2016 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 31 complaints (32.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 19.4% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 16.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 12.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.2% |
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 | 10 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 9; Engine: 4; Steering: 4; Suspension: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 2; Wheels: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 |
2016: 1; 2017: 6; 2019: 2; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 5
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10992913 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
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 (L…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337345 · 2020-07-03 (July 3, 2020)
AT 45MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHUDDERS. IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. I'VE CHECKED IT ON VERY SMOOTH ROADS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T THE CONDITON OF THE ROAD CAUSING THE SHUDDER. SOMETIMES, WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS, IT SHIFTS VERY HARD AS IF BEING BUMPED IN THE REAR. I HAD IT CHECKED AND I'M TOLD IT MAY BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT NOT SURE. THE ORIGINAL TIRES ARE ON THE CAR AND AT 48 THOUSAND MILES THEY HAVE WORN EVEN. I'VE HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT AND THE FRONT WHEELS BALANCED. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871967 · 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)
THE AUTO STOP/START CANNOT BE SAFE. I ALMOST GOT T-BONED IN MY FIRST SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES IN A NEW CAR WITH THIS FEATURE. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND NEEDED TO MAKE A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. I DID NOT REALIZE THE DELAY WOULD BE THAT GREAT AND ALMOST GOT T-BONED TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE HESITATES WHEN YOU'RE STOPPED AND MOVING FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS. THIS FRACTION OF A SECOND HAS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE...THE ONLY THING HAS TO BE WHETHER IT IS SIGNIFICANT. WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC (T-BONE) OR TURNING RIGHT INTO TRAFFIC (RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022147 · 2017-09-07 (September 7, 2017)
STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION, VEHICLE SHUT DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ALL LOSS OF POWER TO VEHICLE, ACCELERATOR STUCK AND FUEL SHUT OFF WHEN GOING HARD ON BRAKE DID NOT WORK REQUIRING SNIT INTO NEUTRAL, MANY OTHER ISSUES. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR MANY TIMES IN SERVICE OVER 40+ DAYS SINCE NOVEMBER 2016. NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. CUE SCREEN REPLACED MURIOPLE TIMES AS WELL BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND EVEN AIR CONDITIONING SWITCHING TO HEAT, WINDOWS RANDOMLY ROLLING DOWN WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN A PARK…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,968 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11265320 · 2019-10-01 (October 1, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ALSO, WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE SIGNAL INDICATOR HANDLE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASHBOARD LEATHER WAS CURLING AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING NOISE WHILE REVERSING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONKLIN FANGMAN CADILLAC (3200 MAIN ST, LOT B, KANSAS CITY, MO 64111, [phone removed]) WHERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11043114 · 2017-11-03 (November 3, 2017)
I BOUGHT THE CAR AS NEW WITH 6711 MILES. AROUND 12000 MILES THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FROM 6-28-17 TO 8-19-17. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DOWN,NO CELLS, CAN'T BE CHARGED. THE CAR WAS PARKED EACH TIME. DEALER AND GM COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. NO FEEDBACK FROM THEM. DEALER KEPT THE CAR FROM 8-19-17 UNTIL 11-1-17. STILL NO VALID EXPLANATION THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11043114 at NHTSA ↗