Problems · NHTSA complaints
2016 Cadillac XTS problems
Owners filed 22 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac XTS with NHTSA between Mar 2016 and Jan 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (7).
Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system7
- Wheels2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Seat belts2
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Air bags1
- Power train1
- Engine1
- Tires1
- Structure1
- Other / unknown5
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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
2
2
1
1
3
3
5
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
7 reports
“Stabilitrak light comes on that also causes the engine light to come on. The vehicle self-accelerate while in park and did again when in drive. Can not tell you how fast the Rpm accelerated due to panic that the vehicle was self-accelerating but it didn’t last long. Really quick and it went back to normal idling. Vehicle is scheduled for inspection today 1/20/25 at Classic Cadillac Atlanta. No warnings were given, lights(stabiltrak) just came on. Also the suspension rides very low. It feels like there are no shocks either front or rear.”
Wheels
2 reports
“I was forced onto the shoulder of the interstate by a vehicle that came into my lane. As I went onto the shoulder, I hit a pothole (there were several), and it split my factory rim in half, damaging my tire, also. It took me several days to find a reasonably priced replacement factory wheel as I could not afford $900 to replace one wheel that should have been able to withstand a pothole on the side of the road. I had to pay $215 for a wheel from a company in Wisconsin that had to ship it to me. and it is a used wheel that has a lot of curb rash, damages to it, so who knows how long it will withstand daily driving. I had to buy a new tire for $115 and wait for that to be shipped so I could pick up. Then I had to pay to have the tire put on the wheel and balanced. This also left me on the side of the road for four hours waiting for a tow truck which was very dangerous. Which my insurance only paid partial because of the distance that I was to my home. They charged me an additional $40 on top of what my car insurance paid them. All of this caused a lot of anxiety being on the side of an interstate waiting for a tow truck because my whole rim split in half. And the…”
Fuel/propulsion system
2 reports
“when You fill up the car. gas leaks to the ground. I culd smell the fumes coming out of my home heater vents in My bedroom. I went to the garage and the fumes were very strong. I open both garage doors a nd the man door. then worried about a explosion,Gas water heater is in the garaaage. But I got into the car and drove it out to the driveway! I bought the used car from Cathedral city Lexus dealer. 5-9-2023. the filled up the car for Me and I smelled gas. I just assumed that the spilled some...5-19-2023 I filled it up again at Costco, and that night I smelled thee fumes.I took the car to the shop a they said it had to be replaced. We are now waiting for the new Gas tank to arrive. Aut shop Claims it can't be repaired. I can and will bring the old gas tank Home....for You inspection.”
Seat belts
2 reports1 crash
“CPSC: MY 2016 XTS CADILLAC WAS INVOLVED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT MONDAY, FEB.6 IN HARPER COUNTY, KANSAS. IT SUSTAINED APPROX. $20K DAMAGE, INCLUDING LOCKED SEAT BELTS. *BF UPDATED 04/21/2017*JS”
Steering
1 report
Suspension
1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.