CSR

Cadillac · NHTSA safety record

2018 Cadillac ATS

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

21

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Cadillac ATS have filed 21 safety complaints with NHTSA between April 2018 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 6 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 28,899 miles, the median across the 6 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

18V358000 · May 31, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
The risk
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

General Motors LLC · up to 895 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 21.

POWER TRAIN 6 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 14%
STEERING 3 14%
AIR BAGS 2 10%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 10%
ENGINE 1 5%
EQUIPMENT 1 5%
STRUCTURE 1 5%
SUSPENSION 1 5%
TIRES 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 6.

2018 2023 2026
2018 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

1 injured · crash · towed

Vehicle was involved in a accident all front damage and airbags didn’t deploy

NHTSA complaint 11456480. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 84,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal growling sound coming from the vehicle. The contact looked underneath the vehicle, checked the tires, and checked the inside of the vehicle but found no failure. The contact continued to drive the vehicle and heard an abnormal winding or rubber sound. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA complaint 11557178. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Both side mirrors failed. Internal components corroded, one almost fell off when driving, the other later became completely detached. Failed parts that could have caused a major safety issue if they were to fail during operation.

NHTSA complaint 11737210. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

33,527 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic determined that the F-module, Part Number: 86815664, used to control the engine Auto START/STOP, needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted for the part and informed the contact that the part was not available. The contact had contacted approximately 6 dealers, who confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 33,527.

NHTSA complaint 11706515. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Rear differential. This part will be available after removal. This put me at risk of potentially locking up while driving. According to the dealership, Faulkner Cadillac, "found rear differential bearings damaged, causing noise in the rear end. The Rear Differential will need replaced." There were no warning lights, but there was noise - a new, not normal noise I noticed two weeks prior to the diagnostic procedure by the dealership service department. This is the second rear differential failure. The service writer said there was no sign of leakage.

NHTSA complaint 11672691. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
My vehicle recently started experiencing an issue where the power steering would randomly cut out while I was driving. If I pulled over and shut the car off and then turned it back on the power steering would come back. But sometimes I would have to do this multiple times in a single drive just to keep the power steering on. I know that there is already a recall for this for some 2018 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles, but mine was not included in the recall, despite having the same issue. Took it to the dealer for diagnostic and they ended up having to replace the control module for the power steering which cost me around $2000.

NHTSA complaint 11671972. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
The power steering will randomly stop working while driving! We have had it in the shop 3 times and they can't find anything! We have replaced alternator, battery and it still isn't fixed! I seen u had a recall on the 16, 17, and some 18s for this issue! We have always bought GMs and are very disappointed! Could u please! Fix this issue on our car! Our car must have been over looked on this issue!

NHTSA complaint 11637598. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The car was parked outside at around 85 degrees. After entering the vehicle and driving with the AC on for a few minutes the CUE screen started to crack on the inside like a spider web. This has already been reported in 11576315 and 11325962. But I can't find any manufacturer communication on these. On the Internet I found that there is a class action lawsuit but only up to the year 2017 and it has already been settled privately. Since the vehicle is out of warranty there is no effort from GM to pay for the replacement. Since the CUE screen is essential for the vehicle operations, i.e. settings, navigation etc. it's a safety issue. On the Internet there are crowds of people complaining

NHTSA complaint 11596850, 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
2017 32 2
2016 32 3
2015 29 4
2014 103 4
2013 160 6

Other 2018 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