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2013 Cadillac Cts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Cadillac Cts do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

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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

54 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

26 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2014
Electrical System

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY CADILLAC CTS 2013 REGARDING A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SYSTEM, GM'S REMEDY FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT IS TWO SMALL RINGS TO ADD TO THE KEY RING. THEY STATE THE PROBLEM IS THE KEY RING CARRYING EXTRA WEIGHT MAY UNINTENTIONALLY MOVE THE KEY FROM THE ON POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO T…

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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY CADILLAC CTS 2013 REGARDING A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SYSTEM, GM'S REMEDY FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT IS TWO SMALL RINGS TO ADD TO THE KEY RING. THEY STATE THE PROBLEM IS THE KEY RING CARRYING EXTRA WEIGHT MAY UNINTENTIONALLY MOVE THE KEY FROM THE ON POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF, DRIVER LOSING POWER, AND AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE TWO SMALL RINGS THEY SENT TO PUT ON THE KEY FOB WILL NOT PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS GM'S ANSWER TO SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT. I READ IN THE PAPER THAT THEY ARE ALLOCATING MONETARY SETTLEMENTS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES BECAUSE OF THIS IGNITION FAILURE, SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY REPLACE THE IGNITIONS SO THAT THERE IS NO MORE CHANCE OF LOSS OF LIFE. WE ARE EXTREMELY SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT GM IS NOT ACTING RESPONSIBLY ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR PRODUCT. WE HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED AMERICAN MADE CARS, SPECIFICALLY GM. FOR SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM, 2 SMALL RINGS TO ADD TO A KEY RING, THAT WILL NOT IN ANY WAY DIMINISH THE WEIGHT ON A KEY RING, IS A LAUGHABLE SOLUTION, EXCEPT THIS IS IN NO WAY A LAUGHING MATTER. IT COULD MEAN THE LOSS OF MY LIFE, OR MY LOVED ONES. HOPEFULLY, SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY WILL STEP UP AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 14V394.

NHTSA ODI #10637331

3,800 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electrical System

MY 2013 CADILLAC CTS WAS RECALLED FOR UNINTENDED ROTATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALL THAT THE RECALL REQUIRED WAS TO ADD A SECOND SMALL RING TO THE KEY AND GIVE ME A PAPER TELLING ME NOT TO ATTACH ANY THING TO THE KEY INCLUDING THE KEY FOB. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ATTACHED THE KEY FOB TO THE KEY. THEY JUST PLACE THE PAPER ON MY DAS…

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MY 2013 CADILLAC CTS WAS RECALLED FOR UNINTENDED ROTATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALL THAT THE RECALL REQUIRED WAS TO ADD A SECOND SMALL RING TO THE KEY AND GIVE ME A PAPER TELLING ME NOT TO ATTACH ANY THING TO THE KEY INCLUDING THE KEY FOB. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ATTACHED THE KEY FOB TO THE KEY. THEY JUST PLACE THE PAPER ON MY DASH SO I DIDN'T READ IT TILL I WAS AT HOME. I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID I SHOULD REMOVE THE FOB. IS IT ACCEPTABLE THE LEAVE A DEFECTIVE PART IN A CAR AND JUST TELL YOU NOT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THE KEY RING TO TRY TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622504

7,143 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Electrical System

NOT AN ACTUAL INCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE. WRITING TO ADVISE OF INCONSISTENT INFORMATION CONCERNING RECALL FOR IGNITION. USUALLY GET A MONTHLY DIAGNOSTICS REPORT FROM ONSTAR AROUND THE 7TH-12TH OF EACH MONTH. JULY'S REPORT MADE NO MENTION OF RECALL. WHEN I WHEN ON TO ONSTAR.COM TO RENEW MINUTES IT SAID CAR IS RECALLED. CALLED…

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NOT AN ACTUAL INCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE. WRITING TO ADVISE OF INCONSISTENT INFORMATION CONCERNING RECALL FOR IGNITION. USUALLY GET A MONTHLY DIAGNOSTICS REPORT FROM ONSTAR AROUND THE 7TH-12TH OF EACH MONTH. JULY'S REPORT MADE NO MENTION OF RECALL. WHEN I WHEN ON TO ONSTAR.COM TO RENEW MINUTES IT SAID CAR IS RECALLED. CALLED ONSTAR, WAS TRANSFERRED TO CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE (CCA), AND WAS TOLD RECALL WAS ISSUED AFTER REPORT.. HOWEVER CCA SAID THAT RECALL NUMBER ON ONSTAR WEBSITE WAS WRONG. THAT NUMBER WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A SILVERADO. BUT, WHILE ON THE LENGTHY HOLD, FOUND ON THE OWNERS WEBSITE (AT CADILLAC.COM) 2 RECALL NUMBERS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MY CAR (N140172 ISSUED JUL 21, AND N140497 ISSUED AUG 4), THAT ARE STILL ON THE WEBSITE. RECEIVED MY AUG DIAGNOSTICS REPORT, AND NO MENTION OF A RECALL. CALLED ONSTAR TO ASK WHY NO MENTION OF RECALL, AND THE ADVISOR SAID THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT IS THE "MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, AND MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE", AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT PUTTING MY OTHER KEYS AND THE FOB BACK ONTO THE KEY RING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621587

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE VEHICLE BEING UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL OF THE VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE VEHICLE BEING UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL OF THE VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10614994

9,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ONLY …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ONLY HAVE THE KEY AND FOB ON THE KEY RING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ODI #10609069

18,200 miles · Mar 9, 2014
Electrical System

I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 5 DAYS AGO. YESTERDAY WHEN I STOPPED AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN AND RESTART IT AND THEN IT CAME BACK TO FULL FUNCTION. THE REASON I FILED THIS COMPLAIN IS THAT I AM AFRAID THAT I COULD BE KILLED IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGH WAY. I WILL BR…

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I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 5 DAYS AGO. YESTERDAY WHEN I STOPPED AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN AND RESTART IT AND THEN IT CAME BACK TO FULL FUNCTION. THE REASON I FILED THIS COMPLAIN IS THAT I AM AFRAID THAT I COULD BE KILLED IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGH WAY. I WILL BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I HAVE MY DAYS OFF. I AM AFRAID SOMEDAY I COULD GET SERIOUS TROUBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568052

Official recalls

2

14V614000 · Electrical System

Oct 1, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

14V394000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 2, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

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.