YearToAvoid

2016 Cadillac XTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#4 most-complained of 7 XTS years

The 2016 Cadillac XTS has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 4th worst of 7 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System issues, mainly CUE screen freezing and cracking, drive 32% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 15,000.

Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 23 hwy

Top 2016 Cadillac XTS problems

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

  1. Electrical System7 (32%)
  2. Other5 (23%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (18%)
  4. Fuel System2 (9%)
  5. Seat Belts2 (9%)
  6. Airbags1 (5%)
  7. Engine1 (5%)
  8. Steering1 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (5%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the CUE touchscreen freezes for radio, climate, navigation, and bluetooth functions.
  • Some describe the CUE screen developing a spider crack that leaves it inoperable.
  • Owners report the CUE system randomly beeps and changes radio presets while driving.
  • Owners report bent or cracked 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels discovered after purchase or delivery.
  • One owner reported a tire blowout at 35 mph after a mechanic found sidewall splits on all four tires.
  • One owner reported the engine shutting off intermittently while turning, forcing a stop and dash reset.
2016 Cadillac XTS complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2016Oct 2018Jul 2020Feb 2022Jun 2023Aug 2024
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2016 to Jan 2025; peak Jun 2023 (3).

2016 Cadillac XTS recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2016 Cadillac XTS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
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 XTS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid8350419
2015Good3314319
2016Caution5022018
2017Caution6724018
2018Best177118

All Cadillac XTS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Cadillac XTS reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2016 XTS a Complaint Index of 50, which is a Caution rating relative to other XTS years. It ranks 4th worst out of 7 model years tracked.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Cadillac XTS?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, making up 32% of complaints (7 of 22), mostly involving the CUE infotainment screen freezing or cracking at a median mileage of 15,000.
Does the 2016 Cadillac XTS have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2016 Cadillac XTS.
How does the 2016 XTS compare to other XTS years?
The 2016 XTS has a Complaint Index of 50, worse than 2015 (33, Good), 2017 (67, Caution), 2018 (17, Best), and 2019 (0, Best), but better than 2013 (100, Avoid) and 2014 (83, Avoid).
How is fuel economy on the 2016 Cadillac XTS?
EPA rates the 2016 XTS at 18 mpg combined (16 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.

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.