Are Cadillacs reliable?

Newer Cadillacs (ATS, CT4, CT5, CT6, CTS, ELR, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Lyriq, Optiq, SRX, XT4, XT5, XT6, and XTS) do not share one complaint pattern. 6 of the 12 models average fewer owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, and XT4 average more owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. XT6 is about the same in the newer years as in the older ones. ELR, Lyriq, and Optiq do not cover enough model years for that comparison.

Models

15

Model years

2012–2026

Data as of 2026-10-16.

Record by model

2014 Cadillac ELR
ELR 2014–2017
Total recalls 2
Total complaints 21
Fewest complaints 2016, 0 per year · 2014, 2 per year
Most complaints 2014, 2 per year
Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0
2020 Cadillac CT4
CT4 2020–2026
Total recalls 5
Total complaints 33
Fewest complaints 2021, 0 per year · 2020, 0 per year · 2023, 1 per year
Most complaints 2024, 2 per year
Photo: Kontinent Media, CC BY 2.0
2016 Cadillac CT6
CT6 2016–2020
Total recalls 8
Total complaints 77
Fewest complaints 2016, 1 per year · 2019, 1 per year · 2018, 1 per year
Most complaints 2017, 3 per year
Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0
2020 Cadillac CT5
CT5 2020–2026
Total recalls 6
Total complaints 100
Fewest complaints 2024, 1 per year · 2021, 1 per year · 2022, 2 per year
Most complaints 2023, 3 per year
Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
2019 Cadillac XT4
XT4 2019–2025
Total recalls 8
Total complaints 106
Fewest complaints 2022, 0 per year · 2021, 1 per year · 2019, 1 per year
Most complaints 2024, 10 per year
Photo: User 3204, CC BY-SA 4.0
2013 Cadillac XTS
XTS 2013–2019
Total recalls 10
Total complaints 218
Fewest complaints 2019, 1 per year · 2015, 1 per year · 2016, 2 per year
Most complaints 2013, 6 per year
Photo: Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0
2020 Cadillac XT6
XT6 2020–2025
Total recalls 12
Total complaints 105
Fewest complaints 2021, 2 per year · 2022, 3 per year · 2023, 4 per year
Most complaints 2020, 5 per year
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
2012 Cadillac CTS
CTS 2012–2019
Total recalls 11
Total complaints 410
Fewest complaints 2018, 1 per year · 2019, 1 per year · 2016, 2 per year
Most complaints 2013, 11 per year
Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0
2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV
Escalade ESV 2017–2026
Total recalls 21
Total complaints 321
Fewest complaints 2018, 0 per year · 2019, 1 per year · 2020, 2 per year
Most complaints 2023, 14 per year
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
2017 Cadillac XT5
XT5 2017–2026
Total recalls 15
Total complaints 291
Fewest complaints 2021, 0 per year · 2022, 2 per year · 2020, 2 per year
Most complaints 2017, 18 per year
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
2013 Cadillac ATS
ATS 2013–2019
Total recalls 11
Total complaints 383
Fewest complaints 2019, 0 per year · 2018, 1 per year · 2015, 1 per year
Most complaints 2013, 20 per year
Photo: IFCAR, Public domain
2012 Cadillac Escalade
Escalade 2012–2026
Total recalls 34
Total complaints 798
Fewest complaints 2020, 1 per year · 2013, 1 per year · 2019, 1 per year
Most complaints 2023, 33 per year
Photo: Baron Maddock, CC BY 4.0
2012 Cadillac SRX
SRX 2012–2016
Total recalls 8
Total complaints 1,809
Fewest complaints 2016, 6 per year · 2015, 6 per year · 2014, 6 per year
Most complaints 2013, 15 per year
Photo: Navigator84, CC BY-SA 3.0
2023 Cadillac Lyriq
Lyriq 2023–2026
Total recalls 12
Total complaints 156
Fewest complaints 2023, 8 per year · 2024, 38 per year
Most complaints 2024, 38 per year
Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0
2025 Cadillac Optiq
Optiq 2025–2026
Total recalls 2
Total complaints 12
Fewest complaints 2026, 0 per year (too early to compare)
Most complaints —
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0

The table gives each model up to three years with the fewest complaints per year, and the year with the most, each counted from complaints filed in that year’s first 3 years on the road. A model year younger than 3 years is too early to compare, so it is left off that list. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market cars on this page. A model with more cars on the road produces more filings. How we count.

Complaints per year

6'1211'135'142'152'165'171'181'192'201'212'224'236'24'25'26

Each bar is the median of the models with complaints on file for that year, not weighted by how many of those cars were sold. A year with no complaint file is left blank.

Recalls by model year

8'1222'1320'1423'1516'1610'179'1810'1928'2032'2119'2223'2316'2410'2510'26

A campaign that covers more than one model is counted on each.

What owners file about

Exterior lighting
1,080
Engine
502
Powertrain
408
Unknown or other
312
Electrical system
274
Suspension
152
Service brakes
130
Steering
104

Frequently asked questions

Are Cadillacs reliable?

Newer Cadillacs (ATS, CT4, CT5, CT6, CTS, ELR, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Lyriq, Optiq, SRX, XT4, XT5, XT6, and XTS) do not share one complaint pattern. 6 of the 12 models average fewer owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, and XT4 average more owner complaints per year in the newer years than in the older years. XT6 is about the same in the newer years as in the older ones. ELR, Lyriq, and Optiq do not cover enough model years for that comparison.