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2016 Cadillac SRX problems

The most common problem on the 2016 Cadillac SRX is lights, typically around 63,000 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical SRX model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
77/100
Owner complaints
169
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
1,156
Worst area
Lights
Crash rating
5/5
Fuel economy
18-19mpg
Typical repair
$2,000

The worst 2016 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.

  • Lights
    98
  • Suspension
    16
  • Electrical
    15
  • Airbags
    8
  • Brakes
    7
  • Visibility
    7
  • Driver assistance
    5
  • Transmission
    5
  • Engine
    4
  • Body
    3
  • Seat belts
    3
  • Steering
    3
  • Tires
    3
  • Wheels
    3
  • Acceleration
    2
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Seats
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Cadillac SRX

Headlights 98

Recalls 2

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported May 21, 2026 · 5,014 vehicles affected
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

Suspension: rearReported June 24, 2021 · 380,498 vehicles affected
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

See all 2 recalls for the 2016 Cadillac SRX

Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Cadillac SRX 1,156

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 1,156 bulletins for the 2016 Cadillac SRX

2016 Cadillac SRX crash test ratings

Government 5-star crash tests. Higher is safer. Each row is a body style and drivetrain that was tested.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
Cadillac SRX SUV AWD5454
Cadillac SRX SUV FWD5454

2016 Cadillac SRX fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.6L 6‑cylFWD172419
3.6L 6‑cylAWD162318

What 2016 Cadillac SRX owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 20, 2026 · Airbags, Brakes · 138,199 miles · IN

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. While starting the vehicle, the air bag and brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the brakes, transmission fluid, TPMS sensor, radiator fluid, and front-driver’s air bag needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V329000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was 138,199.

Filed Jun 5, 2026 · Lights · IL

low beam head lights are very dim, to dim to see while driving. Apparently this is a problem that Cadillac and/or GM knows about but isn't doing anything to resolve. Heat from the bulbs basically melt the chrome off of the reflector plate so light does not shine out on the road. This could be a very big hazzard while driving, deer, children etc can not be seen with the lights as they are. To replace are ridiculosly expensive to the customer but doesnt seem like it would be for the dealer!! Complete neglect on the manufacturs end.

Filed May 14, 2026 · Body · AZ

Vehicle Body Exterior Paint Coating Peeling I am reporting widespread paint delamination/clear coat failure on my 2016 Cadillac SRX. The paint began peeling and flaking across multiple panels including the hood, roof, and additional body panels. The vehicle has been well maintained and has never been in an accident. A Cadillac dealership inspected the vehicle in February 2026, photographed the damage, and confirmed paint delamination affecting multiple panels. A case was opened with Cadillac/General Motors Customer Assistance and escalated to the Executive Office. Despite dealership confirmation and escalation to a District Manager, General Motors declined to provide meaningful repair assistance and only offered approximately $350 toward spot repair, which does not address the widespread failure. This appears to be a paint adhesion/clear coat defect affecting the vehicle’s exterior finish. I am filing this complaint to document the defect and add to any existing records regarding GM paint delamination issues. Vehicle: 2016 Cadillac SRX Issue first noticed: 2025 Dealership inspection: February 2026 GM Case Number: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · Lights · 124,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night at various speeds, the low beam headlights were very dim, causing the contact to drive using the high beam headlights to properly see the roadway. The contact replaced the halogen headlight bulbs with LED bulbs; however, the low beam headlights were still dim while driving at night. The contact became aware that the reflective surface on the headlights was burned out. The contact stated that the halogen bulbs appeared to be degrading, and there were bubbles on the bulbs. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Lights · 94,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the fog covering the headlights could not be removed and that the vehicle was not covered under recall. The dealer informed the contact that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

Filed Nov 21, 2025 · Brakes · LA

BRAKE, ABS, Wrench, check engine lights all began intermittently coming on. Before we could bring it into the dealer, it went into "limp mode" while at a very dangerous time and would not move forward while in "Drive". Had to abandon the car in a roadside parking lot. Finally able to get it to the dealer and after their inspection we were told it was NOT repairable. The EBCM module (part of the brake system) was defective and NO parts existed. When we pressed the dealer, no other options or resolutions were offered. Even if a part could be found at eBay, re-manufacturers, or junk yards, they would not touch it. I have had not luck finding a part, re-manufacturer, or repair shop that could be of any help. Right now it is a worthless piece of junk. All correspondence with the dealer has been verbal to this point.

Filed Nov 5, 2025 · Steering, Suspension · AR

The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension). The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel began shaking violently and the vehicle fishtailed and failed to steer as intended. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was then taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Oct 31, 2025 · Lights · SC

I purchased the car June 2025 ,The headlights go so dim that you can not see at night, I contacted Cadillac and they are only willing to give me $200. towards the $2000. repair it would cost even though the headlights used on the 2016 Cadillac SRX is the same ones that were recalled on the 2015. They said they have no more programs to help me fix this issues.

Filed Sep 25, 2025 · Lights · GA

My lights are very dim as if they aren’t on.

Filed Jul 27, 2025 · Lights · FL

Subject: Complaint Regarding Unsafe Headlight Design – 2016 Cadillac SRX To whom it may concern, We own a 2016 Cadillac SRX and are extremely concerned about the safety of the vehicle’s headlights. The low beams are so dim that we are unable to drive safely at night. When we resort to using the high beams, oncoming drivers frequently flash their lights at us, indicating that we are blinding them. Bottom line, car is unusable at night !!! A few years ago, I brought this issue to the attention of our local Cadillac service department. Unfortunately, I was told there was nothing they could do, despite acknowledging that the headlight design is a known problem. They quoted us over $1,600 for a repair, without offering any goodwill assistance or cost reduction — even though this is clearly a design flaw, not a wear-and-tear issue. This does not seem fair, especially considering our vehicle has only 71,749 miles on it — in todays standards, essentially like new for a luxury vehicle. We are disappointed that Cadillac has not taken responsibility for a safety issue that affects many drivers. We ask that Cadillac stand behind its product and work with us to resolve this issue in a reasonable and customer-friendly way. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] /// [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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Questions about the 2016 Cadillac SRX

Is the 2016 Cadillac SRX reliable?

Owners have filed 169 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac SRX, fewer than a typical SRX model year.

What is the 2016 Cadillac SRX year score?

The 2016 Cadillac SRX scores 77 out of 100 (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 2016 Cadillac SRX?

Lights, with 98 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles. Next is suspension (16).

How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac SRX have?

2 recalls, covering air bags and suspension.

Is the 2016 Cadillac SRX safe in a crash?

In government crash tests the 2016 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 2016 Cadillac SRX get?

Official estimates for the 2016 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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