YearToAvoid

2019 Cadillac XTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#7 most-complained of 7 XTS years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Cadillac XTS ranks as the Best year among 7 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 0, just 5 complaints, and 2 recalls. It has the lowest reported-problem count of any XTS year in this dataset.

Complaints
5
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 23 hwy

Top 2019 Cadillac XTS problems

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

  1. Airbags1 (20%)
  2. Brakes1 (20%)
  3. Engine1 (20%)
  4. Other1 (20%)
  5. Structure & Body1 (20%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (20%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (20%)

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly failed to fully stop the vehicle during low-speed parking maneuvers, in one case leading to a crash, with a median failure mileage of 20,000 miles.
  • A tire sidewall reportedly blew out while a tire shop was removing the wheel.
  • Owners report the passenger seat's airbag-related occupant sensing module stopped communicating with the airbag system, requiring replacement.
  • Owners report transmission shuddering they link to a torque converter issue, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow down or speed up at cruising speed.
2019 Cadillac XTS complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2019Jan 2021Oct 2024Jun 2025
7 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2019 to Jun 2025; peak Oct 2024 (3).

2019 Cadillac XTS recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V899000Dec 19, 2018Seat Belts175 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Cadillac XTS vehicles. The front seat belt buckles may be missing a rivet that secures the buckle head to the cable mounting strap.

    Risk: If the securing rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the cable mounting strap in the event of a crash, preventing the occupant from being properly restrained, thereby increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat buckle assemblies, replacing them if the rivets are missing, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N182204040.

  2. NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, 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. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

2019 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.

2019 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
2017Caution6724018
2018Best177118
2019Best05218

All Cadillac XTS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Cadillac XTS reliable?
Among the 7 XTS model years with data, 2019 ranks as the Best, with only 5 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any year in the dataset.
Does the 2019 Cadillac XTS have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2019 XTS: one for front seat belt buckles missing a rivet, and one for a brake system issue shared with several other GM models.
What is the top problem area for the 2019 Cadillac XTS?
Airbags is listed as the top problem area, though it accounts for only 1 of the 5 total complaints (20% share), tied with five other categories.
How does the 2019 XTS compare to other years?
The 2019 XTS has a complaint index of 0, lower than every other year tracked, including 2013 (100) and 2014 (83), which are rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Cadillac XTS?
EPA rates the 2019 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.