What are the most common problems with the 2013 Cadillac CTS?

The electrical system has the most complaints, with 26. Power train has 13, air bags 11 and steering 10.

Does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have recalls?

Yes. The page counts 2 recalls for this model year. The Recalls section lists them.

How many owner complaints does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have?

NHTSA has 73 complaints on file. They are unverified owner reports.

What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Cadillac CTS?

See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.

Is the 2013 Cadillac CTS reliable?

Owners filed 73 complaints, with electrical issues leading the list. Check the recalls and the by-year section to compare it with nearby years of the same model.

2013 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 73 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Cadillac CTS^[1]. The electrical system is the biggest group, with 26 complaints^[2].

73owner complaints^[1]

2recalls^[3]

14–21MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners filed for this car, biggest first.

Electrical System. 26 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the car losing power without warning, sometimes in traffic, and coming back after a restart. Some also write about recall notices that felt unclear.
Power Train. 13 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe gear changes that come late or hit hard, a sudden drop in power on the highway, and the car stalling.
Air Bags. 11 complaints^[7]. Owners describe warning lights that stay on, air bags that did not open in a crash, and side curtain bags that went off on their own.
Steering. 10 complaints^[8]. Owners describe clicking sounds, the car pulling to one side, and a wheel that gets hard to turn. Some say a dealer replaced the steering column.
Suspension. 7 complaints^[9]. None of them mention a crash or an injury.
Brakes. 7 complaints^[10]. Four mention a crash^[10].
Engine. 7 complaints^[11]. None of them mention a crash or an injury.
Unknown or other. 7 complaints^[12]. These did not fit a clear group.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2013 CTS is necessarily included.

Electrical System (14V614), October 2014. About 106,307 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Electrical System › Ignition (14V394), July 2014. About 554,328 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
CTS, 6.2L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[15]	14 / 19 / 16	$5,150
CTS, 6.2L 8-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[16]	12 / 18 / 14	$4,800
CTS Wagon, 6.2L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[17]	14 / 19 / 16	$5,150
CTS Wagon, 6.2L 8-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[18]	12 / 18 / 14	$5,850
CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
CTS Wagon, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[19]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
CTS AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[20]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
CTS, 3.0L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[21]	16 / 26 / 19	$3,550
CTS, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[22]	18 / 27 / 21	$3,200
CTS AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[23]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
CTS Wagon AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[24]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
CTS Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[25]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
CTS Wagon AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[26]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SW AWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	10.3%
4 DR AWD^[27]	5	5	5	4	10.3%
4 DR RWD^[28]	5	5	5	4	10.3%
SW RWD^[29]	5	5	5	4	10.3%

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 2 DR AWD^[30], 2 DR RWD^[31].

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2013 Cadillac CTS with 6.2L 8-cylinder^[32]	556 to 580 hp

How 2013 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each CTS model year. The 2013 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2003	313	4
2004	229	7
2005	284	7
2006	272	7
2007	218	7
2008	175	2
2009	167	5
2010	68	3
2011	108	2
2012	67	2
2013	73	2
2014	146	7
2015	50	4
2016	31	4
2017	27	2
2018	8	2
2019	10	0

NHTSA's counts for the CTS show 73 complaints and 2 recalls for 2013^[3]. Among the 17 model years listed, 7 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 9 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2018 (8) and the most are for 2003 (313)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2013 CTS?

The 2013 Cadillac CTS has a clear cluster of electrical complaints, and owners describe the car losing power while driving^[2]. Power train and steering reports add to that picture^[6]^[8]. Air bag complaints are fewer, but 5 of them mention a crash^[7]. These are unverified owner reports and they are not adjusted for sales. Read the recalls and crash test sections on this page before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Cadillac CTS?: The electrical system has the most complaints, with 26^[2]. Power train has 13^[6], air bags 11^[7] and steering 10^[8].
Does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have recalls?: Yes. The page counts 2 recalls for this model year^[3]. The Recalls section lists them.
How many owner complaints does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have?: NHTSA has 73 complaints on file^[1]. They are unverified owner reports.
What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Cadillac CTS?: See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
Is the 2013 Cadillac CTS reliable?: Owners filed 73 complaints^[1], with electrical issues leading the list^[2]. Check the recalls and the by-year section to compare it with nearby years of the same model.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Cadillac CTS

2004 229 complaints, 7 recalls
2005 284 complaints, 7 recalls
2006 272 complaints, 7 recalls
2007 218 complaints, 7 recalls
2008 175 complaints, 2 recalls
2009 167 complaints, 5 recalls
2010 68 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 108 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 this page
2014 146 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 50 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 31 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Cadillac CTS

Other Cadillac models from 2013

2013 Cadillac SRX 393 complaints, 5 recalls

All Cadillac models

Similar cars from 2013: midsize cars

2013 Nissan Maxima 62 complaints, 0 recalls
2013 Nissan Sentra 638 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 Subaru Legacy/Outback 363 complaints, 12 recalls
2013 Toyota Avalon 160 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Toyota Prius 426 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Volkswagen Passat 749 complaints, 9 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 73 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Cadillac CTS (10 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 8 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
26 complaints name the electrical system component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Cadillac CTS model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SW AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,000). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the air bags component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,226). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 16,000). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,173). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 14V614, filed October 1, 2014: Electrical System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V394, filed July 2, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for CTS, 6.2L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS, 6.2L 8-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 18 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS Wagon, 6.2L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS Wagon, 6.2L 8-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 18 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS Wagon, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS, 3.0L 6-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 26 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS Wagon AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS Wagon AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SW RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR AWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Cadillac CTS with 6.2L 8-cylinder: rated 556 to 580 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2013 Cadillac CTS: problems, recalls and fuel economy