the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V558000 Rear Defogger Coil Antenna Module may Overheat If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, not sure what is happening but car does seem to overheat off and on especially when radio is turned on
The worst 2016 Cadillac Ats problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Transmission10
- Electrical6
- Airbags5
- Engine4
- Steering4
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission10
- Electrical6
- Airbags5
- Engine4
- Steering4
- Wheels4
- Acceleration2
- Brakes2
- Visibility2
- Driver assistance1
- Fuel system1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
Recalls 3
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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 on May 21, 2026.
Recall number 26V329000 · Recall details
Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
Recall number 15V558000 · Recall details
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V‑106.
Recall number 15V463000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Cadillac Ats 1,540
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent...
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size...
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- This PI Addresses a possible solenoid wiring fault and how to inspect the build date to identify
- This PI advises dealers to inspect for a missing pump gasket if the vehicle exhibits no movement following...
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
2016 Cadillac Ats crash test ratings
Government 5-star crash tests. Higher is safer. Each row is a body style and drivetrain that was tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac ATS 4 DR AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Cadillac ATS 4 DR RWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Cadillac ATS-V 4 DR RWD | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | 5 | 5 |
2016 Cadillac Ats fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | RWD | 22 | 32 | 26 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | AWD | 22 | 30 | 25 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | RWD | 20-22 | 28-31 | 23-25 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16-20 | 23-29 | 19-24 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | AWD | 19 | 27 | 22 |
What 2016 Cadillac Ats owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Air bag dashboard light is on
On 3rd differential in 2 years. Dealer won’t fix without us paying ANOTHER $4,700. There is NO way a differential goes 3 times in 2 years. Something is wrong. Help!!
My 2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe has a serious repeating safety defect. The vehicle violently shakes, vibrates, and becomes unstable while driving. This happened TWICE. Both times the rear bolts came out except one. Both mechanics who inspected it said they have NEVER seen this before. The first time, I paid $4,000 out of pocket at another shop. The problem happened again, proving this is a manufacturing defect. My AXP diagnostic on November 4, 2025 confirms major rear differential/axle issues. The vehicle is unsafe and undrivable. One mechanic told me DO NOT DRIVE IT. Cadillac told me the opposite — “safe to pick up” — even though they did no real diagnostic. Cadillac refused to give anything in writing, refused a loaner, and ignored multiple emails. A Cadillac representative told me they reviewed the previous calls, meaning they know the full history. They still refused to fix the dangerous defect. I have paid over $33k, paid $4k for the first repair, still owe $7k, and Cadillac now wants another $7k for the same issue. This is a major safety risk to me and other drivers.
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the message "Service Air Bag" was displayed, and the passenger's side seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
When driving at around 40-50mph you can feel that the car has a shudder vibration. Took the car into Cadillac where they are informing me that it is the torque converter that needs replacement. No warning lights. If not fixed can lead to transmission failure.
I’ve only had this vehicle for about 2 years now. I purchased it off of Carvana and had 30 days I could’ve returned the vehicle if there was issues. When I first got it, I noticed the vehicles gas pedal would shutter a tad while going up a hill or at a higher speed like on the highway. It would also jolt a little while taking off but when I took it to the dealership they were saying everything is normal and I believed everything was fine since there was no lights on the dash, it was my first time ever buying a car myself, and I had no reason not to trust them. The vehicle is now at a little less than 85,000 miles and I can’t drive it because of how bad it’s jerking, I did a little more research and come to find out this is a huge issue with GMs vehicles transmissions within that years range however my vehicle in particular isn’t on that list. The CTS and i believe even a few ATS Vs were on there but mine is doing the same exact behaviors as they’re describing. If there’s any way you guys can help me out it would honestly be a blessing
The contact owned a 2016 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH and entering the expressway, she engaged the turn signal and verified that the road was cleared. The contact stated that while she was making the turn, an 18-wheeler truck suddenly hit the vehicle, causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was hit three times and spun onto the median, where the vehicle continued to spin until it hit the fence. The contact stated that her sister was occupying the front passenger's seat at the time of the accident. The air bags failed to deploy. Both the contact and her sister were transported to the hospital by emergency units. The contact stated that she sustained injuries on the left side of her body. The contact sustained severe pain on the left shoulder, left arm, left wrist, lower back, on and the neck down to under the shoulder blade. The contact's sister sustained injuries on the right side of the body. The contact sister sustained severe pain in the head, the ear, the right hip, the lower back, the abdomen, and the neck. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Transmission drags. When stopping the car jerks bad and sometimes proceeds to accelerate. When at a stop auto start has a hard jerk I reported this problem to Cadillac dealership when I first got the car. They claim they couldn't find an issue. The touch pad goes out frequently.
Reporting a case for GM recall N182161890. I bought my vehicle in 2022. I was informed that my car had all the recalls completed on that vehicle. My vehicle had exactly what this recall was for happen to it on 10/20/23. After contacting Cadillac, they informed me that this recall was never completed on my vehicle. Cadillac then told me that this recall was expired so it can no longer be completed. They said that the recall expired on 11/30/2020. I was under the impression that recalls do not expire, especially ones that can cause lose of power steering and could lead to collision or injury. Cadillac told me it expired because it was a "Customer Satisfaction Program" recall and not a "Product Safety" recall. I'm confused on how the lose of steering is not a product safety issue. Cadillac is unwilling to fix the recall at this time, even though they have confirmed it had never been completed.
Compare the 2016 Cadillac Ats
Other model years
Questions about the 2016 Cadillac Ats
Is the 2016 Cadillac Ats reliable?
Owners have filed 32 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac Ats, close to a typical Ats model year.
What is the 2016 Cadillac Ats year score?
The 2016 Cadillac Ats scores 69 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Cadillac Ats: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Cadillac Ats?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 10 complaints. Next is electrical (6).
How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac Ats have?
3 recalls, covering air bags and visibility.
Is the 2016 Cadillac Ats safe in a crash?
In government crash tests the 2016 Cadillac Ats scored 5 out of 5 stars overall, depending on body style and drivetrain (3 versions tested).
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).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Cadillac Ats get?
Official estimates for the 2016 Cadillac Ats range from 19 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 22 city and 32 highway.
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