This page covers 4 recalls, 31 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Cadillac CTS.
19–25 mpg combined
9.4–12.4 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints for the 2016 Cadillac CTS cluster most around the powertrain and electrical system. On the powertrain side, owners report losing power steering while driving, with at least one diagnosis pointing to the steering rack and pinion. The electrical complaints lean toward two recurring issues: a "Shift to Park" warning that appears even when the vehicle is already in park, which can prevent the car from shutting off, and a passenger airbag warning light that stays on after startup and remains illuminated while driving. In one reported case, a dealer diagnosed a faulty front passenger airbag inflator as the cause. Suspension complaints round out the top three reported systems, though the specific symptoms across those reports are less consistent. The airbag warning light pattern shows up in more than one report, with owners describing the light staying on continuously rather than cycling off normally.
31
Total Complaints
1
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Cadillac CTS has 4 recalls, the most serious being a driver's side airbag inflator that can rupture during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
On the comfort and safety side, vehicles with heated front seats have a recall where the flexible heating mats can degrade over time and produce excessive heat. Because these seat heaters can activate automatically during a remote start in cold weather, this raises the risk of burns to occupants. The electric power steering system can also fail, leaving the driver with significantly heavier steering effort, particularly at low speeds, which raises the risk of losing control.
At a glance
What can fail
The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture when the air bag deploys, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering system may lose its power assist function, making steering harder to control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering assist system may fail, reducing steering assistance and making the vehicle harder to control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The flexible heating mats in the front seats may become damaged over time, causing the seat heaters to produce excessive heat.
What the fix does
Dealers will recalibrate the body control module to prevent automatic heated seat activation when the vehicle is remotely started.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
