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2016 Cadillac Ats

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Cadillac Ats do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 16 of 32 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2025
SteeringSuspensionWheels

My 2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe has a serious repeating safety defect. The vehicle violently shakes, vibrates, and becomes unstable while driving. This happened TWICE. Both times the rear bolts came out except one. Both mechanics who inspected it said they have NEVER seen this before. The first time, I paid $4,000 out of pocket at a…

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My 2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe has a serious repeating safety defect. The vehicle violently shakes, vibrates, and becomes unstable while driving. This happened TWICE. Both times the rear bolts came out except one. Both mechanics who inspected it said they have NEVER seen this before. The first time, I paid $4,000 out of pocket at another shop. The problem happened again, proving this is a manufacturing defect. My AXP diagnostic on November 4, 2025 confirms major rear differential/axle issues. The vehicle is unsafe and undrivable. One mechanic told me DO NOT DRIVE IT. Cadillac told me the opposite — “safe to pick up” — even though they did no real diagnostic. Cadillac refused to give anything in writing, refused a loaner, and ignored multiple emails. A Cadillac representative told me they reviewed the previous calls, meaning they know the full history. They still refused to fix the dangerous defect. I have paid over $33k, paid $4k for the first repair, still owe $7k, and Cadillac now wants another $7k for the same issue. This is a major safety risk to me and other drivers.

NHTSA ODI #11701363

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2023
Steering

Reporting a case for GM recall N182161890. I bought my vehicle in 2022. I was informed that my car had all the recalls completed on that vehicle. My vehicle had exactly what this recall was for happen to it on 10/20/23. After contacting Cadillac, they informed me that this recall was never completed on my vehicle. Cadillac then …

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Reporting a case for GM recall N182161890. I bought my vehicle in 2022. I was informed that my car had all the recalls completed on that vehicle. My vehicle had exactly what this recall was for happen to it on 10/20/23. After contacting Cadillac, they informed me that this recall was never completed on my vehicle. Cadillac then told me that this recall was expired so it can no longer be completed. They said that the recall expired on 11/30/2020. I was under the impression that recalls do not expire, especially ones that can cause lose of power steering and could lead to collision or injury. Cadillac told me it expired because it was a "Customer Satisfaction Program" recall and not a "Product Safety" recall. I'm confused on how the lose of steering is not a product safety issue. Cadillac is unwilling to fix the recall at this time, even though they have confirmed it had never been completed.

NHTSA ODI #11553393

27,500 miles · Nov 1, 2020
Steering

THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED AND RETURNED BUT IT GONE OUT TOTALLY NOW AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE CADILLAC POWER STEERING RECALL, BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED AS VEHICLE THAT IS AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11372540

11,950 miles · Dec 12, 2019
SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, A CAR WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE. I QUICKLY TURNED INTO THE NEXT AVAILABLE LANE AS IT WAS EMPTY, AND WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, IT OVERCOMPENSATED AND VIOLENTLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, LEADING TO THE CAR SPINNING OUT ON THE FREEWAY. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STRAIG…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, A CAR WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE. I QUICKLY TURNED INTO THE NEXT AVAILABLE LANE AS IT WAS EMPTY, AND WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, IT OVERCOMPENSATED AND VIOLENTLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, LEADING TO THE CAR SPINNING OUT ON THE FREEWAY. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL AT THAT POINT, UNTIL IT OVERCOMPENSATED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ME TO SPIN OUT SOME MORE. THIS LED TO AN ACCIDENT, AND IT WAS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS KILLED. DURING THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT, THE ROAD WAS IN GOOD SHAPE, VISIBILITY WAS GOOD, THE WEATHER WAS GOOD, IT WAS AROUND 60 DEGREES OUTSIDE, I HAD JUST GOT ON TO THE FREEWAY, AND WAS TRAVELLING AROUND 60 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED (I.E. NO SPEEDING), AND I WAS DRIVING WITH MY LEFT ARM (IT IS A MANUAL, AND MY RIGHT HAND WAS NOT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE TIME) AND DUE TO THE POSITIONING (MY LEFT ARM RESTING ON THE ARMREST), IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO HAVE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO HAVE SPUN OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11288691

Official recalls

3

26V329000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 21, 2026

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026.

15V558000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.