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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Cadillac CTS: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1419.4%
Steering behavior1115.3%
Engine operation1013.9%
Braking behavior912.5%
Transmission and shifting79.7%
Fuel system concerns22.8%

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.

Electrical System
25
Power Train
13
Air Bags
11
Steering
10
Engine
7
Unknown Or Other
7
Service Brakes
6
Suspension
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System25
Power Train13
Air Bags11
Steering10
Engine7
Unknown Or Other7
Service Brakes6
Suspension6

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00025
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

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.

2013
5
2014
20
2015
8
2016
6
2017
8
2018
4
2019
8
2020
3
2021
2
2022
2
2024
4
2025
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20135
201420
20158
20166
20178
20184
20198
20203
20212
20222
20244
20252

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.

Examples from the source records

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

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 10502626 · 2013-03-13 (March 13, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES. A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED TWICE BY THE DEALER. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, A THIRD WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECENTLY REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502626 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 10512546 · 2013-05-17 (May 17, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING EMITTED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512546 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 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 10568052 · 2014-03-09 (March 9, 2014)

I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 5 DAYS AGO. YESTERDAY WHEN I STOPPED AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN AND RESTART IT AND THEN IT CAME BACK TO FULL FUNCTION. THE REASON I FILED THIS COMPLAIN IS THAT I AM AFRAID THAT I COULD BE KILLED IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGH WAY. I WILL BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I HAVE MY DAYS OFF. I AM AFRAID SOMEDAY I COULD GET SERIOUS TROUBLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568052 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

14V394000 · Electrical System:Ignition

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V614000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2014-10-01 (October 1, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

Consequence: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

NHTSA campaign record ↗