2013 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 72 complaints (34.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 19.4% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 15.3% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 13.9% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 9.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
Electrical System: 25; Power Train: 13; Air Bags: 11; Steering: 10; Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Suspension: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 18 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2013: 5; 2014: 20; 2015: 8; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2018: 4; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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 10614994 · 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10614994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637099 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, HE BECAME INVOLVED IN A MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH. THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND THE AIR BAG EXPLODED. THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN GRAY SUBSTANCE THAT WAS EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAG UPON DEPLOYMENT, WHICH AFFECTED THE CONTACT'S VISION AND BREATHING ABILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE FRACTURED RIBS AND INJURIES TO THE NECK, KNEE, ANKLE AND HEAD WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494477 · 2013-01-23 (January 23, 2013)
EXTREME LOSE STEERING, WAY TO LOSE CANT FEEL THE ROAD, ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT IT HAS A DELAY THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD. THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502504 · 2013-03-12 (March 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED.…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566037 · 2014-02-26 (February 26, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609069 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504050 · 2013-03-21 (March 21, 2013)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,346 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561336 · 2014-01-24 (January 24, 2014)
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 R…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592548 · 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)
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 DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10592548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670303 · 2015-01-05 (January 5, 2015)
MY 2013 CTS HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PRIOR ISSUES BUT AT THIS TIME, I STARTED THE CAR, GOT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. IT EVERYTHING QUIT. I HAD NO POWER TO STEERING, BRAKES, LIGHTS. I COASTED PARTWAY INTO A PARKING SPACE I=ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO FULLY PULL INTO THE SPACE AS I WAS HEADED UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. I WAS STUCK WITH MY REAR END IN TRAFFIC AND NO ABILITY TO MOVE. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED AND IT STARTED UP. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE AS ABOUT HALF DOZEN TIMES THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387263 · 2021-01-08 (January 8, 2021)
THE NIPPENDENSO FUEL PUMP NECK IS CRACKED AND IS LEAKING FUEL. $3200 BUCKS FOR THE DEALER TO REPLACE. BOUGHT ON LINE AND REPLACED FOR $1256 BUCKS. EVERY CTS V HAS THIS ISSUE. I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. PUMPING ON THE GROUND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHECK THE FORUMS AND YOU WILL SEE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A FUEL LEAK PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387263 at NHTSA ↗