2016 Cadillac CTS: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN AT LATIN MOTORS (3175 NW 37TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33142). THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING FREON, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING USED IN A HOT CLIMATE STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA HOTLINE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,857 miles reported. Look up ODI 11014256 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN YOU ENTER AN ADDRESS INTO THE NAVIGATION AND SAVE IT INTO CONTACTS. IT RE- REOUTES YOU TO A LOCATION OTHER THAN THE STATED ADDRESS. IT SHOWS THE LOCATOR PIN ON THE CORRECT ADDRESS, BUT YOU ARE TAKEN TO A LOCATION MORE THAN 1/2 MILE AWAY (AS THE CROW FLIES) IN A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH CADILLAC TO FIX IT BUT THEY CAN NOT (OR WILL NOT)

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11018960 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE AND THE WHEELS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FAULKNER CHEVROLET (298 STOKE PARK ROAD BETHLEHEM, PA 18017 [phone removed]) FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWO FRONT WHEELS AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WERE BENT DUE TO DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM. THE WHEELS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED BRAKE LINE…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022821 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

CAR HAS JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY. PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHEN I GOT IT BACK I COULD HEAR A YANG YANG NOISE LIKE I HAD A BAD TIRE, IN THE MEAN TIME ON STAR SENT A NOTICE THAT THE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD AT ANY SPEED. SO NOW I HAVE TO SPEND $4000 FOR CAR REPAIRS FOR A CAR NOT QUITE 3 YEARS OLD? NEED A BREAK, DISCOUNT OR SOMETHING. I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258688 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-09-07 (September 7, 2018)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.

Consequence: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.

Reported: 2019-02-07 (February 7, 2019)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.

Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.

Reported: 2025-03-20 (March 20, 2025)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.

Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.

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.