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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Cadillac ATS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

32 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

25,750 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 32 complaints (31.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting412.5%
Engine operation412.5%
Steering behavior39.4%
Braking behavior13.1%
Electrical and battery issues13.1%
Fuel system concerns13.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
10
Electrical System
6
Air Bags
5
Steering
4
Wheels
4
Engine
3
Service Brakes
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train10
Electrical System6
Air Bags5
Steering4
Wheels4
Engine3
Service Brakes2
Unknown Or Other2

Power Train: 10; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags: 5; Steering: 4; Wheels: 4; Engine: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2017
2
2018
1
2019
6
2020
8
2021
3
2022
1
2023
2
2024
3
2025
3
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20172
20181
20196
20208
20213
20221
20232
20243
20253
20263

2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 6; 2020: 8; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11246431 · 2019-08-26 (August 26, 2019)

TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES TO DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. GM HAS REPLACED IT AT 17475 MILES. MORE TRIPS FOR ISSUES WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. IMPROPER SHIFTING, HARD DOWN SHIFTING, HOLDING RPM GEAR LONGER THAN NORMAL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11246431 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11310482 · 2020-02-21 (February 21, 2020)

AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THE ENTIRE CAR IS VIBRATING. ENGINE RPM IS BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500. RESPONSE IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE CAR MAY SPEED UP OR ATTEMPT TO STALL. VERY DANGEROUS ENTERING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC SITUATIONS OR ACCELERATING IN LOCAL TRAFFIC.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310482 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11206974 · 2019-05-11 (May 11, 2019)

VEHICLE TENDS TO DO A HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT'S AROUND 10-15 MPH AND IT WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR FROM BEHIND. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP 10-15 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL SOMETIMES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11206974 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11288691 · 2019-12-12 (December 12, 2019)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, A CAR WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE. I QUICKLY TURNED INTO THE NEXT AVAILABLE LANE AS IT WAS EMPTY, AND WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, IT OVERCOMPENSATED AND VIOLENTLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, LEADING TO THE CAR SPINNING OUT ON THE FREEWAY. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL AT THAT POINT, UNTIL IT OVERCOMPENSATED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING ME TO SPIN OUT SOME MORE. THIS LED TO AN ACCIDENT, AND IT WAS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS KILLED. DURING THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT, THE ROAD WAS IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288691 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11372540 · 2020-11-01 (November 1, 2020)

THE VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IT HAS HAPPENED AND RETURNED BUT IT GONE OUT TOTALLY NOW AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE CADILLAC POWER STEERING RECALL, BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED AS VEHICLE THAT IS AFFECTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11372540 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11397631 · 2021-02-23 (February 23, 2021)

DROVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I APPLIED ALL OF MY FORCE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN LESS THAN 14 MONTHS. HAD IT REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME. IT HAD NO BRAKE ASSIST AND A CRACKED PCV VALVE. THE VACUUM PUMP AND HOSE TO BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. 14 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

Owner-reported narrative. 87,853 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397631 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11413323 · 2021-04-22 (April 22, 2021)

THE GAS FUEL TANK CONTINUOUSLY STOPS EVERY TIME YOU ARE PUMPING GAS. SO IT TAKES VERY LONG TO FILL UP THE TANK. MY CENTER ELECTRICAL SCREEN FOR THE RADIO, BLUETOOTH, ETC DOESN'T WORK. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE FEATURE AND IT DOESN'T WORK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11413323 at NHTSA ↗