YearToAvoid

2013 Cadillac ATS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 7 ATS years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Cadillac ATS ranks worst of 7 model years, with 160 complaints and a complaint index of 100 (highest in the lineup). Engine issues lead at 34% of complaints, followed by transmission (28%) and electrical (26%), with 6 recalls on file.

Complaints
160
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
9 / 0
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19 city / 28 hwy

Top 2013 Cadillac ATS problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine54 (34%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain45 (28%)
  3. Electrical System41 (26%)
  4. Steering25 (16%)
  5. Brakes21 (13%)
  6. Other20 (13%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (8%)
  8. Airbags9 (6%)
  9. Fuel System5 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers4 (3%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report the brakes failing to respond during low-speed parking maneuvers, resulting in collisions.
  • Owners describe the engine or drivetrain lurching forward unexpectedly when accelerating from a stop, including one incident tied to a shift-to-park issue covered under recall.
  • Several reports describe the vehicle stalling and shutting off while driving, causing loss of steering control, in one case alongside a control arm snapping.
  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-to-severe crashes, including rear-end and T-bone collisions.
  • Drivers describe intermittent loss of power steering assist accompanied by a 'service power steering' dashboard warning, sometimes resolved by restarting the engine.
2013 Cadillac ATS complaints: complaints filed per quarter352012 Q42014 Q22015 Q42017 Q22018 Q42020 Q22022 Q22024 Q2
244 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2025 Q3; peak 2013 Q4 (35).

2013 Cadillac ATS recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V558000Sep 3, 2015HVAC96,145 vehicles

    Visibility:defroster/defogger/HVAC system

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.

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

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 15V463000Jul 24, 2015Visibility & Wipers63,665 vehicles

    Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 14V488000Aug 8, 2014Seat Belts48,114 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Cadillac ATS →

2013 Cadillac ATS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other ATS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid100160622.5
2014Avoid83104423
2015Caution5029423

All Cadillac ATS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Cadillac ATS reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 ATS has the highest complaint index (100) among the 7 model years covered and is ranked worst-first, with a verdict of Avoid.
What is the top problem area for the 2013 Cadillac ATS?
Engine problems lead, making up 34% of complaints (54 of 160), with a median mileage at failure of 6,160 miles.
Does the 2013 Cadillac ATS have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 ATS, covering HVAC, visibility/wipers, seat belts, structure and body, transmission and powertrain, and the electrical system. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 ATS compare to other ATS model years?
The 2013 model has a complaint index of 100, higher than 2014 (83), 2015 (50), 2016 (67), 2017 (33), and 2018 (17), making it the worst-ranked year for reported problems.
What mileage do 2013 ATS problems typically show up at?
Median mileage at failure across all complaints for this year is 33,375 miles, though engine complaints show a much lower median of 6,160 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.