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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

What owners actually said

73 reports
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

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2014
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

ON 8/9/13 DURING A LANE CHANGE ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER ACCELERATION THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED AND THE RPM WENT HIGH AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND SEEMED TO JUST COAST. I LET OFF THE GAS TO LET THE ENGINE RPMS COME BACK DOWN AND I CHECKED THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE (AND IT WAS). WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS CAME DOW…

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ON 8/9/13 DURING A LANE CHANGE ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER ACCELERATION THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED AND THE RPM WENT HIGH AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND SEEMED TO JUST COAST. I LET OFF THE GAS TO LET THE ENGINE RPMS COME BACK DOWN AND I CHECKED THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE (AND IT WAS). WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS CAME DOWN THE POWER ALSO CAME BACK TO THE WHEELS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A RANDOM SHUDDER IN THE CAR UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING (SUCH AS IN TRAFFIC) BOTH PRIOR TO AND AFTER THIS EVENT. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DURING A TEST DRIVE. ON 5/3/14 I WAS BACKING UP IN A DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING THE CAR AND THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND DID MANAGE TO STOP THE CAR. ONCE I LIFTED OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE POWER BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK. THIS IS ANOTHER RANDOMLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. UPON DRIVING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTUP THE POWER BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO WORK FOR 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM RANDOMLY BEFORE THIS DATE (I NOTICED IT BEFORE LAST WINTER) BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. HOPEFULLY THE DEALER CAN DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. ON 5/6/14 I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. THE CAR HAD APPROX. 14,400 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE 5/6/14 INCIDENT. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW FOR REPAIR. *TR UPDATED 12/8/2014*JS

NHTSA ODI #10592548

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

400 miles · Feb 26, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ODI #10566037

3,000 miles · Jan 24, 2014
Air BagsSeatsService BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER REAR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE BECAME PINNED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT COL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER REAR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE BECAME PINNED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED, CAUSING SPINAL INJURIES TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #10561336

16,000 miles · May 17, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING EMITTED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING EMITTED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512546

8,346 miles · Mar 21, 2013
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION; VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AFTER PLACED IN REVERSE WITHOUT STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR; BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE; VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED ACROSS THE STREET. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #10504050

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.