CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2015 Cadillac ATS

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

29

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Cadillac ATS have filed 29 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2015 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 6 of them (21%). The typical failure was reported at 60,000 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

26V329000 · May 21, 2026

The defect
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.
The risk
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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.

General Motors, LLC · up to 5,014 vehicles across all model years covered

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

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

15V358000 · June 9, 2015

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
The risk
If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15352.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,163 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 29.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 21%
STEERING 6 21%
POWER TRAIN 5 17%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 14%
AIR BAGS 2 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 7%
SUSPENSION 2 7%
TIRES 2 7%
ENGINE 1 3%
EQUIPMENT 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 4.

2015 2020 2026
2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash · towed · 5,400 miles

FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE CAR WAS RESTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE AND WHEEL. THE RIGHT-REAR WHEEL WAS SCRATCHED AND ABRADED ALL AROUND BECAUSE IT WAS STILL SPINNING WHEN IT HIT THE CURB. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HAS DAMAGE ONLY ON HALF OF IT BECAUSE IT STOPPED SPINNING WHEN THE NOSE DROPPED ONTO IT. LOOKING UNDER THE CAR I SAW THE FRONT-RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN MID-TURN. IN ADDITION TO FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION

NHTSA complaint 10780932, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 49,500 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact decelerated and pulled into the driveway of a business. However, the contact was able to park on the side of the driveway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering gear motor bolts were fractured. Additionally, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the failure was associated with GM Campaign Number: N202301950 (Loss of Power Assist, Steering-Gear Motor Bolts Broken). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The

NHTSA complaint 11496103, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 87,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, there was a clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact activated the parking brake, and the vehicle was able to stop. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the brake pedal assembly and the rod bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed be being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not

NHTSA complaint 11498422, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V329000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint 11751834. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel and/or combustion problem leading to excessive emissions at unpredictable times. I mean so much smoke suddenly comes out that the driver behind can't see, and it seems the car may be on fire.

NHTSA complaint 11733655. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I bought my car from a dealership. Owned it for 2yrs 2mo. 107k miles First issue came up after 3-4 months. Faulty power steering. Took it to service at a dealership they said I would need my wire harness assembly replaced as well as a steering gear. Problem still persists. Also one of the mechanics there showed me that the previous owner glued harness connector components together which is why I started seeing issues that weren't there before. Now today three new warning/service lights: abs, brake warning and traction control lights. I think it is the battery but I haven't tested it. Someone online with the same issue said he had to replace the electronic brake control module. So this issue

NHTSA complaint 11716084, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES

74,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Fire Hawk A5V2, Tire Size: 225/45/R18, DOT Number: 17X4F9J46. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH in rain, the vehicle hydroplaned. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The tire failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA complaint 11689082. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We have owned the 2015 ATS Cadillac since August 31, 2016 . The rear glass is blurry when looking back from the front seat. We replaced the rear view mirror thought that was the problem but didn’t correct. I checked on the windshield glass. I took these number off the rear glass. GM DOT-376 AS2 M2H3 Trans 70 o/o Min. E6 43R-008011 AGC Automotive 30 B A006450 Tempered GS.I have a picture showing the above Info. Taken from the rear glass…..

NHTSA complaint 11671420. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The white pearl paint is chippng off everywhere. It started aat the drivers door directly under the rear view mirror. The underside of the trunk deck lid is completely paint free at this point. There are bubbles eroding on the drivers side rear fender area. When a paint meter was used to check the thickneess of the paint - it was disagnosed at a "1'", WHICH IS THE THINNEST possible number on the paint meter. I would like to demand that these parts of my PRISTINE car be repainted at no cost to myself.

NHTSA complaint 11646661. 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
2014 103 4
2013 160 6

Other 2015 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