What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2013 Cadillac ATS

No clear pattern

18.3% of complaints about the 2013 Cadillac ATS arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2013 vehicle, but with only 252 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is engine (47 complaints), typically at 1.6 yr or about 6,536 miles.

Complaints
252
Median age at failure
3.8 yr
Median mileage
25,000 n=204
Crash / fire / tow
9.1% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
47 reports · 6,536 mi
1.6 yr
4.3%
Power train
46 reports · 12,000 mi
5.8 yr
6.5%
Electrical system
36 reports · 45,000 mi
3.9 yr
0%
Steering
25 reports · 14,000 mi
2.8 yr
0%
Other
17 reports · 50,000 mi
6.4 yr
17.6%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V558000 2015-09-03
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.

If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.

15V463000 2015-07-24
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.

14V488000 2014-08-08
Seat belts:front

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.

If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

14V446000 2014-07-23
Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.

14V338000 2014-06-19
Power train:automatic transmission

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.

If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle i

13V220000 2013-05-24
Electrical system

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may in

If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Steering 600 mi 2 mo in service
WHEN TAKING A CORNER THE CAR APPEARED TO OVER STEER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ME SO I WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO CORRECT IT AND IT FELT SLUGGISH FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. ALMOST INSTANTLY AFTER THAT A WARNING CAME UP ON THE DASH THAT INDICATED SOMETHING LIKE "SERVICE POWER STEERING, PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY". THE WARNING OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE MILES BUT I DID NOT REALLY NOTICE ANY STEERING ISSUES THOSE TIMES. *TR
Steering 1,000 mi 4 mo in service
WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. MESSAGE IN THE DIC INDICATED "SERVICE POWER STEERING, DRIVE WITH CARE". UPON RESTART OF ENGINE THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. DEALER SAW C0545 STEERING WHEEL TORQUE SENSOR FAULT, DEALER NOTES INDICATE THAT THE CONNECTOR WAS CHECKED AND WAS OK. ALSO CHECKED EBCM SOFTWARE, WHICH WAS UP TO DATE. NOTHING FURTHER WAS DONE, NO PARTS UPDATED OR REPLACED. I RECEIVED THE SAME DIC MESSAGE ~4 TIMES IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS WITHOUT THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THIS EVENT WHICH PROMPTED A VISIT TO THE DEALER. *TR
Steering 300 mi 7 mo in service
WHILE DECELERATING TO MAKE VARIOUS TURNS OR STOP AT AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. ALSO THE STEERING AND BRAKES BECOME HARD. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY IT OCCURRED AGAIN, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE THEN LOSE CONTROL. *TR
Engine 20 mi 3 mo in service
ROUGH IDLE WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPPED AT LIGHT (ALWAYS), I DID BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE ROUGH IDLE AND DEALERSHIP STATED NOTHING SHOWED UP ON COMPUTER SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR

Other ATS model years

20142013

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