2016 Cadillac Cts Safety Report
2016 Cadillac CTS Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Cadillac Cts
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Cadillac Cts. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (31) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Cadillac Cts with 8 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Cadillac Cts before buying across this generation. |
Cadillac Cts Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Cadillac Cts years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Cadillac Cts | 26 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Cadillac Cts | 47 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Cadillac Cts | 8 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Cadillac Cts | 10 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Cadillac Cts Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Cadillac Cts, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Cadillac onlyElectrical System
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Cadillac onlyUnknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Cadillac onlyAir Bags
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Cadillac onlySuspension
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Suspension issues Cadillac onlyEngine
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Cadillac onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Cadillac Cts
Reliability Score
The 2016 Cadillac Cts receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Cadillac Cts
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Cadillac Cts
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Cadillac Cts:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering: Electric Power Assist System Electric power assist system failures have been reported, causing loss of power steering functionality. This can be dangerous, especially at higher speeds. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbags: Passenger Side The passenger side airbag stays illuminated after the vehicle is started and continues to stay on as the vehicle is driven, which could cause confusion and distraction. |
Medium | Common | 0-100k miles |
| Rear Differential The rear differential failed at 44,600 miles, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. The dealer was unable to obtain a replacement after 30 days. |
Low | Rare | 44,600-60k miles |
| Transmission Shift Transmission shifts extremely hard in and out of gear, which is a known issue with no resolution from GM. |
Medium | Common | 0-100k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Cadillac Cts:
23% of reported issues are related to the steering system.
15% of reported issues are related to the airbag system.
10% of reported issues are related to the rear differential.
12% of reported issues are related to the transmission.
Recall Details for the 2016 Cadillac Cts
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Cadillac Cts by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Cadillac Cts
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Cadillac Cts with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (STEERING); however, the VI...
Message "Shift to Park" even though the car is already in Park, preventing shutting down the car.
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the carbon fiber-optic piece on the rear passenger door was fractured. The contact stated the occupant was exiting the rear passenger's door when the occupant was stabbed by the carbon fiber-optic piece. The contact stated that the occupant was stabbed in the back of the right arm. No medical attention was need...
The passenger side airbag stays illuminated after the vehicle is started and continues to stay on as the vehicle is driven, never going off. General Motors have not issued a recall on this safety problem with the 2016 Cadillac CTS. My [XXX] address [XXX] . My phone number is [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact's relative owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side air bag inflator needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall and provided an esti...
Center console screen again has stopped working, no access to settings for the car nor any way to correct settings at this point. Many of the settings can be critical to safe driving of the car and have no manual alternative. This is the second screen in 50k miles.
Rear differential failed @ 44,600 miles. Dealer said car was unsafe to drive. Dealer unable to obtain replacement after 30 days. Internet search shows this to be a known issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds the rear end of the vehicle lowered. There was an abnormal roaring noise detected from the wheels. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the failure was due to the run flat tires. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer whe...
Torque converter shudders and jerks abruptly. There’s trouble slowing down at times and it has a difficult time shifting up or shifting down i gears.
I have 2 complaints. #1 The transmission shifts extremely hard in and out of gear 1. This issue a known issue, but GM has no resolution. There is a bulletin. The problem is, my car is no shifting poorly in all gears and causing a serious safety issue at all speeds and gears. It won't go into gear causing safety concerns. I have reported the transmission issue multiple times while under warranty an...
The component that failed on my vehicle is the rear differential. My safety was put at risk by my vehicle hesitating on the highway where I lost speed and was almost rear ended. At that point I had to pull over onto a shoulder with grass to wait on the side of the highway for a tow. My vehicle has been with the dealer for the past 2 months. No warning lights or signals.
The component that failed was the rear differential. I had to pull over on a grassy area on the merrit parkway which put my safety at risk. The component has been inspected by the dealer. No warning lamps appeared. I heard a whining sound and a grinding noise.
The side detection light in both side mirrors stays on even when the vehicle is turned off. This may cause an accident while driving The problem is confirmed by the dealer No No
CUE screen is “cracked”. Can no longer see about 1/2 of back up camera screen. Barely missed backing into my neighbors car.
A known issue. “Clutch slow to fill” is a defect of the 8 speed transmission that causes the vehicle to violently buck and surge at low speeds and is dangerous as it makes it unreliable when driving at low speeds since it can randomly lunge forward dangerously. Dealership replaced transmission valve body under warranty and flushed transmission twice but problem remains. Dealership claims it can be...
Cracked CUE screen dealership states not covered under warranty and requesting $1700.00 to replace. My 2016 CTS has only 28,500 miles and has always been kept in the garage since I purchased it new in 2016. I truly feel GM should being covering the cost of replacement on this system on a vehicle that had a $64,000 price tag.
WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, MY VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER TEMPORARILY. THROTTLE MODULATION DOES NOT INCREASE RPM. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL JERK FORWARD AND BACK AS IF POWER IS BEING PUT DOWN THEN STOPPED ABRUPTLY. ONE TIME I HAD THIS HAPPEN, MY LIGHTS, GAUGES, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE POWER ALL WENT AWAY. IT FIXED ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. VERY D...
WHEN I ACCELERATED THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT GOT STUCK AND CONTINUED TO REV WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND FELT LIKE I WAS NOT MOVING. RPM CONTINUED TO GO UP BUT NO POWER. OTHER TIMES A VIG BUMP IS FELT WHEN I TAKE FOOT OFF GAS FOR A KOMENT AND WHEN I PLACE IT BACK ON TO ACCELERATE THE BIG BUMP IS FELT. HAVE TAKEN IT TO CADILLAC SEVICE TWICE AND BOTH TIMES TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED B...
THE CADILLAC CUE DISPLAY FOR RADIO, INFO, HVAC, NAV, ETC. HAS BEGUN TO CRACK (AKA SPIDERWEB CRACKS) WHICH HAS NO MADE THE TOUCH SCREEN UNUSABLE AND BEGUN TO DEGRADE VEHICLE CA0PABILITY. THE DISPLAY FREQUENTLY BLINKS AND MAKES EMITS RANDOM AUDIO TONES BOTH OF WHICH ARE VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD.
AT 45MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHUDDERS. IT ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. I'VE CHECKED IT ON VERY SMOOTH ROADS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T THE CONDITON OF THE ROAD CAUSING THE SHUDDER. SOMETIMES, WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS, IT SHIFTS VERY HARD AS IF BEING BUMPED IN THE REAR. I HAD IT CHECKED AND I'M TOLD IT MAY BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT NOT SURE. THE ORIGINAL TIRES ARE ON THE CAR AND AT 48 THOUSAND MILES ...
Showing 20 of 31 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Cadillac Cts
Has the 2016 CADILLAC CTS been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 CADILLAC CTS has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 CADILLAC CTS have?
The 2016 CADILLAC CTS has 31 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
The 2016 CADILLAC CTS received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 CADILLAC CTS involve power train (6 complaints), electrical system (4 complaints), unknown or other (3 complaints). Other affected components include air bags, suspension, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2016 CADILLAC CTS have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2016 CADILLAC CTS in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2016 CADILLAC CTS have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 CADILLAC CTS out of 31 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CADILLAC CTS.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CADILLAC CTS. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 CADILLAC CTS is generally recommended. It has 31 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 CADILLAC CTS are: 1. POWER TRAIN (6 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 4. AIR BAGS (2 complaints), 5. SUSPENSION (2 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 6 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
Be cautious of steering and airbag issues. Check for recalls and address any reported problems promptly. The 2016 CADILLAC CTS has 31 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
The 2016 CADILLAC CTS receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 31 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Steering: Electric Power Assist System and Airbags: Passenger Side.
What are the known issues with the 2016 CADILLAC CTS?
Known issues with the 2016 CADILLAC CTS include: Steering: Electric Power Assist System, Airbags: Passenger Side, Rear Differential, Transmission Shift. These are based on patterns found across 31 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Cadillac CTS?
The most common issues are steering and airbag problems, with 23% and 15% of reported issues respectively.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Cadillac CTS?
Yes, there are recalls for the electric power assist system and the passenger side airbag.
What should I do if I experience steering issues?
If you experience steering issues, have the vehicle checked by a professional immediately to ensure safety.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of steering and airbag issues. Check for recalls and address any reported problems promptly.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Cadillac Cts
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Cadillac Cts. The data includes 31 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Cadillac Cts an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13