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Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2016 Cadillac CTS

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

Owners have filed 31 safety complaints about the 2016 Cadillac CTS with the US government. Of those, 1 mentions a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 10 complaints, 32% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 20,000 miles, the median across the 19 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers June 2016 to December 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

31 complaints on file

31

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10 · 32%
POWER TRAIN 9 · 29%
ENGINE 4 · 13%
STEERING 4 · 13%
SUSPENSION 4 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 · 13%
STRUCTURE 3 · 10%
AIR BAGS 2 · 6%
WHEELS 2 · 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 · 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 3%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 · 3%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 31.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 6.

8 6 4 2
16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Cadillac CTS, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR AWD 4 DR RWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 10.1% 10.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

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

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

25V175000 · March 20, 2025

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

General Motors, LLC · up to 934 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

19V086000 · February 7, 2019

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

General Motors LLC · up to 26,772 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

18V595000 · September 7, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 52,867 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR

1 injured · 20,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the carbon fiber-optic piece on the rear passenger door was fractured. The contact stated the occupant was exiting the rear passenger's door when the occupant was stabbed by the carbon fiber-optic piece. The contact stated that the occupant was stabbed in the back of the right arm. No medical attention was needed. The contact stated that the carbon fiber optic pieces on all four of the door panels and the glove compartment had been replaced several times. The contact stated the glove compartment carbon fiber optic piece was replaced three times. In addition, the contact stated that the carbon fiber optic

NHTSA complaint 11657637, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

fire · 43,000 miles

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING IN NYC AT SPEEDS OF 10-20 MPH FIRST THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE IN THE FRONT HOOD WHILE TURNING LEFT ON 5TH AVENUE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS ON FLAMES. I HAVE A DASH CAMERA AND IPHONE FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM AN AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 2019 AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON CHRISTMAS DAY 2019

NHTSA complaint 11307353. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 7,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ALSO, WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE SIGNAL INDICATOR HANDLE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, THE DASHBOARD LEATHER WAS CURLING AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING NOISE WHILE REVERSING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONKLIN FANGMAN CADILLAC (3200 MAIN ST, LOT B, KANSAS CITY, MO 64111, (816) 714-7654) WHERE THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE

NHTSA complaint 11265320, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

93,942 miles

The contact owns 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 93,942.

NHTSA complaint 11703838. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Message "Shift to Park" even though the car is already in Park, preventing shutting down the car.

NHTSA complaint 11667214. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

49,790 miles

The contact's relative owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side air bag inflator needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 49,790.

NHTSA complaint 11645131. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Center console screen again has stopped working, no access to settings for the car nor any way to correct settings at this point. Many of the settings can be critical to safe driving of the car and have no manual alternative. This is the second screen in 50k miles.

NHTSA complaint 11611649. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Rear differential failed @ 44,600 miles. Dealer said car was unsafe to drive. Dealer unable to obtain replacement after 30 days. Internet search shows this to be a known issue.

NHTSA complaint 11563267. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac CTS

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 8 2 —
2017 27 2 —
2015 47 3 —
2014 146 6 —
2013 73 2 —
2012 65 2 —
2011 101 2 —
2010 67 3 —

Other 2016 Cadillac models

SRX 168 Escalade 89 ATS 32 Escalade ESV 15 CT6 11

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Cadillac on this site — 97 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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