2013 Cadillac CTS recalls and problems

The 2013 Cadillac CTS has 2 safety recalls and 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Cadillac dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
73
Crashes / fires
10 / 0
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2013 Cadillac CTS vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2013 Cadillac CTS recalls

Recall 14V-614: Electrical System

Reported Oct 1, 2014 · 106,307 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.

Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.

Recall 14V-394: Electrical System

Reported Jul 2, 2014 · 554,328 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

2013 Cadillac CTS problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System26
Power Train13
Air Bags11
Steering10
Suspension7
Engine7
Unknown or Other7
Service Brakes6
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)5
Exterior Lighting5
Seats3
Vehicle Speed Control2

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 2
  • Electrical System › Ignition — 1
  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 27,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2013 Cadillac CTS complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Suspension · reported Sep 16, 2026
I went to get my car checked at the mechanic because the suspension was making noise. I thought it was the struts which I coudnt change because Cadillac does not make the parts any longer. They found my frame is actually cracked and are charging $3k to fix! They told me to not drive it, imagine how scary it would be if it complete cracks while driving! This is a huge safety concern and upon investigating it looks like I’m not the only one having the same issue, this needs to be recalled
Electrical System · reported Mar 11, 2025
My 2013 has only 75k miles on it and all the dash lights flash and the car fails every couple of days. It has a brand new battery but the gauges on the dash continue to dance. I’m not sure what the problem is but it’s a huge safety factor in drivability.
Electrical System · reported Feb 28, 2025
driving to work on very busy highway. The engine light and Service Battery charging system came on, then went to battery saver almost instantly. Radio cut off, heat cutt off and the Car cut off in the middle of the highway before I could safely get over. this caused me to fear for my life as the cars behind me barely had time to stop. a hair probably could not have fit between us. I did eventually safely get off the highway, had the car towed to a service center. There was 14 different codes.(low voltage, engine running lean, low voltage and more. battery was checked and was 95 %, Alternator…
Air Bags · reported Dec 29, 2024
I noticed that on the dash a message that service is needed on one of the airbags. I then scheduled appointment to have the problem corrected. I was informed by the dealership’ service department that I need a passenger airbag replacement on the passenger side of the car, and they also informed me that GM no longer manufactures the airbag that I need. I was not given any assistance on how to replace this safety feature in the car, nor was I notified by the manufacturer that airbag was discontinued.
Power Train · at 31,000 miles · reported Apr 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the transmission fluid was leaking, and the vehicle stalled while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission fluid was significantly low. The transmission was topped off. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven to the residence; however, on arrival the transmission fluid level was abnormally low. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

Other Cadillac CTS years

Compare all Cadillac CTS years · All Cadillac models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2013 Cadillac CTS: 14V-614 (electrical system), 14V-394 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Cadillac CTS?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (26 reports), followed by power train (13). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 27,000 miles.

Are Cadillac recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Cadillac dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.