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2013 Cadillac Xts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Xts years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Cadillac Xts are substantially higher than the model-year median of 22.

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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

75 reports with mileage · 28 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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

41 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2019
Electrical System

THE CUE SYSTEM IN MY CAR DOES NOT WORK AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE SEPTEMBER, 2018. THIS AFFECTS THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, PHONE SYSTEM, CLIMATE CONTROLS (HEATING AND COOLING), RADIO AND WEATHER CHANNEL. RIGHT NOW THE SYSTEM IS FROZEN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOW BY CADILLAC SINCE 2013.

NHTSA ODI #11219847

80,000 miles · Jun 5, 2019
Electrical SystemSuspension

6 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE CUE SYSTEM COMPLETELY STOP FUNCTIONING SO I HAD THAT REPLACED AT LEE CHEVROLET COSTING AROUND $1000. NOW THE REAR SHOCKS ARE STUCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION CAUSING A RIDE SIMILAR TO A GOCART. THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE THEN IT WILL BE NO MORE CADILLAC'S FOR ME. T…

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6 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE CUE SYSTEM COMPLETELY STOP FUNCTIONING SO I HAD THAT REPLACED AT LEE CHEVROLET COSTING AROUND $1000. NOW THE REAR SHOCKS ARE STUCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION CAUSING A RIDE SIMILAR TO A GOCART. THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE THEN IT WILL BE NO MORE CADILLAC'S FOR ME. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT SO I FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE CARS IM SURE THEY KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES WITH A CAR COSTING $50,000 PLUS WHEN IT WAS NEW.

NHTSA ODI #11218198

72,000 miles · Jan 13, 2019
Electrical System

THE CADILLAC ELECTRIC CUE SYSTEM SCREEN MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING THE OPERATIONAL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN. THIS INVOLVES THE HEATING, NAVIGATION SYSTEM ETC... THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH CADILLAC SINCE 2013. THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE SYSTEM IF IT IS UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11166770

63,000 miles · Oct 23, 2018
Electrical SystemService Brakes

BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN VEHICLE PLACED IN REVERSE ON INITAL MOVEMENT AFTER SETTING ALL NIGHT (INTERSTATE BATTERY) BATTERY DRAINED TOTALLY DEAD AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE ON NEW BATTERY. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO STORE, PARKED, AFTER SHOPPING THE CAR WAS DEAD WOULD NOT CRANK. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON TO DRAIN-----MECHANIC SAID IT WAS INHERANT ON SO…

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BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN VEHICLE PLACED IN REVERSE ON INITAL MOVEMENT AFTER SETTING ALL NIGHT (INTERSTATE BATTERY) BATTERY DRAINED TOTALLY DEAD AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE ON NEW BATTERY. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO STORE, PARKED, AFTER SHOPPING THE CAR WAS DEAD WOULD NOT CRANK. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON TO DRAIN-----MECHANIC SAID IT WAS INHERANT ON SOME VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11142298

72,000 miles · Oct 17, 2018
Electrical System

THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN MY 2013 CADILLAC XTS IS INOPERATIVE. CADILLAC HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUES SINCE 2013. THE SCREEN CRACKS AND THE NAVIGATION AND HEATER CONTROLS DO NOT FUNCTION. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE - WWW.FRESHCADILLAC.COM/-CUE-TOUCH-SCREEN-NOT-WORKING

NHTSA ODI #11140826

130,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE CAR RANDOMLY HAS A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AND LOSS OF POWER AND ELECTRICAL WHILE DRIVING. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND ALL LIGHTS, DASH PANEL, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN REQUIRING THE CAR TO COAST TO A STOP AND PUT INTO PARK AT WHICH TIME THE CAR WILL RESTART. …

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IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE CAR RANDOMLY HAS A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AND LOSS OF POWER AND ELECTRICAL WHILE DRIVING. WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND ALL LIGHTS, DASH PANEL, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN REQUIRING THE CAR TO COAST TO A STOP AND PUT INTO PARK AT WHICH TIME THE CAR WILL RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY AND REPLACED BUT OCCURRED AGAIN A MONTH LATER AND THEY HAD NO CODES TO INDICATE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CAR LOST POWER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WOULDN'T START FOR 10 MINUTES AT WHICH TIME IT SUDDENLY HAD POWER WITH THE RADIO AND LIGHTS TURNING ON AGAIN. LOOKING ONLINE I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES SIMILAR TO MINE WITH 2013 MODELS BUT NO FIXES HAVE BEEN FOUND. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE HAPPEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND SUDDENLY HAVE NO POWER, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES REQUIRING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES, AND TIME TO ATTEMPT TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER.

NHTSA ODI #11122476

19,000 miles · Aug 24, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOUCH PAD ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FITZGERALD CADILLAC ANNAPOLIS (34 HUDSON ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (301) 261-8246) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOUCH SCREEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOUCH PAD ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FITZGERALD CADILLAC ANNAPOLIS (34 HUDSON ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401, (301) 261-8246) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOUCH SCREEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11122214

63,000 miles · Jul 23, 2018
Electrical System

BATTERY ISSUES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BATTERY SINCE I DONT DRIVE IT LONG DISTANCE. BATTERY REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. 6 MONTHS LATER SAME ISSUE. CAR WONT START BATTERY DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT SINCE I ONLY DRIVE IT ABOUT 10 MILES A DAY THE VEHICLE DRAINS THE BATTERY BECAUS…

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BATTERY ISSUES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BATTERY SINCE I DONT DRIVE IT LONG DISTANCE. BATTERY REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. 6 MONTHS LATER SAME ISSUE. CAR WONT START BATTERY DEAD. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT SINCE I ONLY DRIVE IT ABOUT 10 MILES A DAY THE VEHICLE DRAINS THE BATTERY BECAUSE OF ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THIS IS A ISSUE I BELIEVE CADILLAC IS AWATE OF AND NNEDS TO FIX. OR WHEN SELLING THE VEHICLE SHOULD OF TOLD ME IF I DONT DRIVE LONG DISTANCE THEN I SHOULD BE THE CAR OR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WONT WORK. MY OTHER ISSUE IS THAT ONCE THE CAR IS OFF IF SOMETHING IS DRAININGBTHE BATTERY IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11112967

37,500 miles · Jun 13, 2018
Electrical System

RADIO, NAVIGATION, CD, ANY MEDIA CONNECTION: CANNOT ACCESS ANYTHING EXCEPT THE 5 SAVED STATIONS CAN BE ACCESSED BY THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. POWER WINDOWS: ON TWO OCCASIONS WE FOUND ALL FOUR WINDOWS DOWN AND THE CAR WAS LOCKED. FIRST TIME, WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR VEHICLE IN A WALMART PARKING LOT. SECOND TIME, THE VE…

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RADIO, NAVIGATION, CD, ANY MEDIA CONNECTION: CANNOT ACCESS ANYTHING EXCEPT THE 5 SAVED STATIONS CAN BE ACCESSED BY THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. POWER WINDOWS: ON TWO OCCASIONS WE FOUND ALL FOUR WINDOWS DOWN AND THE CAR WAS LOCKED. FIRST TIME, WHEN WE RETURNED TO OUR VEHICLE IN A WALMART PARKING LOT. SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN OUR CARPORT.

NHTSA ODI #11101663

444,300 miles · Apr 16, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

RADIO TOUCH SCREEN NOT WORKING,(NAVIGATION, CLOCK, HARD TO GET RADIO TO WORK, CAN'T GET TO NAVIGATION, CAN'T SET CLOCK, OR USE EITHER ICON ON TOUCH SCREEN)

NHTSA ODI #11088504

Official recalls

5

14V541000 · Parking Brake

Sep 9, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.

14V518000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Aug 28, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14532.

14V116000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 17, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, through March 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a cavity plug on the brake booster pump connector may dislodge allowing corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector may cause a resistive short and melt the connector, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealant to the connector cavity plugs, re-route the vacuum pump vent hose and replace the front body wiring harnesses as needed, free of charge. The recall began on April 7, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's number for this recall is 14062.

13V220000 · Electrical System; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

May 24, 2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

12V525000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Oct 31, 2012

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured from October 12, 2011, through August 30, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 202, "Head Restraints." The rear seat head restraints may not lock in the upright position after being folded forward. If the head restriant is at its lowest position and it falls forward, it will not meet the height required by the standard.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a vehicle crash, the lowered head restraint may increase the occupant's risk of neck injury.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2012. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-458-8006.

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.