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Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2016 Cadillac SRX

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

168

Complaints

11

Crashes

1

Fires

10

Injuries

3

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Cadillac SRX have filed 168 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2016 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the exterior lighting, named in 98 of them (58%). The typical failure was reported at 47,000 miles, the median across the 65 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

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

SUSPENSION:REAR

21V473000 · June 24, 2021

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
The risk
A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.

General Motors, LLC · up to 380,498 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 168.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 98 58%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23 14%
SUSPENSION 16 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 9%
AIR BAGS 7 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 6 4%
POWER TRAIN 5 3%
ENGINE 4 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 2%
SEAT BELTS 3 2%
STEERING 3 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2021 at 43.

2016 2021 2026
2016 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.

AIR BAGS

3 deaths · 1 injured · crash · towed · 70,000 miles

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SEVERE FRONT END COLLISION. I WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING AT A FAIRLY HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. I REAR ENDED A TRUCK AFTER SOMEONE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF THE TRUCH. NONE OF THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. I FLEW INTO THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL AND SINCE THERE WERE NO AIRBAGS HIT MY ARMS, CHEST, AND KNEE. I AM SEVERELY BRUISED AND MY ARM AND WRIST MAY HAVE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint 11387074. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 20,000 miles

I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AGAINST SIGNAL. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP HOWEVER DUE TO THE LACK OF TIME, SHORT DISTANCE AND RAIN SLICKED HIGHWAY I WAS UNABLE TO STOP STRIKING HER CAR ON HER MID PASSENGER SIDE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THE AIRBAG AT NO POINT DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint 11045758. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 injured

MY CAR WAS IN PARK AND OFF. ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. INJURIES INCURRED

NHTSA complaint 10984997. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 20,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE STATIONARY, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT STRUCK HIT THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA complaint 10967361. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
low beam head lights are very dim, to dim to see while driving. Apparently this is a problem that Cadillac and/or GM knows about but isn't doing anything to resolve. Heat from the bulbs basically melt the chrome off of the reflector plate so light does not shine out on the road. This could be a very big hazzard while driving, deer, children etc can not be seen with the lights as they are. To replace are ridiculosly expensive to the customer but doesnt seem like it would be for the dealer!! Complete neglect on the manufacturs end.

NHTSA complaint 11742396. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Vehicle Body Exterior Paint Coating Peeling I am reporting widespread paint delamination/clear coat failure on my 2016 Cadillac SRX. The paint began peeling and flaking across multiple panels including the hood, roof, and additional body panels. The vehicle has been well maintained and has never been in an accident. A Cadillac dealership inspected the vehicle in February 2026, photographed the damage, and confirmed paint delamination affecting multiple panels. A case was opened with Cadillac/General Motors Customer Assistance and escalated to the Executive Office. Despite dealership confirmation and escalation to a District Manager, General Motors declined to provide meaningful repair

NHTSA complaint 11737967, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

124,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night at various speeds, the low beam headlights were very dim, causing the contact to drive using the high beam headlights to properly see the roadway. The contact replaced the halogen headlight bulbs with LED bulbs; however, the low beam headlights were still dim while driving at night. The contact became aware that the reflective surface on the headlights was burned out. The contact stated that the halogen bulbs appeared to be degrading, and there were bubbles on the bulbs. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The

NHTSA complaint 11729496, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

94,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the fog covering the headlights could not be removed and that the vehicle was not covered under recall. The dealer informed the contact that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA complaint 11723489. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE, ABS, Wrench, check engine lights all began intermittently coming on. Before we could bring it into the dealer, it went into "limp mode" while at a very dangerous time and would not move forward while in "Drive". Had to abandon the car in a roadside parking lot. Finally able to get it to the dealer and after their inspection we were told it was NOT repairable. The EBCM module (part of the brake system) was defective and NO parts existed. When we pressed the dealer, no other options or resolutions were offered. Even if a part could be found at eBay, re-manufacturers, or junk yards, they would not touch it. I have had not luck finding a part, re-manufacturer, or repair shop that could

NHTSA complaint 11700756, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension). The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel began shaking violently and the vehicle fishtailed and failed to steer as intended. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was then taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11697567. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Cadillac SRX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2015 442 4 —
2014 389 2 —
2013 393 5 —
2012 416 3 2
2011 446 7 —
2010 474 6 —

Other 2016 Cadillac models

Escalade 89 ATS 32 CTS 31 Escalade ESV 15 CT6 11

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