Cadillac ATS

Where it stands out against its peers

• Power train: more complaints than 91% of 2013 cars — 28% of its 160 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 12%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• POWER TRAIN — 26 owners reported this
• ENGINE — 22 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 13 owners reported this
• STEERING — 8 owners reported this
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 5 owners reported this
• AIR BAGS — 4 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 4 owners reported this
• SEATS — 3 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• STEERING,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES — 3 owners reported this
• TIRES — 3 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 2 owners reported this
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
• STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 2 owners reported this
• STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
• STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — 2 owners reported this
• STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
• STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — 2 owners reported this
• SUSPENSION — 2 owners reported this
• WHEELS — 2 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

50% of 2018 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 13V220000

  If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

• 14V338000

  If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.

• 14V446000

  A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.

• 14V488000

  If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.

• 15V358000

  If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15352.

• 15V463000

  Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.

  GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.

• 15V558000

  If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.

• 18V358000

  A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

3 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Cadillac filed 775 bulletins about the 2019 ATS.

• Equipment: 188
• Engine and engine cooling: 109
• Electrical system: 94
• Power train: 79
• Engine: 44
• Equipment adaptive/mobility: 28
• Wheels: 23
• Tires: 16
• Visibility: 14
• Back over prevention: 13
• Other: 167

• PI to help diagnose A/C concern · July 2026
• This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available. · April 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect. · March 2026
• This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance. · March 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss · March 2026
• This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC's · January 2026
• This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering · January 2026
• This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance. · January 2026

767 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.