Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 32 safety complaints
about the 2019 Cadillac XT5 with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the steering,
named in 8 complaints, 25% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 12,000 miles,
the median across the 13
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers January 2019 to May 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
32 complaints on file
32
Complaints
3
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
3
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.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
STEERING 8 · 25%
8 25%
ENGINE 6 · 19%
6 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 16%
5 16%
AIR BAGS 4 · 13%
4 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 9%
3 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 9%
3 9%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2 · 6%
2 6%
STRUCTURE 2 · 6%
2 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 6%
2 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 6%
2 6%
WHEELS 2 · 6%
2 6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 3%
1 3%
048
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 32.
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 2019 at 8.
12 9 6 3
192019202020212021222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
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 2019 Cadillac XT5, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
15.1%
16.9%
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.
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.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 12,000 miles
MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT APPROX 35 MPH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STRIKING VEHICLE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES SO THE FULL FORCE OF THE VEHICLE HIT. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, LEAVING ME WITH A CONCUSSION AS MY HEAD STRUCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. THE STRIKING VEHICLE RAN THE OPPOSING LIGHT, CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint 11402680. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1 injured · crash · towed · 64,000 miles
The contact's wife owned a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while the wife was driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would vibrate upon depression without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however the failure was unable to be duplicated. The contact then stated that while his wife was driving at 55 MPH, the brakes failed to operate upon depression without warning. The contact wife stated that a loud, grinding sound emitted from the vehicle during the failure. To avoid crashing into another vehicle, the contact's wife intentionally drove into the highway's side guardrail. After the vehicle hit the guardrail, the vehicle spun into oncoming traffic before coasting into …
NHTSA complaint 11617965, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1 injured · crash · 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in a parking lot. The contact then shifted the transmission into drive (D), and the engine revved loudly. The contact slightly depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The steering wheel inadvertently veered to the left. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle then drove on top of another vehicle that was parked in front. The contact stated that he was unable to control the vehicle until after the crash. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was unharmed, but his wife's hand was injured in the crash. Medical attention was not received. A police report …
NHTSA complaint 11682097, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
fire
AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I THEN USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I MADE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ORDERED A TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP.
NHTSA complaint 11206631. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
The computer or electrical box to steer keeps shorting out and the vehicle us unable to turn.
NHTSA complaint 11740143. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
WHEELS
Went to Genesis Cadillac for oil change and they recommended the replacement of both my rear toe links. As stated on their service bill Caused by loose rear toe links. GM has been selectively recalling certain makes, models and model years recalling toe link for replacement. Most recently March 10, 2026 Buick Regals 2012 and 2013. Seems GM is aware of rear toe link issues but doesnt want to have a mass recall. Selects vehicles that are low quantity still driven. Everyone else needs to pay for defective rear toe links Even my brothers 2020 XT5 was recommended to replace rear toe links on his vehicle when he went for an oil change.
NHTSA complaint 11723846. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact thought that the catalytic converter had been stolen. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the catalytic converter was severed at the connection point and cracked, and removed. The contact stated that coils were damaged, and the thermostat housing was cracked. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The local dealer was contacted, …
NHTSA complaint 11709970, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
We got the message that our steering may be impacted and then our temperature gauge wasn’t working nor the stop/start feature. Trip to service dealer resulted in a $1,186.14 repair for the replacement of the thermostat. This car only has 37,269 miles. We were told by service tech this is a common issue in GM models and this year of car. This was a financial hardship on us and our well maintained, and rarely used, vehicle. How can GM know this is an issue and not offer remedy thru a recall?
NHTSA complaint 11709474. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
Steering assist disengaged, low power mode, no temperature read and check engine light. All occurred at 61k miles.
NHTSA complaint 11649851. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst