In August 2026, at approximately 99,639 miles, my 2014 Cadillac ATS was taken to an authorized Cadillac dealership for service. During the inspection, the dealership discovered and diagnosed a leaking right rear axle shaft seal. I was not aware of the leak beforehand and did not receive a warning light or message indicating the condition. The dealership’s written repair order states that the right rear axle shaft seal was leaking and that the right rear axle seal was replaced. The repair was completed at my expense. I have the dealership repair order and invoice documenting the diagnosis, mileage, parts replaced, and repair. After the repair, I researched this issue and found other the federal safety agency consumer complaints involving rear axle/differential seal leakage on 2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles. I also found GM manufacturer communications addressing rear axle leakage on certain Cadillac ATS vehicles. I am reporting this failure so the federal safety agency has a record of another rear axle seal leak involving a Cadillac ATS and can determine whether this condition may represent a broader defect or safety trend. I do not know the specific underlying cause of the seal failure and am not asserting that it has been established as the same cause as any other reported vehicle. The failed seal was replaced by the dealership. Documentation of the diagnosis and repair is available upon request.
2014 Cadillac Ats transmission problems
30 complaints (29% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 55,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 30
- of this car's complaints
- 29%
- typical mileage
- 55,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Driveline: differential unit1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Cadillac Ats transmission problems in other years
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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 is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
Recall number 14V338000 · Recall details
What 2014 Cadillac Ats owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 2014 Cadillac ATS experienced a transmission shift cable/linkage failure. After driving normally, I pulled into my garage and moved the shifter to Park. The physical shifter was in Park, but the instrument cluster continued to indicate Drive (D). The vehicle would not recognize Park, the shifter became stuck, and the vehicle would not restart because the transmission was still being detected as being in Drive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Cadillac dealership for diagnosis. The dealership confirmed that the range selector lever cable had detached from the shift shaft. Their written diagnosis states that the plastic retainers securing the cable failed, causing the shifter to show the wrong drive mode. The dealer recommended replacement of the range selector lever cable. I later learned that this vehicle was previously subject to GM Safety Recall 14179 / the federal safety agency Recall 14V‑338 concerning the automatic transmission shift cable. GM records show the recall was completed in 2014 through inspection; I was informed that no replacement part was installed at that time because none was required. I am reporting this because the vehicle has now experienced a shift cable/linkage detachment that appears similar to the failure condition addressed by that recall. This created a safety concern because the physical shifter position did not correspond with the transmission gear indicated/engaged, and the vehicle could not reliably be placed in Park. The vehicle and failed condition have been inspected and documented by an authorized Cadillac dealership. Dealer documentation and video of the diagnosis are available.
Vehicle transmission shift cable failed. This part is considered recalled, but GM is refusing to fix.
Rear differential issue
I was driving the car and trying to put the car in park at the stop light. The car shifter moved, but the shifter wasn't going into any other gear. The shifter moves forward and back, but nothing happens. I almost got in an accident and my dad had to help me park the car. I saw this is a past recall issue and I called Cadillac and they stated I needed to tow my vehicle there and there are no open recalls, so it will be out of pocket. They can't even see my car until the 31st at the soonest. I could've been seriously injured or injured someone else.
After routine maintenance (oil change) at Cadillac of Knoxville on 5/7/2024, I was notified that my rear differential was leaking. After I arrived back home, upon further research, I found that this was a common problem for this make and model of car and that there was a recall for Cadillac ATS' manufactured between 2013-2016. After calling GM's customer service line, the representative expressed that my VIN did not register under the specific recall and therefore would not qualify for a replacement rear differential. This is a problem in which can total my vehicle, though no problems besides the leak have occurred as of my knowledge. There was no indication before the oil change on 5/7 of a leak, no warning lamps or other telling signs. If I had not brought my vehicle for its routine maintenance, I would not be aware of the situation.
My engine RPM would randomly lock to 4000 rpms while driving, i could rev the car or apply the brakes but it will sit their until it decides to respond. This has happened a few times and mostly down hill and flats. Difficult to replicate. Cooling system has been a plague at around 80k miles i've had to replace a clamp at the back near the water outlet flange which i was quoted $2000 for just the labor alone as the engine would need to be removed.And the water pump failed at around 82000 miles. Also plagued with P06DE "Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit Stuck On" error code a few times now.
What are the cooling hoses that carry coolant from the engine to the radiator busted not once but twice. It has many electrical problems even when cleared with an OBD2 sensor they will still come on. The power steering is completely off and malfunctions.
My ball joints on both sides were completely gone, my struts have given out repaired all at the same time, because of those things going out it completely ruined my tires to where they squeak down the road. Both differentials are leaking and my transmission shutters, I also had to replace my water pump that was leaking cooling everywhere
Differential keeps going out
Questions about the 2014 Cadillac Ats transmission
Does the 2014 Cadillac Ats have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 30 complaints about the transmission of the 2014 Cadillac Ats, 29% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2014 Cadillac Ats transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 55,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2014 Cadillac Ats transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 14V338000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Cadillac Ats have bad transmission?
The Cadillac Ats model years with the most transmission complaints are 2013 (46 complaints), 2014 (30 complaints) and 2016 (10 complaints).
Other 2014 Cadillac Ats problems
Electrical 18Engine 15Steering 10Airbags 7Driver assistance 5Suspension 5Visibility 5Wheels 5Acceleration 3Tires 3Body 2Brakes 2Fuel system 2Lights 2Seats 2Seat belts 1
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