Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Cadillac CTS problems

Owners filed 31 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac CTS with NHTSA between Jun 2016 and Dec 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (10).

Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system10
  2. Power train9
  3. Steering4
  4. Suspension4
  5. Engine4
  6. Structure3
  7. Air bags2
  8. Wheels2
  9. Forward collision avoidance1
  10. Lane departure1
  11. Service brakes1
  12. Fuel/propulsion system1
  13. Other / unknown4

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
20161
20176
20180
20192
20206
20214
20224
20231
20242
20255

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

10 reports1 fire
“Center console screen again has stopped working, no access to settings for the car nor any way to correct settings at this point. Many of the settings can be critical to safe driving of the car and have no manual alternative. This is the second screen in 50k miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2024Electrical systemODI 11611649

Power train

9 reports
“Rear differential failed @ 44,600 miles. Dealer said car was unsafe to drive. Dealer unable to obtain replacement after 30 days. Internet search shows this to be a known issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2024Suspension, Power trainODI 11563267

Steering

4 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 93,942.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2025SteeringODI 11703838

Suspension

4 reports
“The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds the rear end of the vehicle lowered. There was an abnormal roaring noise detected from the wheels. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the failure was due to the run flat tires. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the differential was not properly lubricated; and informed him not to drive the vehicle. The parts to repair the vehicle was on back order. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2023SuspensionODI 11501662

Engine

4 reports
“WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, MY VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER TEMPORARILY. THROTTLE MODULATION DOES NOT INCREASE RPM. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS IF POWER IS BEING PUT DOWN THEN STOPPED ABRUPTLY. ONE TIME I HAD THIS HAPPEN, MY LIGHTS, GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE POWER ALL WENT AWAY. IT FIXED ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY EXPERIENCE WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON THE ROAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2020Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11385311

Structure

3 reports
“The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the carbon fiber-optic piece on the rear passenger door was fractured. The contact stated the occupant was exiting the rear passenger's door when the occupant was stabbed by the carbon fiber-optic piece. The contact stated that the occupant was stabbed in the back of the right arm. No medical attention was needed. The contact stated that the carbon fiber optic pieces on all four of the door panels and the glove compartment had been replaced several times. The contact stated the glove compartment carbon fiber optic piece was replaced three times. In addition, the contact stated that the carbon fiber optic pieces on each door panel had been replaced twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and several cases were filed. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2025StructureODI 11657637
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.