CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2013 Cadillac ATS

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

160

Complaints

9

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Cadillac ATS have filed 160 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2012 and September 2025. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 48 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 33,375 miles, the median across the 124 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

15V558000 · September 3, 2015

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

General Motors LLC · up to 96,145 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

15V463000 · July 24, 2015

The defect
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."
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 63,665 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

14V488000 · August 8, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.
The risk
If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.

General Motors LLC · up to 48,114 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS

14V446000 · July 23, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
The risk
A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.

General Motors LLC · up to 124,007 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

14V338000 · June 19, 2014

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
The risk
If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.

General Motors LLC · up to 90,750 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13V220000 · May 24, 2013

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
The risk
If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

General Motors LLC · up to 10,210 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 160.

ENGINE 48 30%
POWER TRAIN 45 28%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36 23%
STEERING 25 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 14 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 6%
AIR BAGS 9 6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 5 3%
SUSPENSION 5 3%
WHEELS 5 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 26.

2012 2014 2025
2012 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 96,000 miles

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET AND MY WIFE WAS REAR-ENDED AND WAS PUSHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, AND THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND A CAR CRASH THIS BAD SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint 11251968. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 32,000 miles

MY DAUGHTER DROVE MY CAR AND HIT A METAL MAIL BOX (6X6 POLE, HOLDING 3 MAIL BOXES) AT 35 TO 40 MPH, SHE HIT ALMOST DEAD CENTER. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T STOP HER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, NECK AND BACK PAIN, ONE OF HER EYES VISION IS AFFECTED. SHE WAS DRIVING IN OUR STREET 3 HOUSES DOWN FROM OUR HOUSE, STREET IS WINDING AND NOT LIGHTED.

NHTSA complaint 10778287. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 injured · crash · towed · 45,000 miles

CADILLAC ATS LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL AS WELL AS RIGHT CONTROL ARM SNAPPING IN HALF. DRIVER THEN HIT DITCH AND THEN A TREE CAUSE DAMAGE TO FRONT OF THE CAR AND INJURY TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint 10840136. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

I was in a vehicle accident on 9-26-25 and was t-boned. The other driver hit me at 35-45 after she blew the stopping, I was hit on the driver side pillar and back driver door. My air bags never deployed and I was trapped inside the car until the fire department was on scene

NHTSA complaint 11690585. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
Vehicle would not steer lost power steering and loud noise. Had the vehicle towed to a mechanic. The mechanic informed me that the bolts for the electronic power steering had corroded causing the electronic steering motor to fall. He told me that it is a problem with these cars and gave me a reference number (N202301950) I called GM and they said it was not a recall it was a service bulletin which I never received and is now expired. The vehicle needs a whole new Electric Power Steering Rack and Pinion Assembly due to the faulty corroded GM Bolts not to mention that I could have died or someone else could have been killed due to losing the ability to steer the vehicle because of the faulty

NHTSA complaint 11681368, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Found metal shavings in oil after 13 visits to 3 different dealerships. Engine had to be replaced. Under 100,000 mikes with a service contract

NHTSA complaint 11664360. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Air bag lights came on.

NHTSA complaint 11654145. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Car has a shudder at acceleration acting as if it's in the wrong gear or shifts too soon seems like failing TCC in tge transmission not sure this issue could cause accidents due to car not accelerating fast enough with people behind you they could rear end you

NHTSA complaint 11650155. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 191,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact stated that the A/c was independently turned off due to engine overheating. The contact was able to pull over safely. The contact stated that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant, but the engine continued overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the stability track and engine warning lights illuminated and started flashing. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 25

NHTSA complaint 11645927, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac ATS

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 21 2
2017 32 2
2016 32 3
2015 29 4
2014 103 4

Other 2013 Cadillac models

Every Cadillac on this site — 91 vehicles, 198 recall campaigns and 4 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst