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2020 Cadillac CT5 transmission problems

16 complaints (40% of all complaints for this car). 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
16
of this car's complaints
40%
crashes
1
recalls
1

Which part fails

Owners did not name a specific part.

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
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100k-125k
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150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Cadillac CT5 transmission problems in other years

2020202120232026

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported March 6, 2025 · 90,081 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
Risk
Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.

Recall number 25V148000 · Recall details

What 2020 Cadillac CT5 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · TN

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The 10 speed transmission started get struck in gears while on the highway. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Yes Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Transmission needs service

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Transmission · TX

I am filing an urgent consumer safety complaint against Bert Ogden Cadillac in [XXX] for a severe federal safety recall violation. My 2020 Cadillac CT5 is experiencing catastrophic transmission failure, including severe slipping and violent pulling during acceleration. This creates an immediate risk of sudden highway drive-wheel lock-up as warned under active GM Recall N242480630.On XXX, I brought the vehicle to Bert Ogden Cadillac and explicitly raised the transmission recall. The service agent, Patty, dismissed the recall, illegally charged me a $252.71 diagnostic fee for an active safety campaign, and turned me away with an out-of-pocket repair estimate of $12,138.80, which I could not afford. The dealer's own written service notes explicitly state: "customer will come back for recall," proving no work was performed.However, the online GM portal shows that the dealership subsequently went into the national database behind my back and fraudulently reported this identical safety recall as "Completed" on XXX.I contacted Cadillac Corporate on XXX, and they opened an internal investigation under GM Case Number XXX. However, corporate management was hostile, questioned the safety defect connection despite the matching codes (12CDZSERTA and 98CDZXOLK), and actively refused to dispatch a corporate flatbed tow for this disabled safety hazard. I have already filed a deceptive trade practices case with the XXX Attorney General under case XXX. I require immediate federal intervention to compel General Motors to tow and repair this hazardous vehicle at zero cost as mandated by federal law. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Transmission · IN

Lockhart Cadillac Service Department committed warranty fraud by charging me on multiple occasions for repairs that should have been covered under GM/Cadillac 2025 Transmission Recall & Special Extended Warranties. The transmission has continued to deteriorate. I took the vehicle in on July 1, 2026 for recall service and was told it needed a valve body replacement. However, they are demanding again that I pay for it and refusing to submit it as a recall repair. They have had my vehicle 15 days and refuse to provide written documentation of actual diagnosis, TAC has not been submitted, they have not provided GM/Cadillac or myself with any written documentation as to why it wouldn’t be covered under warranty. They have not submitted the service history of the last 6 service repairs to GM/Cadillac as requested, nor have they offered me a courtesy vehicle or rental car compensation and virtually have left me stranded for 2 weeks.

Filed May 26, 2026 · Transmission · NC

While driving my 2020 Cadillac CT5 at highway speeds, the vehicle suffered a sudden and dangerous total loss of motive power. The transmission completely failed without warning, creating an immediate, severe safety hazard as I was forced to navigate across multiple active lanes of high-speed highway traffic without acceleration.The vehicle was towed to an authorized Cadillac dealership. The technician's diagnostic inspection confirmed that the internal transmission pump drive gear completely shattered, sending catastrophic metal debris throughout the entire transmission system. The dealership has recommended a total transmission system replacement.This internal pump gear failure is a documented cascade consequence of a manufacturing defect in the Transmission Control Valve Body, which causes severe internal fluid pressure drops. This specific transmission defect is subject to GM Special Coverage Bulletin N242480631 and the federal safety agency Campaign Number 25V148 / GM Recall N242480630. The defective valve body starved the transmission of pressure, directly destroying the pump gear at highway speeds and putting my life in danger.

Filed Mar 3, 2026 · Transmission · 578 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and experienced hard shifts intermittently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound while driving. The check engine warning light and the traction control warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that after taking the transmission apart, the contact became aware that cheaply made transmission parts had disintegrated, and there were metal shavings in the transmission. The contact determined that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, it was an extensive repair. The contact had received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V148000 (Power Train); however, the recall repair only involved the transmission control module monitoring software installation. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the transmission repair was not covered under the recall. The contact stated that the recall remedy was inadequate to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed on the vehicle due to the vehicle having a branded title. The failure mileage was approximately 578.

Filed Jan 12, 2026 · Transmission · IN · crash

While slowing down vehicle felt as if it was put into park momentarily, which cause car to slide on ice. After reading the recall, I am certain that the transmission failed. Car was towed to Ray Skillman cheverolet on south post road in Indianapolis, to which they already ran the vin and agreed to perform the recall. After they realized it was a more serious problem than software, they refused to work on the vehicle. So they worked on it long enough to find out they would have to cover it, then denied that they would do any work. They stated that the title is branded. The BMV has no brands listed on title. The service guy Ryan laughed at me today when I stated that it was dangerous, and told me good luck getting some one to help if I filed a complaint. Regardless they won’t touch the car

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · 65,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2020 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stopped without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the message "Reduced Power" was displayed on the instrument cluster. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. The contact was able to drive the vehicle off the highway and then to the residence. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and saw several warning lights illuminated on the instrument cluster. The contact was able to clear the codes, and then the vehicle was driven to a dealer. The dealer checked and saw that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V148000 (Power Train) and proceeded to reflash the Power Control Module and install the transmission monitoring software. The vehicle was repaired. The contact informed the dealer that the rear wheels had locked up and which indicated transmission damage. The dealer performed the recall repair and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact was advised that the engine was leaking engine oil. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the oil leak failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that there was no assistance that could be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Filed Oct 17, 2025 · Transmission · FL

For no apparent reason my vehicle is shifting itself into Neutral while driving. The car will suddenly completely slow down to a stop and in order to restart the car, I have to put it in park. It doesn't matter what speed or the road condition, it simply comes to a slow stop because it is no longer in driving mode, it has shifted itself into Neutral. The recall has been serviced and after more than 10 days of being in 2 different Cadillac service centers, I am advised they are unable to simulate the issue, thus the issue is not resolved. It is most definitely a safety issue because the vehicle will just stop moving with the flow of traffic. My concern is being rear-ended or having any type of accident since the car abruptly stops without warning.

Filed Aug 17, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · KY

Two separate issues: One is being sold a vehicle with a Certified vehicle at 12K miles with a defective, faulty transmission which is a manufacturer defect from General Motors. 10-speed automatic transmission 10L90 model. Misrepresentation of a product. False advertisement of a product. Failure to disclose. Gross negligence. Unethical & Illegal business practices. Dealer & manufacturer fraud. Second issue: When Valve body was replaced on the vehicle, the service manager of the dealership test drove the vehicle with me in the passenger seat on the highway. The vehicle was still not shifting or accelerating correctly even after the valve body replacement. The vehicle began to shake, jerk and rumble on the test drive. The vehicle drove worse. The service manager and I took the vehicle back to the dealership and he found that two of the wheels, on the passenger side, are now bent. That is how the bent wheels were discovered. Not from inspection. Previous multipoint inspection and diagnosis shows the wheels were not bent before I brought the car into the dealership for mechanical work. I can attest to the fact that my wheels were not bent before service and this obvious shaking of the car was not previously existent. The dealership denies liability for this issue and is now refusing to replace the wheels after I have offered to pay. Dealership service manager told me it was safe to drive the vehicle with two bent wheels and I strongly disagree with that statement and so has my insurance company. It is very questionable as to why the service manager would make such a statement. The dealership told me to call other GM dealerships to have the wheels replaced. They refused to do the work as well. I am seeking the proper resolution in this situation.

Filed Aug 17, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · KY

Major safety Concern Faulty valve body and transmission dealership failed to disclose. Service manager drove vehicle with bent wheels. That is how the bent wheels were discovered. Not from inspection. Wheels evidently bent under dealership possession. 2020 Cadillac CT5 Vehicle financed at 12K Miles with certified pre owned, bumper to bumper, and powertrain warranties in February 2024 showed poor driving, shifting, acceleration and abnormal behaviors such as slow and delayed shifting/acceleration, loud shifting, jerking, and strange noises from the vehicle and low power. There were very suspicious mechanical issues wrong with the car in which the dealership told me that there isn’t anything wrong with the car, with the understanding that if anything was ever wrong with the vehicle it has been fixed. I was ensured and promised that the car does not have anything wrong with it and that it goes through inspection and diagnostics, that the vehicle cannot be sold without being tested, fixed of any problems and brought to standard. I brought this to the attention of the salesman, owner, financial advisor, service advisor, service manager. I requested a full buyback and replacement of my 2020 CT5. My dealership let me know that they still want me to pay for the valve body, battery, ambient air temperature sensor and rear parking brake motor. I had to call Cadillac corporate/General Motors to have the valve body covered & rear bumper covered/replaced. I was brought into the dealership office and was told that the buyback and replacement was denied by General Motors even though my car was showing symptoms of a defective valve body ever since I financed the car. These things were being ignored by the dealership service department. Laggy and rough acceleration as well as shifting. Strange vibrations and noises coming from the car. Slow moving and the shifting was very jerky and abnormal. The shifting was also very loud and took long times to shift 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 gears.

Questions about the 2020 Cadillac CT5 transmission

Does the 2020 Cadillac CT5 have transmission problems?

Owners have filed 16 complaints about the transmission of the 2020 Cadillac CT5, 40% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2020 Cadillac CT5 transmission problems start?

Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.

Was there a recall on the 2020 Cadillac CT5 transmission?

Yes, 1 recall: 25V148000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

Other 2020 Cadillac CT5 problems

Engine 9Electrical 8Body 5Acceleration 2Driver assistance 2Locks 2Steering 2Wheels 2Airbags 1Brakes 1Fuel system 1Suspension 1

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