Valentine day a car side swiped me on the 91 freeway my car went out of control but I was able to get control of the vehicle driver side got banged up from the back bumper all the way to the driver side front fender.
The worst 2013 Cadillac SRX 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.
- Lights217
- Electrical52
- Transmission31
- Acceleration25
- Visibility18
- Engine17
- Suspension16
- Brakes13
- Driver assistance10
- Body9
- Fuel system9
- Seats9
- Steering8
- Airbags5
- Wheels4
- Seat belts3
- Tires2
- Locks1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2013 Cadillac SRX
Headlights 215Jerking 10Hesitation 9ABS 6Loss of power 6Stalling 6No deployment 5
Recalls 5
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
- Risk
- A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑333‑4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.
Recall number 21V473000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
- Risk
- Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or Saab customer service at 1‑800‑955‑9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.
Recall number 14V571000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured May 29, 2012, through June 26, 2013, and equipped with 3.6L engines. In the affected vehicles, in certain driving situations, there may be a three to four second lag in acceleration due to the transmission control module (TCM) programming.
- Risk
- A three to four second lag in acceleration may increase the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. General Motors' number for this recall is 14132.
Recall number 14V212000 · Recall details
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured January 31, 2012, through March 18, 2013, and equipped with 18 inch wheels. On the affected vehicles, the wheel lug nuts may loosen.
- Risk
- If the lug nuts loosen, they may fall off or cause the wheel studs to fracture. Either condition would allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the wheel nuts by performing a tire rotation, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1‑800‑521‑7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13116.
Recall number 13V202000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.
- Risk
- If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1‑866‑982‑2339. Buick owners may call 1‑866‑694‑6546.
Recall number 13V097000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2013 Cadillac SRX
Defect investigations
Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation
On November 06, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE20-019) to assess the remedy and scope of General Motors (GM) recall 14V‑571. ODI had received a total of 9 complaints with allegations of rear toe links separating while the vehicle was in motion. There were 4 complainants indicating that the remedy for recall 14V‑571 had been performed on their vehicle. The other 5 complaints were outside the original recall scope but exhibited the same failure mode as addressed by recall 14V‑571 and reported uncontrolled swaying while driving.ODI's review focused on all 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles that experienced a rear toe link failure while the vehicle was in motion under various driving conditions. The failures were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 14V‑571. The remedy for recall 14V‑571 was to inspect the rear toe link adjusters and replace them if necessary as well as tighten both jam nuts to a manufacturer specified torque. The remedy can be reversed when the vehicle gets a rear alignment adjustment and the jam nuts are not properly re-torqued to the manufacturer's specification. ODI's data review confirmed a high toe link failure rate in vehicles that either had and had not received the remedy associated with recall 14V‑571. On June 24, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling all 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the rear toe link adjuster while driving. The remedy replaces adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links. The recall (21V‑473) includes vehicles that were remedied under 14V‑571. In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. the federal safety agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found in a separate document attached to this closing resume.
PE20019
Technical service bulletins for the 2013 Cadillac SRX 2,008
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
- Provide info on that parts restriction ending for the rear diff clutch control 19435910
- Unknown or other
- This PI communicates a procedure to clean oil leaking from the rain sensor.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
2013 Cadillac SRX 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 SRX SUV AWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Cadillac SRX SUV FWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
2013 Cadillac SRX 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 | FWD | 17 | 24 | 19 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | AWD | 16 | 23 | 18 |
What 2013 Cadillac SRX owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The exterior lighting does not light up as warranted. It is impossible to see at night due to the lack of lighting from the headlights. The problem was confirmed with the dealership, however I was told to replace the bulbs which I had done. Replacing the bulbs did not fix the issue so I went back to the dealership and told them again. I was told I would have to replace the entire headlight unit in order for the exterior lights to work properly and that I would have to pay for it. It is extremely dangerous to myself and others if I’m driving at nite and I cannot see anything. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure of the headlights.
I was driving and had to hard brake as to not hit a young driver who wasn't paying attention to his driving. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. There were no warning lights on. I got the car checked out by our local mechanic AND a certified Cadillac dealer. We had a new master cylinder and O ring installed in October. Our mechanic found there is a special bulletin on 18 different vehicles with the same issue. And my Cadillac is on that list. I don't understand how this problem CAN'T be a total recall and just a special bulletin. My safety was totally at risk as the brake system was not working properly. Now with that being the Chevy/Cadillac dealership found that there is a problem with the ABS module. Which can not be found anywhere but a third party vendor. After paying almost $400 for the master cylinder and O ring the problem seemed to be fixed but now we have to pay ABS module. I know as the federal safety agency can't refund any monies but GM should be held accountable for this issue and should pay for any repairs and parts to fix this dangerous issue. I have kept my receipts so that I can be reimbursed. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway, limiting the driver’s vision while driving. The contact stated that the passenger’s side headlight was inoperable, and the driver’s side headlight was very dim. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to use the high-beam headlights while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a Class Action Lawsuit on similar vehicles for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
My father gave me his 2013 Cadillac SRX and I have noticed the headlights have dimmed significantly over the past few months. I replaced the lamps, but the same issue still exists. I spoke with my local Cadillac dealership and they told me of the known issue with the headlights. I did some research and see there was a class action lawsuit against Cadillac, but it does not seem to apply to vehicles registered in Wisconsin. I will need to correct this problem as driving at night has now become very difficult. If you have history of this issue with other drivers, any insight or direction would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle Headlamps fail to project adequate light to see the road. Several hundred dollars have been invested in attempting to fix this, resulting in zero noticeable help.
While driving steering becomes unresponsive for a few seconds then returns to normal
Left front headlight is so dim I cannot drive my car in the dark. I have spent money replacing the bulbs, cleaning the lenses through professional shop(s) and still goes dim and unsafe. After researching this I see this is a ongoing problem with this vehicle. I am now having to spend over $1,000 to replace the entire headlight assembly and I don't even know how long that will last. From research from another person it looks like the assembly where the light get hot is chrome sprayed plastic. Cheap parts causing me so much money that should be reliable in my vehicle. I see GM reimbursement owners in Fl and CA for this issue for a few years. this is terrible as I am a working adult required to commute in the dark. Iw ant to be reimbursed for this unsafe headlight assembly and know the other is failing too.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that there were web-like cracks that had developed inside the infotainment screen, causing difficulty in accessing various electrical functions needed to safely operate the vehicle. Due to the failure, the A/C unit, defroster, backup camera, and other functions were inaccessible on the screen. The contact stated that the repair was initially serviced under warranty; however, the failure returned, and the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The contact was recently provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact was provided the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
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Compare the 2013 Cadillac SRX
Other model years
Questions about the 2013 Cadillac SRX
Is the 2013 Cadillac SRX reliable?
Owners have filed 393 complaints about the 2013 Cadillac SRX, 1.8 times a typical SRX model year.
What is the 2013 Cadillac SRX year score?
The 2013 Cadillac SRX scores 50 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Cadillac SRX: 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 SRX?
Lights, with 217 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles. Next is electrical (52).
How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac SRX have?
5 recalls, covering suspension, power train and wheels.
Is the 2013 Cadillac SRX safe in a crash?
In government crash tests the 2013 Cadillac SRX scored 5 out of 5 stars overall, depending on body style and drivetrain (2 versions tested).
What year does the Cadillac SRX have the most lights problems?
The Cadillac SRX model years with the most lights complaints are 2015 (302 complaints), 2014 (266 complaints) and 2012 (234 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Cadillac SRX get?
Official estimates for the 2013 Cadillac SRX range from 18 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.6L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.
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