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2013 Cadillac CTS: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2013 Cadillac CTS — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.

Owners filed 72 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 61% of 2013 sedans. Electrical System leads the reports (28%). 2 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2013 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

72

Reports to NHTSA, 2013

Safety recalls

2

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

19

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Fewer complaints than 61% of 2013 sedans

The bar is this car's percentile among 2013 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (28% of 72 reports), followed by air bags (14%).

Electrical System28% · 20 reports
Air Bags14% · 10 reports
Power Train14% · 10 reports
Steering14% · 10 reports
Suspension7% · 5 reports
Exterior Lighting6% · 4 reports
Unknown Or Other6% · 4 reports
Engine3% · 2 reports

+ 6 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 72 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 10762003, ODI 10643834, ODI 11339767, ODI 11205913, ODI 11181763.

Recalls(2)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Electrical SystemFeb 2014 · 14V394000Details +

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.

Electrical SystemJan 2014 · 14V614000Details +

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). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2013 Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD NHTSA source

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2013 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD NHTSA source

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2013 Cadillac CTS SW RWD NHTSA source

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2013 Cadillac CTS SW AWD NHTSA source

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2013 Cadillac CTS 2 DR RWD NHTSA source

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Not rated
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Not rated
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Not rated
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2013 Cadillac CTS 2 DR AWD NHTSA source

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Not rated
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Not rated
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Not rated
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Not rated

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
CTS3.0L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive182721
CTS3.6L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive182621
CTS3.0L 6-cylRear-Wheel Drive162619
CTS6.2L 8-cylRear-Wheel Drive141916
CTS6.2L 8-cylRear-Wheel Drive121814

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2013 Cadillac CTS: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2013 Cadillac CTS?

Owners filed 72 NHTSA complaints about the 2013 Cadillac CTS — fewer complaints than 61% of comparable 2013 sedans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2013 Cadillac CTS?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (28% of complaints) and air bags (14%).

How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have?

2 recalls have been issued that affect the 2013 Cadillac CTS, covering components such as electrical system. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2013 Cadillac CTS get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Cadillac CTS between 14 and 21 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.