2015 Cadillac ATS: complaints, problems and recalls

FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND WHEEL. THE RIGHT-REAR WHEEL WAS SCRATCHED AND ABRADED ALL AROUND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL SPINNING WHEN IT HIT THE CURB. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HAS DAMAGE ONLY ON HALF OF IT BECAUSE IT STOPPED SPINNING WHEN …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780932 at NHTSA ↗

A1 INCOMING EMAIL: LETTER FROM CONSUMER RE THE SAFETY OF 2015 ATS CADILLAC. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE FUEL GAUGE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT DASH COMPUTER QUE READER SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10924728 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM A RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT WITH 20-20 VISION. THE CITY I LIVE IN DOES NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH STREET WALKERS THAT CAN BE EASILY SEEN BY OTHER MAKES AND MODELS. NHTSA RATES THE 2015 CADILLAC ATS WORST HEADLIGHTS ON MID-SIZE CARS. AS A CADILLAC OWNER SINCE 1977, I HAVE BEEN A SATISFIED CUSTOMER UNTIL THIS ATS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE ATS, I ASSUMED IT HAD GOOD STEERING, BRAKES, TIRES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE CONTAC…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10944422 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC ATS EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE: 225/40/R18 (NA). ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE TIRES VIBRATED. SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE AIR SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS ON BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE SPLIT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE THE RUN FLAT INNER TIRES TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005867 at NHTSA ↗

STARTED VEHICLE AND WENT IN RESERVE. THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AS I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE REARWARD. I HAD TO APPLY HARD PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BRAKE PEDAL BARELY MOVES AS I PRESS IT. HARD TO STOP VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 58,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156889 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND REALIZED THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I MOVES THE CAR FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE AGAIN AND A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN READ TO SERVICE POWER STEERING. UPON MY RESEARCH THE ELECTRICAL MODULE OR MOTOR HAS BEEN KNOW TO STOP WORKING. I WAS NOT DRIVING AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I NOTICED THAT THE 2013 CADILLAC ATS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING. THE NHTSA SHOUL…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165776 at NHTSA ↗

BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME AFTER LESS THAN 1000 HOURS OF USE. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281991 at NHTSA ↗

I NOTICED A ROARING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER I WENT TO BARKLEY CADILLAC GMC IN TUSCALOOSA ALABAMA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR END HAD A PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11301083 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-06-09 (June 9, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.

Consequence: If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15352.

Reported: 2015-07-24 (July 24, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Consequence: Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.

Reported: 2015-09-03 (September 3, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.

Consequence: If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.

Reported: 2026-05-21 (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: 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.