Problems · NHTSA complaints

2021 Cadillac CT5 problems

Owners filed 30 complaints about the 2021 Cadillac CT5 with NHTSA between Aug 2021 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (13).

Complaints
30
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system13
  2. Structure7
  3. Power train4
  4. Air bags2
  5. Forward collision avoidance2
  6. Wheels1
  7. Engine1
  8. Fuel/propulsion system1
  9. Steering1
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Visibility/wiper1
  12. Service brakes1
  13. Visibility1
  14. Tires1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20211
20221
20230
20243
20258
202617

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

13 reports1 crash
“This vehicle is equipped with electronic door handles that are failing widely and prematurely. Essentially the button that actuates the cylinder to allow the door to open fails. This poses a safety risk as you're unable to open the door from the exterior in the event of an emergency. Imagine if you were in a collision that resulted in a fire and you needed to be able to retrieve a young child from the vehicle but the door won't open. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Manufacturer doesn't care to address the concern with a recall, but rather offers to repair at an astronomical price tag. The problem appears suddenly with no warning.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2026Electrical system, StructureODI 11771042

Structure

7 reports
“All four exterior door handles on my 2021 Cadillac CT5 have experienced the same intermittent failure. The handles initially work intermittently and then become unable to release the door. This has occurred on all four doors. This creates a serious safety concern because occupants may be unable to enter or exit the vehicle normally, and emergency responders may be unable to access occupants through the affected doors. This appears to be a systemic defect affecting multiple CT5 vehicles, rather than an isolated component failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2026Electrical system, StructureODI 11761126

Power train

4 reports1 related recall
“I am filing a formal safety complaint against General Motors (GM) regarding an unresolved transmission safety hazard on my 2021 Cadillac CT5 550T. This vehicle is included under NHTSA Campaign Number 25V148000 for an internal transmission control valve failure that can cause sudden, dangerous wheel lock-up while driving. My vehicle is currently experiencing an active, catastrophic failure of the transmission valve body. The vehicle has completely lost its reverse gear, shifts harshly, and exhibits Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0776 (Pressure Control Solenoid B Performance/Stuck Off) and P0700 (Transmission Control System Malfunction). These active fault codes and physical mechanical symptoms explicitly confirm a dangerous loss of hydraulic pressure directly resulting from the exact internal valve wear described in the federal recall. General Motors has issued Special Coverage Bulletin N242480631 to extend the warranty coverage on the physical transmission control valve body assembly to 15 years or 150,000 miles to address this exact defect. However, Cadillac Customer Assistance and the local dealership are refusing to pay for the required replacement component.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2026Power trainODI 11766791

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“My 2025 Cadillac CT5 was stationary at a red light behind a red truck when a black truck traveling in the opposite direction struck the truck head-on. The red truck was pushed backward into the front of my CT5 with enough force to cause major front-end damage. Despite this, no airbags deployed. I believe the airbag system failed to detect or respond to a valid crash condition and there is a larger safety concern that needs to be reviewed. Police report completed. Insurance has not inspected vehicles yet but it is available to be inspected.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2025Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11676354

Forward collision avoidance

2 reports2 crashes
“When approaching a stopping vehicle the brake pedal became extremely hard to press and I could not brake enough to stop and had a collision. Come to find out that the ABS computer and the main ECU weren't communicating correctly which turned off the assisted braking, assisted steering and the AWD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2024Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11605992

Wheels

1 report
“While driving on a very busy highway going downhill when suddenly the vehicle started feeling abnormal like it was going to turn off automatically, heard an abnormal grinding noise coming from the engine the vehicle dropped speed drastically and the check engine light turned on , luckily we were on a part of the road where I merged quickly to the side of the road followed by a sudden engine shut down, the safety of myself and 3 other passengers was very compromised due to nearly being hit by other vehicles coming at a high speed on a main highway when my vehicle suddenly slowed down coming to a shut down due to the engine failure, I attempted to turn the car on again but would not turn on, was not getting any response at all, had to get the car towed, the vehicle did not have other warning lights before the failure, the check engine light came on after the engine failed, the vehicle was taken to an authorized Cadillac dealer where the engine was diagnosed as Engine seized, locked up and will not turn over. I received a Recall regarding Momentary Wheel Lock-Up which leads me to believe that might be related to what happened to my vehicle but did not have 8K…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2026Wheels, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11717706
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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