How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Cadillac ATS?

NHTSA lists 41 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 ATS, which is 26% of the 160 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Cadillac ATS electrical system?

Yes. Recall 13V220000, reported May 24, 2013, covers the body control module. GM dealers reprogram the module to address the issue.

At what mileage do these electrical issues typically show up?

NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 40,000 miles at the time these electrical failures were reported.

Do the electrical complaints involve crashes or fires?

No. NHTSA records show 0 crashes and 0 fires linked to the electrical complaints for the 2013 ATS.

Did electrical complaints improve in later ATS model years?

Later years show fewer raw complaints, such as 20 for 2014 and single digits from 2015 onward, though the share of total complaints varies by year.

2013 Cadillac ATS Electrical System Problems

Owners filed 41 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Cadillac ATS, 26% of all 160 complaints that year, at a median 40,000 miles. A related recall (13V220000) covers a body control module reprogram for stalling issues.

Electrical System complaints: 41; 26% of 160
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 40,000 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Vehicle stalls unexpectedly while coasting to a stop or sitting in neutral, often with the clutch depressed on manual-transmission cars.
Engine shuts off quietly, sometimes without the driver noticing until the accelerator or air conditioning fails to respond.
Restarting the car after a stall is usually immediate, but the stalling recurs repeatedly, sometimes more than ten times in a few months.
Power steering and power brake assist intermittently fail or feel locked up, at times alongside a stall, triggering a 'service power steering' warning.
HID headlights misalign, with one side aiming higher than the other when the auto headlight mode is used.
Sudden loss of power to the engine after accelerating from a stop, with the tachometer revving high before the drivetrain slowly returns to normal.

When 2013 Cadillac ATS electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 14, 2013, latest Aug 18, 2025.

41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Aug 2025; peak Oct 2013 (5).

Electrical System recalls for the 2013 Cadillac ATS

NHTSA 13V220000May 24, 2013Electrical System10,210 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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.

Electrical System complaints by ATS model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201341 (26%)
201420 (19%)
20159 (31%)
20166 (19%)
20177 (22%)
20185 (24%)
20191 (50%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Cadillac ATS?: NHTSA lists 41 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 ATS, which is 26% of the 160 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Cadillac ATS electrical system?: Yes. Recall 13V220000, reported May 24, 2013, covers the body control module. GM dealers reprogram the module to address the issue.
At what mileage do these electrical issues typically show up?: NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 40,000 miles at the time these electrical failures were reported.
Do the electrical complaints involve crashes or fires?: No. NHTSA records show 0 crashes and 0 fires linked to the electrical complaints for the 2013 ATS.
Did electrical complaints improve in later ATS model years?: Later years show fewer raw complaints, such as 20 for 2014 and single digits from 2015 onward, though the share of total complaints varies by year.