2021 Cadillac CT5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#3 most-complained of 6 CT5 years
The 2021 Cadillac CT5 has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 3rd worst out of 6 model years, earning a 'Caution' verdict relative to other CT5 years. NHTSA lists 28 complaints, 4 recalls, and 3 crashes, with the Electrical System as the top problem area at 46% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 28
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 18.5 city / 27.5 hwy
Top 2021 Cadillac CT5 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System13 (46%)
- Structure & Body6 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (14%)
- Other3 (11%)
- Airbags2 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (7%)
- Brakes1 (4%)
- Engine1 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report door handles failing to open from outside, sometimes affecting three of four doors on the same vehicle.
- Some drivers describe the sunroof shattering without impact while driving near 72 MPH, with failure occurring around 35,100 miles.
- Several complaints describe airbags failing to deploy during collisions, including a rear-end and a head-on impact.
- Owners report the ABS computer and main ECU losing communication, which disabled assisted braking, steering, and AWD during an attempted stop.
- One owner reported a transmission dash warning tied to a shift control code, with a dealer stating the gear shift assembly needed replacement.
- Owners describe a steering pull issue that alignment did not correct, along with a non-functioning driver-side running light.
2021 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.
2021 Cadillac CT5 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27.5 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,725
- 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.
2021 compared with other CT5 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Cadillac CT5 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2021 CT5 has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 3rd worst of 6 model years, placing it in the 'Caution' category relative to other CT5 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2021 Cadillac CT5?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 13 of 28 complaints (46%), covering issues like door handle sensors and ABS/ECU communication faults.
- Does the 2021 Cadillac CT5 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 CT5, covering the transmission control module, body control module software, roof rail side-curtain airbags, and communications gateway module software.
- How does the 2021 CT5 compare to other CT5 model years?
- The 2021 CT5's Complaint Index of 60 is better than the 2020 CT5 (80, 'Avoid') and 2025 CT5 (100, 'Avoid'), but worse than 2022 (0, 'Best') and 2023 (40, 'Good').
- What mileage do 2021 Cadillac CT5 problems typically show up at?
- NHTSA data shows a median failure mileage of 41,850 for the 2021 CT5 overall, with transmission complaints averaging 48,600 miles and sunroof/wiper-related complaints averaging 35,100 miles.