2021 Cadillac CT4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 57.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Electrical System: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 1; Power Train: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11470678 · 2022-06-23 (June 23, 2022)
235 40 80 run flat Both front and rear passenger tires no damage to rim less that 10k miles
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11470678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11567425 · 2024-01-24 (January 24, 2024)
While driving the power steering was lost. The the auto hold function lit up. The collision warning light lit up. The stabilitrak system lit up. The air bag safety system lit up. Steering became very hard and made for y safe driving. Later that day 01-22-24, all warning light went out and power steering was normal.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11567425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11586038 · 2024-04-30 (April 30, 2024)
Engine and transmission for the second time in 90 days apart. Supposedly be a new part. I don’t think so.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11586038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11655109 · 2025-04-16 (April 16, 2025)
valve body failed and was supposedly repaired. I had the car 1 day and valve body failed again. My car has been in the shop since November 4, 2024 with no estimated time of repair because no parts are available. I was told they would replace the transmission. That has not happened yet. No parts available. My car has been disable for 6 months.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11655109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11683316 · 2025-08-27 (August 27, 2025)
There is a known issue with hesitation and hard shifting on my vehicle. According to the gm bulletin that was released I believe in may of 25 my year, make and model has a known issue where the transmission control valve may stick or wear causing jerking and shifting issues and could cause a possible crash. According to the bulletin by gm the fix is to replace the valve cover on the transmission. My vehicle is currently at the Cadillac repair center for this shifting issue and it has been diagnosed to need a valve cover replacement to solve the…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11683316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11741180 · 2026-05-31 (May 31, 2026)
Check engine light for P1467 on a 2021 CT4 V. This is for a "purge pump underspeed" issue. The issue is known on CT4 Cadillacs and has an active recall out: N242441120 Evaporative Emissions Purge Pump. This recall is only for the 2.0, LSY engines, but the much more uncommon 2.7, L3B engine in my car uses the same part # for the purge pump. It feels as though they are intentionally ignoring an equal emissions issue, but just on a smaller scale with the limited number of these engines they sold. What actions can I take?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11741180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11747192 · 2026-06-29 (June 29, 2026)
While driving at highway speeds on the freeway in my 2021 Cadillac CT4-V, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion. Without warning, the transmission dropped out of gear as if it were in neutral. I completely lost the ability to accelerate, creating an immediate, life-threatening hazard as I was left stranded and blocking high-speed freeway traffic. Only after the mechanical failure occurred did the check engine light illuminate. The vehicle was towed to Cadillac Dealership. The service department confirmed that the veh…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11747192 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V421000 · Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light | Electrical System:Software
Reported: 2021-06-10 (June 10, 2021)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Consequence: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V611000 · Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain | Air Bags
Reported: 2021-08-05 (August 5, 2021)
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V903000 · Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software
Reported: 2022-12-08 (December 8, 2022)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V148000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2025-03-06 (March 6, 2025)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
Consequence: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.
NHTSA campaign record ↗