2013 Cadillac CTS Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 30 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Cadillac CTS, 41% of its 73 total complaints for the year, tied to two recalls (14V614000 and 14V394000). Median mileage at failure was 18,850, with 3 crashes and 1 injury reported.
- Electrical System complaints
- 30
- 41% of 73
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 18,850 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden engine stalling while driving, sometimes at highway speeds around 70 mph, with the vehicle restarting on its own or after being shut off and restarted.
- Several complaints describe the ignition key rotating unintentionally when heavy key fobs or extra items are on the ring, cutting power to the engine and disabling airbags.
- Some owners say the recall remedy for the ignition switch, adding small rings and a cover to the key, felt inadequate to fix the underlying defect.
- One owner reported the vehicle losing power at a stoplight without warning, requiring a manual restart before it worked again.
- A crash was linked to loss of vehicle control at low speed tied to the electrical/ignition recall, resulting in injury.
- Owners also mention confusion over whether their vehicle was actually included in the recall campaign, with inconsistent dealer and OnStar information.
When 2013 Cadillac CTS electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 9, 2014, latest Mar 11, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2013 Cadillac CTS
- 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.
Electrical System complaints by CTS model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems in the 2013 Cadillac CTS?
- NHTSA lists 30 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 CTS, which is 41% of all 73 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2013 Cadillac CTS electrical system?
- Yes. NHTSA recall campaign 14V614000 covers replacement of the chassis electronic module, and campaign 14V394000 addresses an ignition switch defect that can affect airbag operation.
- At what mileage do electrical failures typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component on the 2013 CTS is 18,850 miles.
- Did the 2013 CTS electrical issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data links 3 crashes and 1 injury to Electrical System complaints on the 2013 CTS.
- How does 2013 compare to other CTS model years for electrical complaints?
- The 41% share of complaints tied to electrical issues in 2013 is the highest among the listed years, compared to 30% in 2010, 27% in 2011, 31% in 2012, and 12% in 2014.