2016 Cadillac ATS Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#3 most-complained of 7 ATS years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2016 Cadillac ATS has 32 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 3rd worst out of 7 model years with a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain problems lead at 31% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 32
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 21 city / 29.5 hwy
Top 2016 Cadillac ATS problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (31%)
- Electrical System6 (19%)
- Engine6 (19%)
- Airbags5 (16%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (16%)
- Steering4 (13%)
- Brakes2 (6%)
- Other2 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
What owners report
- Transmission shudders and vibrates violently at speeds between 25 and 35 mph with unpredictable response, sometimes causing the car to speed up or stall.
- Vehicle does a hard downshift around 10-15 mph that feels like being rear-ended, with occasional stalling when accelerating from a stop.
- Transmission was replaced by the dealer around 17,475 miles but improper shifting and hard downshifts returned afterward.
- All four factory wheels crack over time, causing air to leak from the tires, in one case appearing four times within two years.
- Steering wheel overcompensates and violently turns when making small corrective inputs, making the car hard to straighten and causing it to spin out.
- Vehicle loses power and stalls when turning the front wheels at low speed or while stationary, described under the brakes component.
2016 Cadillac ATS recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V329000May 21, 2026Airbags5,014 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
- 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.
- 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.
2016 Cadillac ATS fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 29.5 MPG
- Combined
- 24.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,075
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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.
2016 compared with other ATS years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Cadillac ATS reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 32 complaints and 3 recalls for the 2016 ATS, giving it a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict, worse than most other ATS years except 2013 and 2014.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Cadillac ATS?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the most common, making up 31% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 24,000 miles.
- Does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have any recalls?
- Yes, it has 3 recalls: a front-driver airbag inflator that may rupture, a coil antenna module issue affecting the rear defogger, and a roof console switch problem that could close the roof panel automatically. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- Is the 2016 ATS better or worse than other model years?
- Among 7 model years, the 2016 ranks 3rd worst with a Complaint Index of 67, better than 2013 (100, Avoid) and 2014 (83, Avoid), but worse than 2017 (33, Good) and 2018 (17, Best).