10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,854 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Cadillac CTS drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Cadillac CTS Owner Comments

problem #11

Jan 182019

CTS

  • 81,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased my vehicle in May 2016. In November 2016 I went to drive the vehicle but it would not go into gear. It was towed to lindsay Cadillac. I was told the draft shaft needed to be replaced. On January 18, 2019 after being parked for approximately 15 minutes upon starting and putting it into gear I heard a clicking noise. It was towed to capitol Cadillac where again I was told there was a problem with the drive shaft. I was further told that the bolts were sheared off. This is no coincidence that I had the same issue two years later and $841 later. I am concerned that this could happen again. How do bolts get sheared off. I was told that the dealership could have used used the wrong size bolts or the parts could have been defective. In any event I am without fault and have a genuine concern that this could happen again. Could it happen while I am driving?

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #10

Apr 032017

CTS

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be shifted into reverse and had difficulty stopping. The vehicle was taken to capitol Cadillac where it was diagnosed that the transmission was defective due to a leak and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the remedy would be at his expense. The contact stated that he was never notified by the dealer of any transmission issues, even though the manual stated that they were supposed to check. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

- Riverdale, MD, USA

problem #9

Jul 312016

CTS

  • 71,000 miles
Solenoid that communicates with the transmission and the computer. (this was causing the the stability trac to kick on and sometimes shut the car off while driving or sitting still turning) they also discovered that the entire rear differential had to be replace. This is a 2013 Cts coupe 69000 miles when purchased. I contacted GM corporate office for assistance. (P0101, P0100, U0101, lost of communication to tcm.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #8

Sep 072015

CTS

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car hesatates like it wants to cut off popping in the front end trottle body stable link the motor mount was broke they just fixed it. Cant beleive a 2013 needs these things already have been to cad 5 times and they claim they cant find the problem. Im very disappointed in this

- Holly Springs, MS, USA

problem #7

Dec 302014

CTS 6-cyl

  • 27,000 miles
At 27K miles our 2013 Cts premium model developed a unique natural characteristic, the front wheels bind when turning. This natural characteristic is labeled as (stick/ slip) when making a right hand turn out onto a busy road I was almost broadsided by an oncoming dump truck and car. I pulled out onto the road and the car began to (stick and slip) hindering its forward movement. Had the left lane not been open for the oncoming traffic to swerve around me, I probably would not be writing this. The certified service tech at the dealership said the front wheels were binding. GM engineers said, " it is the natural characteristics of the car. The car is performing to GM standards. I was handed a NHTSA id #10043010 bulletin which specifically stated which cars and what suspension and tires could experience this. It also states this stick and slip condition would be noticed when the car steering is at full lock. No one makes a turn onto a road at full lock. My suspension is a FE5 with Goodyear Eagle rs tires. This suspension and tire combo is not part of this bulletin. If this is the natural characteristics of the car then why did it appear around 27K?" I believe this condition is very dangerous in spite of what GM claims. We are afraid to drive the car but have no choice because we can't afford to take a loss and purchase another model.

- Woodstown, NJ, USA

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problem #6

Aug 262014

CTS 6-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
My 2013 Cts has had a number of prior issues but at this time, I started the car, got into traffic and the vehicle just stopped running. It everything quit. I had no power to steering, brakes, lights. I coasted partway into a parking space I=on the side of the road but did not have enough momentum to fully pull into the space as I was headed up a slight incline. I was stuck with my rear end in traffic and no ability to move. I turned off the car and restarted and it started up. This is not the first issue as about half dozen times the car has refused to engage when I have turned the key. Nothing happens. No battery sound, nothing. I have called onstar several times to get confirmation of issues and they have not been able to detect an issue. I feel my life is at risk as well as others of the public and Cadillac customer service has just told me since there is no proof this happens and they cannot reconstruct it happening they cannot buy back the car. Already the motor fan had to be replaced, it has rolled back 4-5 feet while in drive it has refused to move when in drive, I put it back in neutral, back to drive and the transmission gave a huge clunk and it drove forward. The vehicle locked me in. I could not pull up the locks, could not open with the clicker, would not open with the window down and pulling on the exterior handle. I had to climb out the passenger side door. The car was giving off a raw gas smell when idling in the am. This may have been fixed as it has not done it lately. They must think I have nothing better to do than make up complaints about their product.

- Brattleboro, VT, USA

problem #5

Sep 302013

CTS

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Cts. The contact was concerned of the vehicle being unable to change gears and the potential of the vehicle stalling intermittently. The manufacturer was unable to confirm if the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V394000 (electrical system: Ignition). The dealer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #4

Aug 092013

CTS 6-cyl

  • miles
On 8/9/13 during a lane change on the highway under acceleration the car downshifted and the RPM went high and the car had no power and seemed to just coast. I let off the gas to let the engine rpms come back down and I checked the automatic shifter to make sure it was still in drive (and it was). When the engine rpms came down the power also came back to the wheels. I have experienced a random shudder in the car under light throttle when the automatic transmission is shifting (such as in traffic) both prior to and after this event. The dealer could not duplicate the problem during a test drive. On 5/3/14 I was backing up in a driveway upon starting the car and there were no power brakes. I pressed the brake pedal to the floor and did manage to stop the car. Once I lifted off of the brake pedal the power brakes seemed to work. This is another randomly occurring problem with this car. Upon driving the car immediately upon startup the power brakes do not seem to work for 30 seconds to a minute. I have had this problem randomly before this date (I noticed it before last winter) but it seems to be getting worse. Hopefully the dealer can duplicate this problem. On 5/6/14 I was driving on a side street and lost all engine power, power steering and power brakes. The dealer told me the engine seized up. The car had approx. 14,400 miles on it at the time of the 5/6/14 incident. The car is at the dealership now for repair. Updated 12/8/2014

- East Haven, CT, USA

problem #3

Jun 202013

CTS

  • 400 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but the technician could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufactured was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 400.

- Marcellus, NY, USA

problem #2

Feb 262013

CTS

  • 8,346 miles
Unintended acceleration; vehicle accelerated backing out of driveway after placed in reverse without stepping on accelerator; brakes would not stop vehicle; vehicle collided into neighbor's truck which was parked across the street. The driver and passenger sustained neck and back injuries.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #1

Jan 052013

CTS 6-cyl

  • 150 miles
Extreme lose steering, way to lose cant feel the road, also the transmission is not shifting right it has a delay then shifts very hard. The car is very hard to drive.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

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