2013 Cadillac SRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

493 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Cadillac SRX, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 75/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 65,000 miles.

493Complaints
75/100Trouble index
5Recalls
55,110Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2013 sits among all SRX years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 271 complaints (55%) · typically ~65,000 miles
“I am noticing that my head lights are very dim on my 2013 srx cadillac, feeling very unsafe to drive at night.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 SRX
Other 45 complaints (9%) · typically ~50,000 miles
“Can not see with low beams at night. Also, the screen freezes on the "cue" display”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 SRX
Transmission & drivetrain 31 complaints (6%) · typically ~59,471 miles
“Transmission problem leaking plus rear axle noises while driving on 295 hwy lost power from gears started locking up”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 SRX
Speed control 25 complaints (5%) · typically ~10,000 miles
“My transmission is sleepin and it only goes to second gear for like 20 min then it won’t move at all”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 SRX
Visibility & wipers 18 complaints (4%) · typically ~50,000 miles
Engine 17 complaints (3%) · typically ~26,500 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 293 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,110 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 78,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (5)

SUSPENSION 21V473000 2021 Do not drive

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. The rear suspension toe link adjuster may not have been tightened properly, which could result in a loose toe link.

Fix: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicle if they experience certain Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) warnings or other issues, such as unusual steering behavior, while driving. Please see the…

SUSPENSION 14V571000 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of…

POWER TRAIN 14V212000 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured May 29, 2012, through June 26, 2013, and equipped with 3.6L engines. In the affected vehicles, in certain driving situations, there may be a three to four second…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.…

WHEELS 13V202000 2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured January 31, 2012, through March 18, 2013, and equipped with 18 inch wheels. On the affected vehicles, the wheel lug nuts may loosen.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the wheel nuts by performing a tire rotation, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300.…

POWER TRAIN 13V097000 2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call…

Federal defect investigations

Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation PE20019 opened 2020, closed 2021

Led to recall campaign 21V473000.

Technical service bulletins

2,005 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2013 Cadillac SRX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2013 SRX TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2013peak 89 in 20182026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2013 Cadillac SRX reliable?

The 2013 Cadillac SRX drew 493 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 75/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).

What are the most common 2013 Cadillac SRX problems?

The top reported problems for the 2013 Cadillac SRX are electrical (271 complaints), other (45), and transmission & drivetrain (31).

At what mileage do 2013 Cadillac SRX problems show up?

Owners most often report 2013 Cadillac SRX problems around 55,110 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 78,000 miles.

Does the 2013 Cadillac SRX have recalls?

5 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Cadillac SRX. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.