10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,778 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 ATS engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Cadillac ATS Owner Comments

problem #9

Jul 142020

ATS 4-cyl

  • 103,900 miles

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

When I was driving on the highway my car started to move like it was going to quit on me, I get my car serviced frequently and have replaced the sparkplugs and coil, changed all the gaskets, and I almost got into an accident because the stabilititrack light came on and car did not want to work as it should. This is the second time this has happened.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #8

Jan 012020

ATS

  • 70,000 miles
Car won't drive past 40mph without serious shaking and vibrations. Have had the car towed multiple times and had multiple things fixed with the vehicle but still have major can't drive the car past 40mph. Last estimate dealer said it was the transmission. 4-5K to repair. Cadillac told me it was the coil rods which they replaced. Brought it back and I was told it was a pipe that was cracked going to the engine. Still have same problem. Had the tires and alignment checked. They said it was transmission. Brought to another place they thought it might be the engine. Issue are on the highway with speeds over 40mph.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #7

Sep 182014

ATS

  • 6,536 miles
Transmission issues. Rattling under the chassis that sounds like someone grabs the drive shaft and shakes it when the clutch is pushed at slow speeds ie moving up at a stop sign, in traffic etc. Defective dual mass flywheel was found after the service department told me my claims were up to factory standards. After taking apart the transmission (at less that 10K miles) gears 1-4 were found to be defective as well. The vehicle still has shifting issues and a loud rattle. I road tested a 2015 manual Ats and it drove smooth with no rattles. I was told the 2015 would drive the same once it hit 10K miles like mine which is a ridiculous statement. Vehicle has also shut off while in traffic, and upon restarting the vehicle I no longer had an power steering. I do not feel safe in this vehicle for myself or my children. There are many reports of issues with the 2013-2014 manual Ats and records of GM buy backs. The service manager agrees there is an issue with the vehicle and recommended I call GM to initiate a buy back. But the service department insists this is factory standard and refuses to address the issues.

- Winchester, CA, USA

problem #6

May 182013

ATS

  • 4,000 miles

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

I bought a 2013 Cadillac Ats in early 2013. In first month, it needed 3 battery jumps. It also has a problem with moving from drive into park. This is under recall as is a seatbelt issue I believe. I have had 2 accidents. 1 on a very busy crawling road Wisconsin ave, DC on a busy sat afternoon in bumper to bumper traffic when I started to accelerate and the force of my movement caused the truck in front of me to crash into another vehicle. Weird, but confusing. I had a similar episode this past week leaving my home. I was stopped in the street behind my son's truck. He started to move and I plowed into him causing massive damage to the Cadillac and significant damage to his truck as well, a very late model Chevy. I was not on the phone or the brake or changing the radio or in any way distracted during these episodes. There is something wrong with the car. It has 8000 miles on it in about 18 months.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #5

Jan 102014

ATS 6-cyl

  • 6,000 miles
The collision avoidance system activated while at freeway speed, however there were no cars or obstructions ahead of my car. The brakes were automatically applied, the collision warning appeared on the hud, and the car rapidly decelerated. Had there been a vehicle behind me, there would certainly have been a serious collision. I had just passed a semi-truck and thought maybe a reflection from the truck may have activated the system, but I had completed the passing maneuver before the car braking activated. Took the car to the dealer on 4/4 but they reported no problems with the system. This seems a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #4

Apr 012014

ATS

  • 15,500 miles
On February 22nd and 27th 2014, while traveling at 75mph the adaptive cruise control slammed the brakes on then released. I thought the system had miss-read the shadow of an overpass as a vehicle in front of me because that was the only thing in sight when the brakes locked, there were no vehicles present. Roads were dry. It was reported to Cadillac via their 800 number and then brought to the dealership 4 March 2014, for analysis. The dealer implemented an update to the active safety control module. Cadillac stated they would send an E-mail to my dealer about the problem, but dealer stated they never received the E-mail. No further problem noted until 1 April 2014, four weeks later, during a trip the same action happened twice within a mile of travel. Brakes were abruptly applied, red screen on dash with crash immanent. Again at 70mph and no bridges or other vehicles in path. The road condition was wet. This is a large safety concern for me if the breaks should lock at 70+ mph and not release and I have traffic behind me.

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

problem #3

Nov 242013

ATS 4-cyl

  • 7,500 miles

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

I was pulling in to a parking spot behind a car at a very low speed when I pressed the brakes for the car to stop, instead it accelerated and smashed in to a car in front of me. I tried pressing the brakes harder in order to avoid the impact and the car did not respond.

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #2

Jul 132011

ATS

  • 500 miles
The brake and gas pedal are so close together that when braking in heavy traffic it is possible to depress the gas pedal while braking resulting in an engine surge condition. This only happens in bumper to bumper traffic or when stopping at a traffic light.

- Central Islip, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 042013

ATS 4-cyl

  • 70 miles
While driving my manual transmission cad Ats it stalls without warning or reason. It stalls mostly when in neutral, like when sitting at a red light, or pulling into a parking place. It also stalls when in first or second gear, like when turning a corner. I am not pulling the clutch out too soon and hence stalling the car myself, it does it all by itself! the car gives no warning shake or noise, it simply is off, often without my knowing it is off. This has happened to my brand new Ats since the second day of having it, and has ever since, approximately 7 weeks now. It occurs with the gas tank full, almost empty, and in between. It occurs on flat streets, and maybe at an incline. It occurs when cold in the morning, and after hours of driving. It occurs day and night, with and without passengers. The dealer has had the car in twice to investigate, with no luck. This is ridiculous!!

- Lomita, CA, USA

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