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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

What owners actually said

73 reports
80,350 miles · Feb 22, 2019
Electrical System

THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE ENGINE HAS JUST STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN THIS POSITION IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ON AT ALL TIMES (EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD). AS OF YESTERDAY THE POWER SEATS TO BE LAGGING, SOM…

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THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY, THE ENGINE HAS JUST STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN THIS POSITION IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS STOPPED WORKING AND THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE ON AT ALL TIMES (EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD). AS OF YESTERDAY THE POWER SEATS TO BE LAGGING, SOME OF THE BUTTONS TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI #11181763

81,500 miles · Jan 25, 2019
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MAY 2016. IN NOVEMBER 2016 I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. IT WAS TOWED TO LINDSAY CADILLAC. I WAS TOLD THE DRAFT SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON JANUARY 18, 2019 AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES UPON STARTING AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. I…

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN MAY 2016. IN NOVEMBER 2016 I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. IT WAS TOWED TO LINDSAY CADILLAC. I WAS TOLD THE DRAFT SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON JANUARY 18, 2019 AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES UPON STARTING AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. IT WAS TOWED TO CAPITOL CADILLAC WHERE AGAIN I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT THE BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF. THIS IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT I HAD THE SAME ISSUE TWO YEARS LATER AND $841.00 LATER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. HOW DO BOLTS GET SHEARED OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD HAVE USED USED THE WRONG SIZE BOLTS OR THE PARTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. IN ANY EVENT I AM WITHOUT FAULT AND HAVE A GENUINE CONCERN THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. COULD IT HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING?

NHTSA ODI #11172061

32,000 miles · Nov 28, 2018
Service Brakes

CAR HAS NO BREAKS WHEN FIRST STARTED IT TAKES ABOUT 30 SECONDS AFTER START FOR BREAKS TO WORK THIS HAPPENS AFTER CAR IS PARKED OVERNIGHT ALL THE TIME

NHTSA ODI #11154620

68,000 miles · May 20, 2018
Exterior Lighting

WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WEREN'T WORKING. I CHECKED ONLINE CADILLAC FORUMS AND DISCOVERED A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS BREAKING WHERE IT BENDS NEXT TO THE PASSENGER TRUNK HINGE. WHEN I CHECKED MY WIRE HARNESS I DISCOVERED 3 BROKEN WIRES AND 2 PARTIALLY BROKEN WIRES…

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WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WEREN'T WORKING. I CHECKED ONLINE CADILLAC FORUMS AND DISCOVERED A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS BREAKING WHERE IT BENDS NEXT TO THE PASSENGER TRUNK HINGE. WHEN I CHECKED MY WIRE HARNESS I DISCOVERED 3 BROKEN WIRES AND 2 PARTIALLY BROKEN WIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11096964

20,000 miles · Apr 23, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

BRAKES ON MY CTS 2013 CADILLAC , ON MARCH 29, I MADE A TURN TO PARK MY CAR FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET MAMARONECK AVENUE IN WHITE PLAINS TO THE LEFT THERE WERE NO PARKING SPACES ON THE RIGHT . AS I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL THE CAR SPEED UP AND HIT THE CURB, KNOCKING OVER TWO PARKING METERS AND HU…

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BRAKES ON MY CTS 2013 CADILLAC , ON MARCH 29, I MADE A TURN TO PARK MY CAR FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET MAMARONECK AVENUE IN WHITE PLAINS TO THE LEFT THERE WERE NO PARKING SPACES ON THE RIGHT . AS I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL THE CAR SPEED UP AND HIT THE CURB, KNOCKING OVER TWO PARKING METERS AND HURTING MY FINGER ON MY RIGHT HAND AND LATER MY LEFT LEG. I HAD JUST TAKEN MY CAR TO PEPE CADILLAC IN WHITE PLAINS ,N. Y. TO GET MY BRAKES REPAIRED. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO BRENNENAN TOWING SERVICE IN ELMSFORD. THEY CLAIM IT WAS REPAIRED!!!!SINCE THEN WHICH WAS LAST SUMMER MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP AS MANY AS 9 OR 10 TIMES WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND OTHER LIGHT SUCH AS THE TRACTION , THE ABS, THE LOCK ON PASSENGER DID NOT WORK UNTIL I ASK THEM TO REPAIR IT! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. WHEN I TAKE IT TO MT. KISCO CADILLAC THEY FIX A DIFFERENT THING, BUT ANOTHER SITUATION OCCURS. I AM SO UPSET AND SAD ABOUT THIS SITUATION N, BECAUSE I AM A RETIRED COUNSELOR ON A FIXED INCOME AND I PAID FOR MY CAR IN FULL AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE IT... PLEASE HELP ME OR LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #11089627

76,000 miles · Feb 26, 2018
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY THE DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR TRIM LIGHTS ARE OUT AND WILL RESUME AT UNFORESEEN TIMES

NHTSA ODI #11074975

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2017
Wheels

FRONT HUB BEARINGS DAMAGED AT 77,000 MILE AND AGAIN AT 129,000 MILES. CADILLAC FORUM HAS MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT

NHTSA ODI #11057480

40,000 miles · Oct 5, 2017
Suspension

I'VE NOTICED MY VEHICLE ALWAYS BEING OUT OF BALANCE, SO NATURALLY I FIRST ALIGNED AND BALANCED THE TIRES AT A REPUTABLE SHOP. THE FIRST DAY IT DROVE LIKE A DREAM, BUT AFTER THAT THE VIBRATION CAME BACK. EVER SINCE THEN IVE BOUGHT NEW TIRES, BRAKES, BALANCED THE WHEELS 4 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP(ED MORSE CAD…

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I'VE NOTICED MY VEHICLE ALWAYS BEING OUT OF BALANCE, SO NATURALLY I FIRST ALIGNED AND BALANCED THE TIRES AT A REPUTABLE SHOP. THE FIRST DAY IT DROVE LIKE A DREAM, BUT AFTER THAT THE VIBRATION CAME BACK. EVER SINCE THEN IVE BOUGHT NEW TIRES, BRAKES, BALANCED THE WHEELS 4 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR AND ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP(ED MORSE CADILLAC SAWGRASS) WHICH WAS A ROAD FORCE BALANCE AND NOONE SEEMS TO KNOW THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS 45K MILES ON IT AND THE SUSPENSION INCLUDING THE RIMS ARE OEM. ITS FRUSTRATING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT COSTS $75000 TO DRIVE HORRIBLY. THIS CONCERNS ME WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS POSES A DANGER IF ITS A PROBLEM THAT MAY ESCALATE TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT NOONE KNOWS INCLUDING THE "GREAT" MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #11031841

37,000 miles · Aug 26, 2017
Electrical SystemSeatsUnknown Or Other

BOTH THE HEATED SEAT OPTION AND SEAT/MIRROR MEMORY SETTINGS STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY.

NHTSA ODI #11019893

95,000 miles · Aug 10, 2017
Service Brakes

I HAVE ATTACHED A PDF OR MY EXPERIENCE AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH 2013 CADILLAC CTS AWD. 1900 CHARACTERS WASN'T ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11014238

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.