Cadillac · XTS · 2013
5
Recalls
102
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2013 Cadillac XTS has 5 recalls and 102 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: suspension (20 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Frontal Crash Test

Side Crash Test

Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
11.8% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14532.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, through March 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a cavity plug on the brake booster pump connector may dislodge allowing corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector.
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealant to the connector cavity plugs, re-route the vacuum pump vent hose and replace the front body wiring harnesses as needed, free of charge. The recall began on April 7, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's number for this recall is 14062.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy Status
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured from October 12, 2011, through August 30, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 202, "Head Restraints." The rear seat head restraints may not lock in the upright position after being folded forward. If the head restriant is at its lowest position and it falls forward, it will not meet the height required by the standard.
Remedy Status
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2012. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-458-8006.
Automatic Headlamp Leveling System malfunction causing safety issues with nighttime driving.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear suspension was bouncing, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The message to "Check Leveling System" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact researched and became aware of a recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to the residence and the vehicle was self-diagnosed and it was determined that the stabilizer bar had detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report a failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
My VIN is not associated with the recall, identified as NHTSA ID 12V525. It affected 12,626 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured between October 12, 2011, and August 30, 2012. However, the rear seat headrests in this 2013 Cadillac XTS will not stay in the upright position. SAFETY CONCERN: This could lead to the headrest collapsing during a crash, potentially increasing the risk of injury to rear seat occupant I called my local dealer Red Nolan Cadillac and they informed me that since the VIN is not associated with the recall, they cannot help me with a replacement unless I pay $497 for labor and parts to replace the headrests in the rear of my vehicle. HELP!!! I believe this is a safety issue when someone is in the back seat. It has already been identified as a safety issue. The rear seat headrest mechanism may not engage properly, causing the headrest to not lock in the upright position after being folded forward. REMEDY:The recall involved replacing the affected headrest mechanisms with a revised design.
As I’m driving with cruise set my brake lamps intermittently flashing without breaking and the cruise control potentially disengage. A software glitch in the body controls module. Plus, my passenger light says the dim light it out when it’s not. I’v had a mechanic replace the light multiple times and he says it something in the wiring.
I have replaced my low beam 4 times and it’s still showing the light is out and it is. My cruise control disengaged when I’m driving above 65 with the cruise set and there’s no cars in front of me.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH and attempting to stop, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed with the brake pedal going down to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake booster had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.
The gear is stuck between P and R. I am unable to move the vehicle when this occurred, I have too call AAA.
Cadillac Cue Radio spider web cracked. After doing further research I have found that GM has been aware of the issues and has still yet to do a recall or work with people on replacing them at no cost as the radio screen is something out of the consumer hands. The whole touch screen will go out as I’ve read and not be able to use any radio function or control anything else the radio screen does.
Message”stalbility track needs service” while driving, speedometer and rpm hands become unstable with lights for traction coming on. Then car shuts down with no acceleration. Have brought to GM service several times and they can’t find the problem.
Rear seat head restraint does not lock in upright position. I drive with read head restraint folded down for visibility. When I try to lock in upright position for passengers, brighter head restraint locks upright.
The contact owned a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated that they parked their vehicle and approximately 5-10 minutes afterward the vehicle caught fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. There were two vehicles and a bicycle nearby that caught on fire as a result of the contact's vehicle fire spreading. There were no injuries and medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hazard lights independently activated, and the CUE touch screen became inoperable. The electrical system failure warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then lost motive power and was towed to a nearby Pep Boys, where the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be taken to the dealer for service. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Front right passenger side suspension slams hard on the ground while driving at times. It has occurred multiple times and this can be dangerous while driving. It has been checked out and repaired by replacing them but front right side suspension still slams while driving after a few months. This is an expensive problem as well as dangerous.
The car shut off while I was driving mid speed. This has happened multiple times luckily I wasnt on the highway. But this has happened many times so glad no other cars hit me, or I didnt crash with my kids in the car. This is so scary and I need Cadillac to look into this issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated while driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with nothing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact then stated 3 months later, the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the radio module needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred a month later. The contact then took the vehicle back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the battery needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred four months later. The contact then took the vehicle back to dealer where it was diagnosed with the radio needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer for the fourth time where it was diagnosed with an unknown fuse needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,435.
DIC(Digital information cluster) fails to come on when I start the car. This is an electronic dashboard and also affects all the steering wheel Controls including cruise control, turning signals and heads up display.Without the system you are essentially driving blind. I notified Cadillac customer service A few months ago and they said they would replace the part but I would have to pay for the labor but they have not done so thus far. This instrument failure apparently happens often and through 2015 they had a service call to replace the part but I was not notified and it did not happen in my car until recently.
CADILLAC CUE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. CUE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOW AND THE SAME ISSUE KEEPS HAPPENING, FIRST IT CRACKS AND THEN YOU LOOSE TOUCH SCREEN THEN IT GOES BLACK. NO GPS AVAILABLE MAKING MY COMMUTES DANGEROUS.
THE SUSPENSION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING TOTALLY COLLAPSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO ONE FIRST GETTING INTO AND STARTING THE CAR. MECHANIC REPLACED A RELAY SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES STILL. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR ACCOUNTS FROM VARIOUS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL!
THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE GIVES OUT AND A CORNER OF THE CAR WILL SLAM TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. YEAR OVER YEAR WE HAVE HAD THE " SERVICE LEVELING SYSTEM " ERROR COME UP FOR OUR VEHICLE. IT IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE NOT KNOWING WHEN THE SUSPENSION WILL GIVE OUT. DEALERSHIPS HAVE MADE MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND UPDATES TO NO AVAIL. NOTHING SEEMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE BATTERY CABLE, SPECIFICALLY THE POSITIVE ONE, DOES NOT CONDUCT THE ELECTRICITY FROM THE FULLY CHARGED BATTERY TO THE STARTED, LEAVING THE CAR TO NOT START, OR TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START. EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY IF FULLY CHARGED, THE VOLTS MAKING IT TO THE CARE ARE 9-10 VOLTS. VOLTMETER SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE 12 VOLTS IN BATTERY, BUT ONLY ABOUT 9 IN THE POSITIVE CABLE. I'M TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THESE MODELS, AND THAT IT'S DUE TO A LOOSELY WOUND CABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2013 Cadillac XTS has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 102 owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Cadillac XTS.
The 2013 Cadillac XTS received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2013 Cadillac XTS are suspension (20 reports), electrical system (19 reports), unknown or other (9 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2013 Cadillac XTS. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.