2013 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
78/100
#3 most-complained of 10 CTS years
The 2013 Cadillac CTS ranks 3rd worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 78, 73 complaints, and 2 recalls. Electrical System issues dominate at 41% of complaints, giving it an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other CTS years.
- Complaints
- 73
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 10 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 26 hwy
Top 2013 Cadillac CTS problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System30 (41%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (18%)
- Airbags11 (15%)
- Brakes11 (15%)
- Steering10 (14%)
- Engine9 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (11%)
- Other7 (10%)
- Structure & Body5 (7%)
- Fuel System1 (1%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while shifting into reverse from a stop, sometimes resulting in a collision.
- Brakes reportedly fail to respond during low-speed impacts, with some owners noting the driver's seat collapsed on impact.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during collisions, or deployed with an unusual gray or odd-smelling powder that affected vision and breathing.
- Steering has reportedly seized while reversing at low speed, with the vehicle stalling and rolling into obstacles.
- Electrical system failures reportedly caused loss of vehicle control, including a case tied to NHTSA recall 14V394000, along with power failures affecting doors and windows.
- Transmission reportedly shifts with a delay followed by a hard, jarring engagement, paired with reduced steering feel.
2013 Cadillac CTS recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 14V614000Oct 1, 2014Electrical System106,307 vehicles
Electrical system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GMÂs number for this recall is 14515.
- NHTSA 14V394000Jul 2, 2014Electrical System554,328 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
2013 Cadillac CTS fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 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 CTS years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Cadillac CTS a good year to buy?
- No, relative to other CTS model years. It ranks 3rd worst of 10 years tracked, with a complaint index of 78 and 73 NHTSA complaints, well above the best years like 2017-2019.
- What is the most common problem with the 2013 Cadillac CTS?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 41% of complaints (30 of 73), with a median failure mileage of 18,850 miles.
- Does the 2013 Cadillac CTS have any recalls?
- Yes, it has 2 recalls, both related to the Electrical System. One covers a chassis electronic module replacement (14V614000) and the other covers a key fob/ignition issue tied to airbag deployment safety (14V394000).
- How does the 2013 CTS compare to the 2014 CTS?
- The 2014 CTS has a higher complaint index (100 vs 78) and more recalls (6 vs 2), and is also rated 'Avoid,' making 2013 comparatively less troubled but still among the worse years.
- Were there crashes linked to 2013 Cadillac CTS complaints?
- NHTSA data lists 10 crashes and 8 injuries tied to 2013 CTS complaints, with no reported fires or deaths.