2016 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability
47 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Cadillac CTS, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 8/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2016 Cadillac CTS has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2016 sits among all CTS years
What owners report
Recalls (4)
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.
Fix: 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…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall…
Technical service bulletins
1,572 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2016 Cadillac CTS. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Cadillac CTS reliable?
The 2016 Cadillac CTS drew 47 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 8/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2016 Cadillac CTS problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Cadillac CTS are electrical (10 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (9), and engine (4).
Does the 2016 Cadillac CTS have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Cadillac CTS. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.