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Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2016 Cadillac CT6

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

11

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

1

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 have filed 11 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2018 and October 2025. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 6 of them (55%). The typical failure was reported at 16,500 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

21V759000 · September 29, 2021

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Cadillac CT6 vehicles. The Park/Position lights may be excessively bright. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
The excessive brightness may affect the vision of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will install right and left side in-line headlight jumper harnesses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N162016079.

General Motors, LLC · up to 181 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

18V437000 · June 28, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CT6 vehicles. The inboard child seat anchorage bars may have had excess structural adhesive applied during assembly, which can interfere with the installation of a child seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
The risk
If the child seat cannot be attached correctly to the anchorage bar, there is an increased the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, remove any excess adhesive, and apply anti-corrosion primer to the inboard child seat anchorage bars, free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 18228.

General Motors LLC · up to 22,043 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

16V687000 · September 23, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cadillac CT6 vehicles manufactured July 21, 2016, to July 22, 2016. The bolt that connects the front passenger seat belt webbing to the seat's anchor plate may be missing. Without the bolt, the seat belt webbing may detach from the seat anchor.
The risk
If the seat belt webbing detaches from the seat anchor, the seat belt may not properly restrain the front seat passenger in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing front passenger seat belt webbing anchor bolt, or install a bolt if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on September 24, 2016. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 16035. Note: Owners are advised not to allow an occupant to sit in the front passenger seat until the recall remedy has been performed.

General Motors LLC · up to 131 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 11.

POWER TRAIN 6 55%
AIR BAGS 2 18%
ENGINE 2 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 18%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 9%
SUSPENSION 1 9%
WHEELS 1 9%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 4.

2018 2025
2018 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

1 death · 1 injured · crash · towed

The contact's husband owned a 2016 Cadillac CT6. The contact stated that while her husband was making a left turn, the vehicle was struck on the front passenger side by another vehicle. The contact stated that her husbands air bag did not deploy. Medical attention was needed, and the contact's husband was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. A police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to the tow lot, where it was deemed a total loss. The contact stated that there were no additional injuries. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11694492. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 58,000 miles

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HWY. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN LAUNCHED INTO A DITCH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint 11408187. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

crash · towed · 2,300 miles

THIS CAR HAS SAFETY ISSUES. I PURCHASED A YEAR AGO. THE AXLE AND WHEEL BROKE OFF IN ON THE CAR WITHIN 30 DAYS. THE CAR HAS HUGE MANUFACTURER BREAKDOWN. IT WOULDN'T START DIDN'T CARE WHAT GEAR IT WAS IN IT WAS ROLLING AND ALMOST RAN OVER MY FRIEND AND RAN OFF INTO A DITCH. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS IN CAR DUE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION. SHAKING. I BROUGHT IT IN AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO DUPLICATE IT. BOTH TIRES HAVE BLOW OFF THIS 2016 CT6 WITH 23K MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT WITH 26 MILES ON IT 100K WARRANTY NO DEDUCTIBLE, SCRATCH DENT AND DING REPAIR AND GMAC OR FRANK KENT WHERE I PURCHASE THE CAR NO WILL THE DEALERS. I BOUGHT THE EXTRA CONTRACTS FOR ARE BLOWING ME OFF. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THE CAR

NHTSA complaint 11093258, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The turbo boost failed cylinder 2 ( after being repaired ) continues to show issues

NHTSA complaint 11679344. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I am experiencing recurring transmission and drivability issues with my 2016 Cadillac CT6. 1.Rough Shifting: When shifting from park to reverse, the transmission shifts roughly, causing a noticeable jolt throughout the vehicle. 2.Fluid Leakage: I have observed fluid leaking from underneath the car when parked in my driveway. However, the leak is inconsistent—it disappears for a few days after rain or washing my driveway but then reappears under similar conditions. 3.Delayed Shifting: When accelerating from a stoplight, there is a delay before the transmission engages, causing hesitation before the car moves forward. 4.Automatic Start-Stop Issue: The vehicle has an automatic engine shut-off

NHTSA complaint 11651834, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The car keep losing power pressure when driving it's jerk when put into gear

NHTSA complaint 11640230. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

19,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CT6. The contact stated that while in reverse, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently. The brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving between 30-45 MPH on several occasions, the gears shifted, and the vehicle jolted forward. Additionally, that contact stated that the vehicle was constantly shaking. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was first not able to be duplicated. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for the third time where it was diagnosed that an unknown harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred a month later. The manufacturer was notified of

NHTSA complaint 11583068, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Approximately in November 2022, I was driving my 2016 Cadillac CT6. While operating at a normal speed of 40 mph, while in traffic the vehicle began to hesitate and a loss of power. The vehicle was towed to Waldorf Cadillac & Chevrolet. The vehicle was diagnosed with a transfer case issue. The vehicle in the repair shop for approximately 4 months. I retrieve my vehicle in February 2023, with a brand-new Transfer Case with a price tag of $2,200.00. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, I managed to drive the vehicle back to Waldorf Cadillac & Chevrolet to have to vehicle repaired. The vehicle is doing the same thing it was doing , when the vehicle was previously in the Repair Shop. The Technician

NHTSA complaint 11536546, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac CT6

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 11 2 —
2019 16 4 —
2018 9 2 —
2017 17 2 —

Other 2016 Cadillac models

SRX 168 Escalade 89 ATS 32 CTS 31 Escalade ESV 15

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.

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