Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2016 Cadillac ATS — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Cadillac ATS year.
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Risk: Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.
Campaign 15V463000
Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
Risk: If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
Campaign 15V558000
Issue: 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.
Campaign 26V329000
Rated configuration: 2016 Cadillac ATS 2DR AWD
The parts named most often across 35 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 crash · 2 injured
1 crash · 1 injured
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
Air bag dashboard light is on
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V558000 Rear Defogger Coil Antenna Module may Overheat If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, not sure what is happening but car does seem to overheat off and on especially when radio is turned on
On 3rd differential in 2 years. Dealer won’t fix without us paying ANOTHER $4,700. There is NO way a differential goes 3 times in 2 years. Something is wrong. Help!!
My 2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe has a serious repeating safety defect. The vehicle violently shakes, vibrates, and becomes unstable while driving. This happened TWICE. Both times the rear bolts came out except one. Both mechanics who inspected it said they have NEVER seen this before. The first time, I paid $4,000 out of pocket at another shop. The problem happened again, proving this is a manufacturing defect. My AXP diagnostic on November 4, 2025 confirms major rear differential/axle issues. The vehicle is unsafe and undrivable. One mechanic told me DO NOT DRIVE IT. Cadillac told me the opposite — “safe to pick up” — even though they did no real diagnostic. Cadillac refused to give anything in writing, refused a loaner, and ignored multiple emails. A Cadillac representative told me they reviewed the previous calls, meaning they know the full history. They still refused to fix the dangerous defect. I have paid over $33k, paid $4k for the first repair, still owe $7k, and Cadillac now wants another $7k for the same issue. This is a major safety risk to me and other drivers.
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the message "Service Air Bag" was displayed, and the passenger's side seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
When driving at around 40-50mph you can feel that the car has a shudder vibration. Took the car into Cadillac where they are informing me that it is the torque converter that needs replacement. No warning lights. If not fixed can lead to transmission failure.
I’ve only had this vehicle for about 2 years now. I purchased it off of Carvana and had 30 days I could’ve returned the vehicle if there was issues. When I first got it, I noticed the vehicles gas pedal would shutter a tad while going up a hill or at a higher speed like on the highway. It would also jolt a little while taking off but when I took it to the dealership they were saying everything is normal and I believed everything was fine since there was no lights on the dash, it was my first time ever buying a car myself, and I had no reason not to trust them. The vehicle is now at a little less than 85,000 miles and I can’t drive it because of how bad it’s jerking, I did a little more research and come to find out this is a huge issue with GMs vehicles transmissions within that years range however my vehicle in particular isn’t on that list. The CTS and i believe even a few ATS Vs were on there but mine is doing the same exact behaviors as they’re describing. If there’s any way you guys can help me out it would honestly be a blessing
The contact owned a 2016 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH and entering the expressway, she engaged the turn signal and verified that the road was cleared. The contact stated that while she was making the turn, an 18-wheeler truck suddenly hit the vehicle, causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was hit three times and spun onto the median, where the vehicle continued to spin until it hit the fence. The contact stated that her sister was occupying the front passenger's seat at the time of the accident. The air bags failed to deploy. Both the contact and her sister were transported to the hospital by emergency units. The contact stated that she sustained injuries on the left side of her body. The contact sustained severe pain on the left shoulder, left arm, left wrist, lower back, on and the neck down to under the shoulder blade. The contact's sister sustained injuries on the right side of the body. The contact sister sustained severe pain in the head, the ear, the right hip, the lower back, the abdomen, and the neck. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Transmission drags. When stopping the car jerks bad and sometimes proceeds to accelerate. When at a stop auto start has a hard jerk I reported this problem to Cadillac dealership when I first got the car. They claim they couldn't find an issue. The touch pad goes out frequently.
Reporting a case for GM recall N182161890. I bought my vehicle in 2022. I was informed that my car had all the recalls completed on that vehicle. My vehicle had exactly what this recall was for happen to it on 10/20/23. After contacting Cadillac, they informed me that this recall was never completed on my vehicle. Cadillac then told me that this recall was expired so it can no longer be completed. They said that the recall expired on 11/30/2020. I was under the impression that recalls do not expire, especially ones that can cause lose of power steering and could lead to collision or injury. Cadillac told me it expired because it was a "Customer Satisfaction Program" recall and not a "Product Safety" recall. I'm confused on how the lose of steering is not a product safety issue. Cadillac is unwilling to fix the recall at this time, even though they have confirmed it had never been completed.
My back glass on my 2016 Cadillac ATS shattered on 3-10-2023. It looks like it got hot from the defroster lines as it shattered every inch of the back glass and separated from the seals. I contacted Cadillac and they started Case #9-9552142107. I had the car inspected at my dealership on 3-11-23. They filled out the report on this case number to support the findings of a current recall already in place. Recall date 2015-09-03 Recall no.15V558000 General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation. When I contacted Cadillac they said I needed to contact NHTSA with the info to have my car put on the recall
CUE screen cracked and is unresponsive and now handsfree safety options don't work.
Showing 12 of 35 complaints.
Over 5 years this costs $4,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.