KnownCarProblems2016 Cadillac Cts Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Cadillac Cts, most often about the electrical (32% of complaints, typically around 12,000 miles). It is 14th of 17 Cts model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2016 Cadillac Cts problems
Electrical
10 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles.
I bought the car as new with 6711 miles. Around 12000 miles the vehicle wouldn't start. Roadside assistance had to replace the battery on 3 different occasions from 6-28-17 to 8-19-17. The battery was completely down,no cells, can't be charged. The car was parked each time. Dealer and gm couldn't find the problem. No…
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the battery became inoperable and the vehicle failed to start. Also, while making a turn, the signal indicator handle failed to engage in position. Additionally, the dashboard leather was curling and there was an abnormal rumbling noise while reversing. The…
Transmission
9 complaints · 29%Car has just passed the warranty. Put the car in the shop for an oil change, when I got it back I could hear a yang yang noise like I had a bad tire, in the mean time on star sent a notice that the something was wrong with the brakes and stability control. The noise could be heard at any speed. So now I have to spend…
When I accelerated the transmission felt like it got stuck and continued to rev when I attempted to accelerate and felt like I was not moving. Rpm continued to go up but no power. Other times a vig bump is felt when I take foot off gas for a koment and when I place it back on to accelerate the big bump is felt. Have…
Engine
4 complaints · 13%The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that he was an authorized technician at latin motors (3175 nw 37th st, miami, fl 33142). The contact diagnosed that the vehicle was losing freon, which caused the air conditioner not to function. As a result, the air conditioner condenser needed to be replaced.…
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…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 13%When you enter an address into the navigation and save it into contacts. It re- reoutes you to a location other than the stated address. It shows the locator pin on the correct address, but you are taken to a location more than 1/2 mile away (as the crow flies) in a different neighborhood. I have made several attempts…
At 45mph the right front wheel shudders. It only happens occasionally. I've checked it on very smooth roads to make sure it wasn't the conditon of the road causing the shudder. Sometimes, when the car shifts, it shifts very hard as if being bumped in the rear. I had it checked and I'm told it may be a transmission…
Steering
4 complaints · 13%Steering wheel became inoperable while vehicle in motion, vehicle shut down multiple times while driving causing all loss of power to vehicle, accelerator stuck and fuel shut off when going hard on brake did not work requiring snit into neutral, many other issues. Taken to dealer for repair many times in service over…
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the battery became inoperable and the vehicle failed to start. Also, while making a turn, the signal indicator handle failed to engage in position. Additionally, the dashboard leather was curling and there was an abnormal rumbling noise while reversing. The…
Suspension
4 complaints · 13%Steering wheel became inoperable while vehicle in motion, vehicle shut down multiple times while driving causing all loss of power to vehicle, accelerator stuck and fuel shut off when going hard on brake did not work requiring snit into neutral, many other issues. Taken to dealer for repair many times in service over…
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Cts. A howling noise emerging from the rear of the vehicle rear end diferential internal bearing failure and metal debri no consequence, vehicle repaired by the dealer under warranty the contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH a howling noise emerging from the rear of…
Body and structure
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the battery became inoperable and the vehicle failed to start. Also, while making a turn, the signal indicator handle failed to engage in position. Additionally, the dashboard leather was curling and there was an abnormal rumbling noise while reversing. The…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Cadillac Cts recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed june 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is n262555870. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on may 21, 2026.
Full defect summary
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.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed april 15, 2025. Owners may contact cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is n252497020.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016-2018 cadillac cts, 2017-2018 cadillac ats, chevrolet camaro, and chevrolet corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (eps) assist may fail.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began june 13, 2019. Gm' number for this recall is n182182760.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016-2018 cadillac cts, and 2017 cadillac ats, chevrolet camaro, and chevrolet corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (eps) assist system may fail.
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began november 1, 2018. Owners may contact cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. Gm's number for the recall is 18286.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2014-2016 cadillac cts vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2016 Cadillac Cts
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Cadillac Cts?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (10 complaints, typically around 12,000 miles); transmission (9 complaints); engine (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac Cts have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 21, 2026 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Cadillac Cts?
- It is 14th of 17 Cts model years by number of complaints, with 31 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.