMC IN NEWNAN,GA . I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. I TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON MY CAR WAS TAKING A LITTLE TIME ONCE I PUT IT IN DRIVE MODE. THE SERVICE GENTLEMAN TOOK A HAN HELD DEVICE AND PLACED IT UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME IT WAS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM. HE CHECKED THE DASHBOARD AND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I TOLD HIM I WANTED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE, HE SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM IT DOES NO GOOD TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC. HE NEVER INFORMED ME ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO, THAT HE WAS SWAMPED WITH REPAIRS AND THAT IF I WANTED HIM TO CHECK MY TRANSMISSION I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN MARCH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AWAY. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAR BARELY MOVES. BARELY GOES INTO GEAR. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE JANUARY 15, 2020. CAN I GET SOME HELP PLEASE.
THE FUEL LINE BROKE DUE TO THE HIGH SIDE FUEL PUMP SEIZING UP AND THE BREAK AWAY BOLT BREAKING CAUSING THE PUMP TO BE UNSTABLE. THUS THE VIBRATION CAUSING THE FUEL LINE TO BRAKE SPEWING GAS ALL OVER. THE FUEL LINE BREAKING THEN PROMPTS THE COMPUTER SOMETHING WITH FUEL IS MALFUNCTIONING AND SHUTS MOTOR TO HALF RUNNING POWER AN TH…
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THE FUEL LINE BROKE DUE TO THE HIGH SIDE FUEL PUMP SEIZING UP AND THE BREAK AWAY BOLT BREAKING CAUSING THE PUMP TO BE UNSTABLE. THUS THE VIBRATION CAUSING THE FUEL LINE TO BRAKE SPEWING GAS ALL OVER. THE FUEL LINE BREAKING THEN PROMPTS THE COMPUTER SOMETHING WITH FUEL IS MALFUNCTIONING AND SHUTS MOTOR TO HALF RUNNING POWER AN THROUGHS SOME MORE FUEL RELATED CODES. RENDERING YOUR VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND NEEDING A TOW TO A SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN HELPS SAVE YOUR MOTOR IN THIS EVENT FROM BEING DESTROYED, WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS LIKE THIS. THE FUEL PUMP DESIGN SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE HIGHLY DANGEROUS. WITH FUEL BE SPEWED OUT AT HIGH PRESSURE IS UNSAFE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL LINE BREAKING BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN IS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE 2018 CADILLAC HAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO MY 2013 BUT THE 2013 HAS NO RECALL ON IT?? WHEN MY VEHICLE FUEL LINE BROKE I WAS DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS. I'M SURE THERE WAS TURNING AND BRAKING IN THE MIDST OF THE FUEL LINE BREAKING. THE SPECIFIC PART THAT BROKE WAS FUEL LINE PART NUMBER 12627125 AND HIGH SIDE FUEL PUMP PART NUMBER 12658486.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC ATS. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAKES AUTO GROUP (1009 US-82, GREE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC ATS. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAKES AUTO GROUP (1009 US-82, GREENVILLE, MS 38701, (662) 335-2886), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,400.
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND SHUT OFF HAVE TO RESTART IT I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT A FEW TIMES THE MAJOR PROBLEM I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LOW IDLE OR SOMETHING I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I PULLED OVER 2 SEE WHAT A NOISE WAS PUT IT IN PARK THANK GOD I DID BECAUSE WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT BACK IN GEAR IT WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEARS BUT THE SHIFTER REMOVE IT JUST WASN'T CONNECTED IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GEAR I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
CUE TOUCHSCREEN FAILS TO RESPOND TO TOUCH. IT STARTED GOING BAD AT THE BOTTOM, BUT THE PROBLEM "SPREADS" UPWARDS MAKING THE ENTIRE SCREEN UNUSABLE. THE HVAC AND RADIO CONTROLS ARE ALL ON THIS TOUCHSCREEN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THESE FEATURES WHILE DRIVING. OTHER SETTINGS FOR THE VEHICLE ARE ALSO IN THE CUE SYSTEM, AND…
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CUE TOUCHSCREEN FAILS TO RESPOND TO TOUCH. IT STARTED GOING BAD AT THE BOTTOM, BUT THE PROBLEM "SPREADS" UPWARDS MAKING THE ENTIRE SCREEN UNUSABLE. THE HVAC AND RADIO CONTROLS ARE ALL ON THIS TOUCHSCREEN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THESE FEATURES WHILE DRIVING. OTHER SETTINGS FOR THE VEHICLE ARE ALSO IN THE CUE SYSTEM, AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR ADJUSTING. NAVIGATION BECOMES UNUSABLE AS WELL.
TAKATA RECALL THIS INQUIRY IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY INCIDENT BUT THE RESULT OF RECALL NOTICES SENT TO MY DEALERS AND TO MYSELF RE (1) STEERING WHEEL (2) BRAKES AND (3) AIR BAGS. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. THE DEALER SECRETARY STATES THAT THERE IS ALSO A RECALL ON BRAKES AND ON AIRBAGS BUT DEA…
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
TAKATA RECALL THERE HAS BEEN NO "INCIDENT" RE THE 2013 ATS. THE ISSUE ORIGINATED WITH RECALL NOTICES TO MY DEALER AND TO ME RE (1) STEERING (2) AIR BAGS (3) BRAKES. THE AIRBAG ISSUE INVOLVES CONTINUAL WARNING BY LIGHT AND BY SOUND RE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER SECRETARY STATES THAT SHE HAS NOTICES FOR ALL THREE (ABOVE)…
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TAKATA RECALL THERE HAS BEEN NO "INCIDENT" RE THE 2013 ATS. THE ISSUE ORIGINATED WITH RECALL NOTICES TO MY DEALER AND TO ME RE (1) STEERING (2) AIR BAGS (3) BRAKES. THE AIRBAG ISSUE INVOLVES CONTINUAL WARNING BY LIGHT AND BY SOUND RE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER SECRETARY STATES THAT SHE HAS NOTICES FOR ALL THREE (ABOVE) TO BE RECALLED. DEALER GARAGE, HOWEVER, STATES THAT THE ONLY RECALL WAS STEERING AND HAVE RECENTLY REPAIRED THE STEERING. I RECALL RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES AT MY HOME BUT NO LONGER HAVE THEM. AND SO, COMPLAINANT IS SEEKING TO LEARN WHETHER THE BRAKES AND THE AIR BAG WARNING NEED ADDRESSING.
Official recalls
615V558000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
Sep 3, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
15V463000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Jul 24, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.
14V488000 · Seat Belts:front
Aug 8, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.
14V446000 · Seats
Jul 23, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
14V338000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jun 19, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
13V220000 · Electrical System; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
May 24, 2013
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
Electrical System
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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