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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

Wheels 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

14,209 miles · Mar 13, 2020
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlWheels

WHEN OPERATING MY VEHICLE INTO DRIVE MANY TIMES WHEN TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS THE CAR LOOSE IT POWER AND STALLS. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING VEHICLE INTO OTHER CROSS SECTIONS OR SMIPLY TURNING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENHIS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY OR MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY. I W…

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WHEN OPERATING MY VEHICLE INTO DRIVE MANY TIMES WHEN TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS THE CAR LOOSE IT POWER AND STALLS. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING VEHICLE INTO OTHER CROSS SECTIONS OR SMIPLY TURNING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENHIS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY OR MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY. I WAS MOVING FORWARD OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO ON GOING TRAFFIC. LUCKLY I WAS ABLE TO BAGBACK INTO DRIVEWAY .

NHTSA ODI #11317835

35,000 miles · Feb 19, 2020
Wheels

WE BOUGHT A USED 2016 ATS WITH 14,000 MILES. WITHIN 2 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD 4 CRACKED CADILLAC WHEELS. WE ALSO HAVE RUN FLAT TIRES, FACTORY INSTALLED. DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, POT HOLES AND SEAMS IN ASPHALT SEEM TO BE WHAT CAUSED OF CRACKED RIMS. I SUSPECTED A DEFECTIVE ISSUE AFTER 2ND CRACKED WHEEL. I ASKED AT LOCAL DEALER…

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WE BOUGHT A USED 2016 ATS WITH 14,000 MILES. WITHIN 2 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD 4 CRACKED CADILLAC WHEELS. WE ALSO HAVE RUN FLAT TIRES, FACTORY INSTALLED. DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, POT HOLES AND SEAMS IN ASPHALT SEEM TO BE WHAT CAUSED OF CRACKED RIMS. I SUSPECTED A DEFECTIVE ISSUE AFTER 2ND CRACKED WHEEL. I ASKED AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT A RECALL AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE ONE. I SEE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND FINALLY FOUND A COMPLAINT THROUGH CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THAT WAS NOTED ON NHTSA. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, FACTORY DEFECT AT CANNON CADILLAC IN LAKELAND, FL. IF DRIVEN ON RUN FLATS APPROX 15 MILES TO REPAIR FACILITY, TIRES CAN ALSO BE DAMAGED AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS MY SITUATION. MY LAST WHEEL PURCHASED LASTED ME 1 YR, 3 WEEKS AND CRACKED BECAUSE OF SEAM IN ASPHALT ON THE FREEWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I NOW HAVE 35K MILES AND I'M LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING ALL 4 WHEELS DUE TO CADILLAC STANDING BEHIND THIS DEFECTIVE WHEEL

NHTSA ODI #11310130

39,000 miles · Nov 22, 2019
Wheels

ALL 4 RIMS ARE CRACKING AND CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. CANNON CADILLAC IN LAKELAND FL., HAS STATED THESE RIMS ARE A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM TO REPLACE ALL THE RIMS WITH AN ACTIVE 2 YEAR WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. I ONLY NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ONCE I HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW TIRE AND SEEN THAT THE AIR PRES…

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ALL 4 RIMS ARE CRACKING AND CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. CANNON CADILLAC IN LAKELAND FL., HAS STATED THESE RIMS ARE A FACTORY DEFECT, BUT HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM TO REPLACE ALL THE RIMS WITH AN ACTIVE 2 YEAR WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT. I ONLY NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ONCE I HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW TIRE AND SEEN THAT THE AIR PRESSURE WAS LOW ON THE TIRE. ONCE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TIRE SHOP, THE TIRE TECHS INFORMED ME THE RIMS WHERE DEFECTIVE, AT THAT MOMENT I MADE A APPOINTMENT AT CANNON CADILLAC. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED

NHTSA ODI #11281720

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.