YearToAvoid

2016 Cadillac SRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

14/100

#7 most-complained of 8 SRX years

The 2016 Cadillac SRX ranks 7th worst of 8 model years, with a complaint index of 14 and a Best verdict. NHTSA lists 168 complaints, 2 recalls (one do-not-drive), 11 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 deaths for this year.

Complaints
168
Recalls
2
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
11 / 1
Injuries / deaths
10 / 3
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2016 Cadillac SRX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System110 (65%)
  2. Other23 (14%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires18 (11%)
  4. Brakes8 (5%)
  5. Airbags7 (4%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers7 (4%)
  7. Engine5 (3%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain5 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body4 (2%)
  10. Seat Belts3 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during crashes, including a t-bone collision at 22,000 miles and another at 22,500 miles.
  • Seatbelt retractors and shoulder harnesses reportedly stayed unlocked, letting occupants strike the dash during impacts.
  • Brakes reportedly vibrated and then lost stopping power while stationary at a light, leading to a rear-end collision at 47,000 miles.
  • Owners describe the vehicle surging forward on its own while the electronic brake indicator was lit, at 11,200 miles.
  • Low-beam headlights described as too dim to illuminate curves or intersections, cited as a safety hazard at 15,000 miles.
  • Rear-view camera image described as low resolution with a fisheye lens that made it hard to see at dusk.
2016 Cadillac SRX complaints: complaints filed per quarter162016 Q12017 Q32018 Q42020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32024 Q12025 Q2
197 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2021 Q3 (16).

2016 Cadillac SRX recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 21V473000Jun 24, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires380,498 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Suspension:rear

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.

    Risk: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the Part 573 report for the full list of warnings. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Cadillac and Saab customers may direct questions to Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N212340980.

2016 Cadillac SRX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
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.

2016 compared with other SRX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Good293902 !18.5
2015Good434424 !18.5
2016Best141682 !18.5
2019No verdict010—

All Cadillac SRX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Cadillac SRX reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 SRX ranks 7th worst out of 8 model years with a complaint index of 14, earning a Best verdict relative to other SRX years.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Cadillac SRX?
Electrical System issues make up 65% of complaints (110 of 168), followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 11% and Brakes at 5%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2016 Cadillac SRX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 SRX: an airbag inflator rupture recall and a rear suspension toe link recall, the latter marked do-not-drive.
At what mileage do 2016 Cadillac SRX problems typically occur?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 47,000 miles overall, with Electrical System complaints averaging 54,500 miles and Airbag complaints averaging 22,000 miles.
How does the 2016 SRX compare to other SRX years?
The 2016 SRX has a complaint index of 14, far lower than 2012 (100, Avoid) and 2010 (86, Avoid), making it one of the better SRX model years by this measure.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.