2013 Cadillac CTS problems and recalls

Owners have filed 72 complaints on the 2013 Cadillac CTS, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (26 complaints).

72
Complaints
2
Recalls
10
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
8
Injuries
95.9
Severity index

Severity index 95.9 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 95.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 20 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 86% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 26 complaints (36.1%)26 36%Power TrainPower Train: 13 complaints (18.1%)13 18%Air BagsAir Bags: 11 complaints (15.3%)11 15%SteeringSteering: 10 complaints (13.9%)10 14%EngineEngine: 7 complaints (9.7%)7 10%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (9.7%)7 10%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 7 complaints (9.7%)7 10%SuspensionSuspension: 6 complaints (8.3%)6 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2636.1%
POWER TRAIN1318.1%
AIR BAGS1115.3%
STEERING1013.9%
ENGINE79.7%
SERVICE BRAKES79.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER79.7%
SUSPENSION68.3%

Complaints filed per year

010202013: 52014: 202015: 82016: 62017: 82018: 42019: 82020: 32021: 22022: 22024: 42025: 213142015161718192021222425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20135
201420
20158
20166
20178
20184
20198
20203
20212
20222
20244
20252
Filings in 2022 to 2025 were close to 2019 to 2021 (8 against 13).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
14V39400002/07/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONThis 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 (G
14V61400001/10/2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEMGeneral 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 t

Other Cadillac CTS model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 6 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.