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Research · Compact Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2016 Cadillac ATSRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 35 owner complaints for the 2016 Cadillac ATS. Most complaints involve power train (11) and electrical system (7). The EPA rates it 22–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
22–26mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest May 2026
Owner complaints
35
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,400est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported May 21, 2026NHTSA 26V329000

Visibility: defroster

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.

VisibilityReported Sep 3, 2015NHTSA 15V558000

Visibility: sun

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

VisibilityReported Jul 24, 2015NHTSA 15V463000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

35 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2017 – Jun 2026
  1. Power train11
  2. Electrical system7
  3. Air bags5
  4. Steering4
  5. Wheels4
  6. Engine4
  7. Visibility/wiper2
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Vehicle speed control2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each ATS model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2013161
2014104
201530
201635
201733
201822
20192
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

11 reports1 crash
“NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V558000 Rear Defogger Coil Antenna Module may Overheat If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, not sure what is happening but car does seem to overheat off and on especially when radio is turned on”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11744660

Electrical system

7 reports1 fire
“Transmission drags. When stopping the car jerks bad and sometimes proceeds to accelerate. When at a stop auto start has a hard jerk I reported this problem to Cadillac dealership when I first got the car. They claim they couldn't find an issue. The touch pad goes out frequently.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2024Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11575697

Air bags

5 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the message "Service Air Bag" was displayed, and the passenger's side seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2025Air bagsODI 11638325
All 2016 ATS problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 3.6L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S8) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
ATS
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
223226$2,400348
ATS
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
223125$3,100349
ATS AWD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
223025$3,100358
ATS
Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
202924$2,600378
ATS
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
202823$3,350388
ATS AWD
Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · All-Wheel Drive
192722$2,850399
  • ATS
    Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    22 city · 32 hwy · $2,400/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • ATS
    Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 31 hwy · $3,100/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • ATS AWD
    Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 30 hwy · $3,100/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • ATS
    Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    20 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • ATS
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    20 city · 28 hwy · $3,350/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • ATS AWD
    Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    19 city · 27 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

5 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Cadillac ATS 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
10.1%
Overall
5 / 5
Cadillac ATS 4 DR RWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
10.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 8, 2026Vehicle 10368Vehicle 10367Vehicle 10042
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2016 ATS questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2016 Cadillac ATS problems?

Owners filed 35 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (11), electrical system (7), air bags (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2016 Cadillac ATS get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Cadillac ATS at 22–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Cadillac ATS 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 8, 2026