2013 Cadillac SRX recalls and problems

The 2013 Cadillac SRX has 5 safety recalls and 393 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Cadillac dealer.

Urgent: recall 21V-473 carries a "do not drive" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
5
Complaints
393
Crashes / fires
15 / 5
Injuries / deaths
21 / 0

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

2013 Cadillac SRX recalls

Recall 21V-473: Suspension

Do not driveReported Jun 24, 2021 · 380,498 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: 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.

Risk: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 14V-571: Suspension

Reported Sep 19, 2014 · 290,241 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster link may not be torqued to the proper specification. A loose toe adjuster link can cause the vehicle to sway or wander at highway speeds. A loose toe adjuster link may lead to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the toe adjuster link will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Risk: Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge. The The recall began November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14457.

Recall 14V-212: Power Train

Reported Apr 25, 2014 · 50,571 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured May 29, 2012, through June 26, 2013, and equipped with 3.6L engines. In the affected vehicles, in certain driving situations, there may be a three to four second lag in acceleration due to the transmission control module (TCM) programming.

Risk: A three to four second lag in acceleration may increase the risk of crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. General Motors' number for this recall is 14132.

Recall 13V-202: Wheels

Reported May 16, 2013 · 18,871 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured January 31, 2012, through March 18, 2013, and equipped with 18 inch wheels. On the affected vehicles, the wheel lug nuts may loosen.

Risk: If the lug nuts loosen, they may fall off or cause the wheel studs to fracture. Either condition would allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the wheel nuts by performing a tire rotation, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13116.

Recall 13V-097: Electrical System, Power Train

Reported Mar 15, 2013 · 26,582 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." A software problem may cause the transmission to inadvertently shift to Sport mode removing any transmission-related engine braking effect.

Risk: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1-866-694-6546.

2013 Cadillac SRX problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Exterior Lighting217
Electrical System54
Unknown or Other37
Power Train31
Vehicle Speed Control25
Engine17
Suspension16
Visibility/Wiper13
Service Brakes11
Structure9
Seats9
Fuel/Propulsion System8

Most reported parts

  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 14
  • Structure › Body — 4
  • Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 4
  • Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate — 3
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) — 2
  • Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection — 2
  • Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 60,000 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 SRX complaints

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

Suspension · reported Jun 22, 2026
Valentine day a car side swiped me on the 91 freeway my car went out of control but I was able to get control of the vehicle driver side got banged up from the back bumper all the way to the driver side front fender.
Exterior Lighting · reported May 22, 2026
The exterior lighting does not light up as warranted. It is impossible to see at night due to the lack of lighting from the headlights. The problem was confirmed with the dealership, however I was told to replace the bulbs which I had done. Replacing the bulbs did not fix the issue so I went back to the dealership and told them again. I was told I would have to replace the entire headlight unit in order for the exterior lights to work properly and that I would have to pay for it. It is extremely dangerous to myself and others if I’m driving at nite and I cannot see anything. There were no…
Service Brakes · reported Jan 24, 2026
I was driving and had to hard brake as to not hit a young driver who wasn't paying attention to his driving. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. There were no warning lights on. I got the car checked out by our local mechanic AND a certified Cadillac dealer. We had a new master cylinder and O ring installed in October. Our mechanic found there is a special bulletin on 18 different vehicles with the same issue. And my Cadillac is on that list. I don't understand how this problem CAN'T be a total recall and just a special bulletin. My safety was totally at risk as the brake system was…
Exterior Lighting · at 105,000 miles · reported Jan 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway, limiting the driver’s vision while driving. The contact stated that the passenger’s side headlight was inoperable, and the driver’s side headlight was very dim. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to use the high-beam headlights while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair.…
Exterior Lighting · reported Jan 11, 2026
My father gave me his 2013 Cadillac SRX and I have noticed the headlights have dimmed significantly over the past few months. I replaced the lamps, but the same issue still exists. I spoke with my local Cadillac dealership and they told me of the known issue with the headlights. I did some research and see there was a class action lawsuit against Cadillac, but it does not seem to apply to vehicles registered in Wisconsin. I will need to correct this problem as driving at night has now become very difficult. If you have history of this issue with other drivers, any insight or direction would be…

Other Cadillac SRX years

Compare all Cadillac SRX years · All Cadillac models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Cadillac SRX have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 Cadillac SRX: 21V-473 (suspension), 14V-571 (suspension), 14V-212 (power train), 13V-202 (wheels), 13V-097 (electrical system, power train). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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

Owners report exterior lighting problems most often (217 reports), followed by electrical system (54). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 60,000 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.