2020 Cadillac CT5 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2020 Cadillac CT5 has a complaint index of 100, the highest of the six model years covered, with 39 complaints and 4 recalls, earning an Avoid verdict. Transmission & Powertrain problems make up 38% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 6 CT5 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 39
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18.5 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2020 Cadillac CT5 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain15 (38%)
- Other11 (28%)
- Engine9 (23%)
- Electrical System8 (21%)
- Structure & Body7 (18%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (8%)
- Steering2 (5%)
- Airbags1 (3%)
- Brakes1 (3%)
- Fuel System1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the transmission briefly acting as if it shifted into park while slowing down, sometimes causing loss of control on slippery roads, tied to the 10-speed transmission recall.
- Some owners describe the rear wheels locking up while driving, which damaged the transmission and required towing.
- Owners describe the steering becoming noticeably stiffer and heavier when turning right versus left during sweeping highway turns.
- Owners report repeated 'service driver assist' and forward collision warnings appearing on the dash, sometimes along with the check engine light.
- Owners describe the speedometer or camera display screens randomly disappearing for extended periods, with restarts not fixing the issue.
- Owners report check engine lights and traction control/StabiliTrak warnings paired with a loss of engine power over repeated dealer visits.
2020 Cadillac CT5 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V148000Mar 6, 2025Transmission & Powertrain90,081 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.
- NHTSA 22V903000Dec 8, 2022Electrical System740,108 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
- NHTSA 21V611000Aug 5, 2021Airbags34,157 vehicles
Air bags
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.
2020 Cadillac CT5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 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.
2020 compared with other CT5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Cadillac CT5 a good year to buy?
- NHTSA data ranks the 2020 CT5 the worst of six model years, with a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 38% of its 39 complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Cadillac CT5?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues lead with 15 complaints (38%), followed by Engine problems (9 complaints, 23%) and Electrical System issues (8 complaints, 21%).
- Does the 2020 Cadillac CT5 have transmission recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 25V148000 covers 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and other GM models with the 10-speed transmission, which can become internally damaged.
- How does the 2020 CT5 compare to other CT5 model years?
- The 2020 CT5 has a complaint index of 100, higher than 2021 (80), 2023 (60), 2025 (40), 2024 (20), and 2022 (0, rated Best).
- Are there airbag or brake recalls on the 2020 Cadillac CT5?
- Yes. Recall 21V611000 addresses improperly installed roof rail side-curtain airbags, and recall 20V588000 covers an electronic brake boost module affected by sensor contamination.