Reliable Auto DB

2021 Cadillac CT4 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Cadillac CT4 holds 7 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most CT4 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Automatic transmission, Lighting control module, software, and Curtain.

2020 Cadillac CT4
Photo by Kontinent Media, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
Complaints

7

Per year

0

Recalls

4

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (3 of 7), then Fuel and propulsion system (2) and Electrical system (1).

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 CT4 has 8 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2022 has 6 complaints, 2 per year. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Cadillac CT4. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2025-03-06 · NHTSA campaign 25V148000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
Remedy Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.
Recall exterior lighting, lighting control module, software 2022-12-08 · NHTSA campaign 22V903000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
Recall air bags, side and window, curtain 2021-08-05 · NHTSA campaign 21V611000
Summary General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.
Remedy Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.
Recall air bags, SRS malfunction warning light 2021-06-10 · NHTSA campaign 21V421000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Remedy The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.

Complaints by component (7 total)

Engine
3
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Electrical system
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Powertrain
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
Show 1 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12022220242202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "While driving at highway speeds on the freeway in my 2021 Cadillac CT4-V, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion. Without warning, the transmission dropped out of gear as if it were in…"
    Speed control, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-06-29
  • "Check engine light for P1467 on a 2021 CT4 V. This is for a "purge pump underspeed" issue. The issue is known on CT4 Cadillacs and has an active recall out: N242441120 Evaporative Emissions Purge Pump. This recall is…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-31
  • "There is a known issue with hesitation and hard shifting on my vehicle. According to the gm bulletin that was released I believe in may of 25 my year, make and model has a known issue where the transmission control…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-08-27
  • "valve body failed and was supposedly repaired. I had the car 1 day and valve body failed again. My car has been in the shop since November 4, 2024 with no estimated time of repair because no parts are available. I was…"
    Engine · filed 2025-04-16
  • "Engine and transmission for the second time in 90 days apart. Supposedly be a new part. I don’t think so."
    Suspension, Engine · filed 2024-04-30

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Cadillac CT4 4 DR AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2021 Cadillac CT4 4 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
CT4 2.7L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 21 31 25 MPG $3200
CT4 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 23 34 27 MPG $2950
CT4 all-wheel drive 2.7L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) All-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $3300
CT4 all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 23 32 26 MPG $3050
CT4 V 2.7L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $3450
CT4 V all-wheel drive 2.7L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) All-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $3450

Specs and fitment

First generation, 2020–present
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L turbo four-cylinder) , 5.3 qt capacity
Tire size 225/45R18 (base), 245/40R19 (V-Series)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 21V611000 covers certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles where the roof-rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which can cause improper deployment in a crash; dealers inspect and reinstall both roof-rail air bags as needed. Recall 25V148000 covers certain 2020-2021 CT4 vehicles (with CT5, CT6, and Camaro) equipped with a 10-speed transmission that may become damaged internally and lock the wheels; dealers install transmission control module monitoring software. Recall 20V588000 covers certain 2020 CT4 vehicles (with Corvette, CT5, XT4, Trailblazer, and Encore GX) where electronic brake-boost sensor contamination can interrupt communication and lose brake-boost assist; dealers replace the electronic brake boost module. Recall 22V903000 covers certain 2020-2023 CT4 vehicles (with CT5, Envision, Escalade, and other GM models) whose daytime running lights may not deactivate when the headlights are on; body control module software is updated by a dealer or OTA.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Cadillac CT4 Next year 2022 Cadillac CT4 See every Cadillac CT4 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Cadillac CT4 reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2021 Cadillac CT4 holds 7 complaints after 6 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most CT4 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Automatic transmission, Lighting control module, software, and Curtain.

What are common problems with a 2021 Cadillac CT4?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (3 of 7), then Fuel and propulsion system (2) and Electrical system (1).

Is the 2021 Cadillac CT4 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 CT4 has 8 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2022 has 6 complaints, 2 per year. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Cadillac CT4 been recalled?

The 2021 Cadillac CT4 has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Cadillac CT4?

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2021 Cadillac CT4 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Cadillac CT4 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Cadillac CT4 is 24.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Cadillac CT4 take?

0W-20 for the 2.0L turbo four-cylinder; capacity about 5.3 qt including filter—confirm in the owner’s manual.

Does the Cadillac CT4 share air bag recalls with the CT5?

Yes—recall 21V611000 covers certain 2020-2022 CT4 and CT5 vehicles for incorrectly installed roof-rail side-curtain air bags.