Reliable Auto DB

2016 Cadillac SRX reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Cadillac SRX holds 168 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 6 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most SRX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator and Rear.

2012 Cadillac SRX
Photo by Navigator84, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

168

Per year

6

Recalls

2

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Exterior lighting (98 of 168), then Suspension (16) and Electrical system (15). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 8 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2015

The 2015 SRX has 442 complaints, 6 per year. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2015.

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 2016 Cadillac SRX. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2026-05-21 · NHTSA campaign 26V329000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
Remedy Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026.
Recall suspension, rear 2021-06-24 · NHTSA campaign 21V473000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.
Remedy Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.

Complaints by component (168 total)

Exterior lighting
98
Suspension
16
Electrical system
15
Air bags
7
Service brakes
6
Visibility and wipers
6
Powertrain
5
Engine
4
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
Seat belts
3
Steering
3
Structure
3
Tires
3
Wheels
3
Back-over prevention
2
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Speed control
2
Seats
1
Visibility
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

11

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

8

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

62016620176201816201925202043202122202216202313202411202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "low beam head lights are very dim, to dim to see while driving. Apparently this is a problem that Cadillac and/or GM knows about but isn't doing anything to resolve. Heat from the bulbs basically melt the chrome off of…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-06-05
  • "Vehicle Body Exterior Paint Coating Peeling I am reporting widespread paint delamination/clear coat failure on my 2016 Cadillac SRX. The paint began peeling and flaking across multiple panels including the hood, roof,…"
    Structure · filed 2026-05-14
  • "The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night at various speeds, the low beam headlights were very dim, causing the contact to drive using the high beam headlights to properly see…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-04-06
  • "The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the fog…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-03-11
  • "BRAKE, ABS, Wrench, check engine lights all began intermittently coming on. Before we could bring it into the dealer, it went into "limp mode" while at a very dangerous time and would not move forward while in "Drive".…"
    Service brakes · filed 2025-11-21

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Cadillac SRX SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2016 Cadillac SRX SUV FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

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
SRX 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 17 24 19 MPG $3400
SRX all-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 16 23 18 MPG $3600

Specs and fitment

Second generation, 2012–2016
Body styles SUV
Oil dexos1 SAE 5W-30 (0W-30 allowed below −29 °C / −20 °F) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R18, 235/55R20 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 14V-571 covers certain 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles (and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X in the same campaign). The jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause sway or wander at highway speeds and may lead to thread damage and eventual failure, which can cause an abrupt alignment change and loss of control. Remedy: dealers inspect torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts and replace parts if damaged or loose, free of charge. NHTSA safety recall 21V-473 later covers certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles for a rear suspension toe link adjuster that may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link that can separate and cause loss of vehicle control. Remedy: dealers replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable link as described in the campaign. When NHTSA lists multiple nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Cadillac SRX See every Cadillac SRX model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Cadillac SRX reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Cadillac SRX holds 168 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 6 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most SRX years here — under the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Inflator and Rear.

What are common problems with a 2016 Cadillac SRX?

The complaints owners file most often name Exterior lighting (98 of 168), then Suspension (16) and Electrical system (15). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 8 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2016 Cadillac SRX more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 SRX has 442 complaints, 6 per year. The 2016 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2015.

Has the 2016 Cadillac SRX been recalled?

The 2016 Cadillac SRX has 2 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 2016 Cadillac SRX?

Owners have filed 168 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac SRX with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Cadillac SRX get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Cadillac SRX is 18.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a 2014 Cadillac SRX take?

The 2014 US owner's manual calls for dexos1 SAE 5W-30 (about 6.0 qt with filter); SAE 0W-30 may be used in extreme cold below −29 °C.

What generation is the 2015 Cadillac SRX?

Second generation (2012-2016) for the US years this site tracks.

What tire sizes does a Cadillac SRX use?

Common US sizes include 235/65R18 and 235/55R20 depending on trim.