Rear differential failed @ 44,600 miles. Dealer said car was unsafe to drive. Dealer unable to obtain replacement after 30 days. Internet search shows this to be a known issue.
2016 Cadillac Cts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 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
Compare all Cts years →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: 19 of 31 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
9 reportsTorque converter shudders and jerks abruptly. There’s trouble slowing down at times and it has a difficult time shifting up or shifting down i gears.
I have 2 complaints. #1 The transmission shifts extremely hard in and out of gear 1. This issue a known issue, but GM has no resolution. There is a bulletin. The problem is, my car is no shifting poorly in all gears and causing a serious safety issue at all speeds and gears. It won't go into gear causing safety concerns. I have …
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I have 2 complaints. #1 The transmission shifts extremely hard in and out of gear 1. This issue a known issue, but GM has no resolution. There is a bulletin. The problem is, my car is no shifting poorly in all gears and causing a serious safety issue at all speeds and gears. It won't go into gear causing safety concerns. I have reported the transmission issue multiple times while under warranty and it is now worse outside of warranty! #2 Adaptive cruise has also been reported multiple times and I have paid to get both front sensors replaced. Only to have the issue continue. The dash will show a car is in the path, but there is a 2-3 second delay before car starts to slow down. Often brakes do not engage and the alarms just go off. I have driven a loaner car of similar years and they do not operate the same. This car is an outlier.
The component that failed on my vehicle is the rear differential. My safety was put at risk by my vehicle hesitating on the highway where I lost speed and was almost rear ended. At that point I had to pull over onto a shoulder with grass to wait on the side of the highway for a tow. My vehicle has been with the dealer for the pa…
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The component that failed on my vehicle is the rear differential. My safety was put at risk by my vehicle hesitating on the highway where I lost speed and was almost rear ended. At that point I had to pull over onto a shoulder with grass to wait on the side of the highway for a tow. My vehicle has been with the dealer for the past 2 months. No warning lights or signals.
The component that failed was the rear differential. I had to pull over on a grassy area on the merrit parkway which put my safety at risk. The component has been inspected by the dealer. No warning lamps appeared. I heard a whining sound and a grinding noise.
A known issue. “Clutch slow to fill” is a defect of the 8 speed transmission that causes the vehicle to violently buck and surge at low speeds and is dangerous as it makes it unreliable when driving at low speeds since it can randomly lunge forward dangerously. Dealership replaced transmission valve body under warranty and flush…
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A known issue. “Clutch slow to fill” is a defect of the 8 speed transmission that causes the vehicle to violently buck and surge at low speeds and is dangerous as it makes it unreliable when driving at low speeds since it can randomly lunge forward dangerously. Dealership replaced transmission valve body under warranty and flushed transmission twice but problem remains. Dealership claims it can be fixed with an “update” but tried to charge over $300 for the “update” when it is a defect that should have been fixed under warranty for free or have a recall.
WHEN I ACCELERATED THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO REV WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND FELT LIKE I WAS NOT MOVING. RPM CONTINUED TO GO UP BUT NO POWER. OTHER TIMES A VIG BUMP IS FELT WHEN I TAKE FOOT OFF GAS FOR A KOMENT AND WHEN I PLACE IT BACK ON TO ACCELERATE THE BIG BUMP IS FELT. HAVE TAKEN IT T…
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WHEN I ACCELERATED THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO REV WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND FELT LIKE I WAS NOT MOVING. RPM CONTINUED TO GO UP BUT NO POWER. OTHER TIMES A VIG BUMP IS FELT WHEN I TAKE FOOT OFF GAS FOR A KOMENT AND WHEN I PLACE IT BACK ON TO ACCELERATE THE BIG BUMP IS FELT. HAVE TAKEN IT TO CADILLAC SEVICE TWICE AND BOTH TIMES TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT IT DID NOT DIX THE PROBLEM.
CAR HAS JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY. PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHEN I GOT IT BACK I COULD HEAR A YANG YANG NOISE LIKE I HAD A BAD TIRE, IN THE MEAN TIME ON STAR SENT A NOTICE THAT THE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD AT ANY SPEED. SO NOW I HAVE TO SPEND $4000 FOR C…
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CAR HAS JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY. PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHEN I GOT IT BACK I COULD HEAR A YANG YANG NOISE LIKE I HAD A BAD TIRE, IN THE MEAN TIME ON STAR SENT A NOTICE THAT THE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD AT ANY SPEED. SO NOW I HAVE TO SPEND $4000 FOR CAR REPAIRS FOR A CAR NOT QUITE 3 YEARS OLD? NEED A BREAK, DISCOUNT OR SOMETHING. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED OR STOPPING, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLANKING SOUND AND JERKED WITH A LOUD NOISE. WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AUTOMATICALLY, A LOUD WIND NOISE COULD BE HEARD THROUGH THE DOOR JAMS OF THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED OR STOPPING, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLANKING SOUND AND JERKED WITH A LOUD NOISE. WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AUTOMATICALLY, A LOUD WIND NOISE COULD BE HEARD THROUGH THE DOOR JAMS OF THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FADE IN AND OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY WAS INCORRECT, AND A TAPPING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RYDELL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC OF GRAND FORKS (LOCATED AT 2700 S WASHINGTON ST., GRAND FORKS, ND 58201 (701) 772-7211), BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100.
Official recalls
426V329000 · 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.
25V175000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Mar 20, 2025
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.
19V086000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Feb 7, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
18V595000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Sep 7, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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