YearToAvoid

2023 Cadillac XT5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#7 most-complained of 9 XT5 years

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 has a Complaint Index of 25 and ranks 7th out of 9 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other XT5 years. It has 15 complaints and 4 recalls, with transmission and powertrain issues the top concern.

Complaints
15
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
20 city / 24 hwy

Top 2023 Cadillac XT5 problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (40%)
  2. Engine4 (27%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (20%)
  4. Other3 (20%)
  5. Brakes1 (7%)
  6. Electrical System1 (7%)
  7. Lane Departure1 (7%)
  8. Steering1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Transmission or half-shaft failures leave the vehicle unresponsive to throttle or unable to move, sometimes with a gear grinding sound.
  • Floorboard vibration and shuddering occur at various speeds, recurring intermittently even after dealer service and transmission fluid replacement.
  • Steering wheel seizes at low speed, causing the vehicle to veer, alongside gear shifter malfunction and multiple dashboard warning lights.
  • Backup and lane-departure cameras display a black or dim screen, or activate false lane-departure warnings with no nearby vehicles.
  • Engine vibrates noticeably when switching between 6-cylinder and 4-cylinder modes, and some owners report a burnt rubber smell with jerking during driving.
  • Vehicle loses all power and stops while driving on a main road, with no lights, no start, and no emergency flashers available.
2023 Cadillac XT5 complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2022Feb 2023May 2023Aug 2024Nov 2024Nov 2025May 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2022 to Jun 2026; peak Oct 2022 (3).

2023 Cadillac XT5 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V459000Jun 20, 2024Electrical System6,942 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Cadillac XT5 and 2024-2025 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The instrument panel may not illuminate when the hazard warning lights, high beams, or turn signals are activated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

    Risk: Without the illuminated reminder, the driver could fail to turn off the lights when no longer needed. Hazard warning lights, high beams, or turn signals that remain activated unintentionally can confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Cadillac's customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447940.

  2. NHTSA 23V172000Mar 16, 2023Transmission & Powertrain8,744 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.

    Risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222389310.

  3. NHTSA 23V043000Feb 2, 2023Transmission & Powertrain10 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia vehicles. The right-front half-shaft assemblies may be improperly connected to the transmission, causing them to separate.

    Risk: Separation between the half-shaft and transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-front half-shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222393410.

See all 4 recalls for the 2023 Cadillac XT5 →

2023 Cadillac XT5 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,625
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.

2023 compared with other XT5 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Best016221
2022Good3810321
2023Good2515421
2024Caution5010321
2025Avoid1005122

All Cadillac XT5 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Cadillac XT5 reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2023 XT5 has a Complaint Index of 25 and ranks 7th out of 9 XT5 model years, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other years of the same model.
Does the 2023 Cadillac XT5 have transmission problems?
Transmission & Powertrain is the top problem area, accounting for 6 of 15 complaints (40%), with a median mileage at failure of 5,500 miles. A recall (23V172000) also addressed an incorrect sun gear, and another (23V043000) addressed improperly connected half-shaft assemblies.
How many recalls does the 2023 Cadillac XT5 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Cadillac XT5, covering the instrument panel display, transmission sun gear, front half-shaft assemblies, and an illegible certification label. None are do-not-drive recalls.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Cadillac XT5?
The EPA rates the 2023 XT5 at 21 mpg combined (20 city / 24 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $3,625.
Which Cadillac XT5 model years should be avoided?
Based on Complaint Index, the 2017 (88), 2018 (75), and 2025 (100) model years are rated "Avoid," while the 2023 XT5's Complaint Index of 25 is comparatively low.

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.