I went to get my car checked at the mechanic because the suspension was making noise. I thought it was the struts which I coudnt change because Cadillac does not make the parts any longer. They found my frame is actually cracked and are charging $3k to fix! They told me to not drive it, imagine how scary it would be if it complete cracks while driving! This is a huge safety concern and upon investigating it looks like I’m not the only one having the same issue, this needs to be recalled
The worst 2013 Cadillac CTS problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical26
- Transmission13
- Airbags11
- Steering10
- Brakes7
- Engine7
- Suspension7
- Driver assistance5
- Lights5
- Seats3
- Acceleration2
- Body2
- Fuel system1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2013 Cadillac CTS
Recalls 2
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
- Risk
- If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), and 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GMs number for this recall is 14515.
Recall number 14V614000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
- Risk
- If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
Recall number 14V394000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2013 Cadillac CTS 1,657
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.
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- Unknown or other
2013 Cadillac CTS 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 CTS 4 DR AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Cadillac CTS SW AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Cadillac CTS SW RWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
2013 Cadillac CTS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | RWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16-18 | 26-27 | 19-21 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
| 6.2L 8‑cyl | RWD | 12-14 | 18-19 | 14-16 |
What 2013 Cadillac CTS owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My 2013 has only 75k miles on it and all the dash lights flash and the car fails every couple of days. It has a brand new battery but the gauges on the dash continue to dance. I’m not sure what the problem is but it’s a huge safety factor in drivability.
driving to work on very busy highway. The engine light and Service Battery charging system came on, then went to battery saver almost instantly. Radio cut off, heat cutt off and the Car cut off in the middle of the highway before I could safely get over. this caused me to fear for my life as the cars behind me barely had time to stop. a hair probably could not have fit between us. I did eventually safely get off the highway, had the car towed to a service center. There was 14 different codes.(low voltage, engine running lean, low voltage and more. battery was checked and was 95 %, Alternator fine. was told it was the ECM. After looking on google some sites say there is a recall for 2013 cts some say there is not. there are multiple complaints on this issue and it is not safe. I called Cadillac gave my vin number and was told there was not a recall. Cadillac/GMC really need to issue a recall before something tragic happens, as it almost was me. Thank God that it wasn't.
I noticed that on the dash a message that service is needed on one of the airbags. I then scheduled appointment to have the problem corrected. I was informed by the dealership’ service department that I need a passenger airbag replacement on the passenger side of the car, and they also informed me that GM no longer manufactures the airbag that I need. I was not given any assistance on how to replace this safety feature in the car, nor was I notified by the manufacturer that airbag was discontinued.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the transmission fluid was leaking, and the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission fluid was significantly low. The transmission was topped off. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven to the residence; however, on arrival the transmission fluid level was abnormally low. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Found a crack along the tab of my subframe along the rear control arm pocket. Searching for solutions and repairs, I found several hundred people who broke the tab while driving on CTSVowners, ctsvforum and various Facebook groups This seems to impact both the base model and V series CTS.
Cracked subframe. The CTS-V is known for this. Many of the guys on the news groups have the same issue. I had mine welded and replaced the lower control arms as a result.
Air bags didn’t come out
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the electronic stability control and an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic cleaned the transmission; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 cadillac cts. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the contact crashed into a deer which caused an air bag deployment message; the air bags were not deployed. The contact stated only an odd smelling powder emitted from the air bag location. The contact sustained bruising in torso, and swelling in eyes due to powder; medical attention was not sought. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to local tow lot where it was diagnosed with being destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was not available.
Compare the 2013 Cadillac CTS
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2013 Cadillac CTS
Is the 2013 Cadillac CTS reliable?
Owners have filed 73 complaints about the 2013 Cadillac CTS, fewer than a typical CTS model year.
What is the 2013 Cadillac CTS year score?
The 2013 Cadillac CTS scores 79 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Cadillac CTS: 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 2013 Cadillac CTS?
Electrical system, with 26 complaints, typically around 17,000 miles. Next is transmission (13).
How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have?
2 recalls, covering electrical system.
Is the 2013 Cadillac CTS safe in a crash?
In government crash tests the 2013 Cadillac CTS scored 5 out of 5 stars overall, depending on body style and drivetrain (4 versions tested).
Was there a recall on the 2013 Cadillac CTS electrical?
Yes, 2 recalls: 14V614000, 14V394000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Cadillac CTS have the most electrical problems?
The Cadillac CTS model years with the most electrical complaints are 2003 (56 complaints), 2006 (43 complaints) and 2007 (41 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Cadillac CTS get?
Official estimates for the 2013 Cadillac CTS range from 14 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.6L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 18 city and 26 highway.
VIN decoder
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