2013 Cadillac Ats Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Cadillac Ats.

< older2014
Complaints
255
Crashes
16
Fires
0
Injuries
13
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2013 Cadillac Ats Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#148 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:25,597 mi
Crash-related:1
#241 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:47,419 mi
Crash-related:1
#336 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:36,566 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Cadillac Ats.

Engine Problems
48
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
25,597
Transmission / Drivetrain
41
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
47,419
Electrical Faults
36
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,566
Steering Defects
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,986
Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
16,661
Unintended Acceleration
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
23,778
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
51,333
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,188
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
46,940
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,667
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,466
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Cadillac Ats. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Cadillac Ats

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~432,891 vehicles.

15V558000Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
~96,145 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.

15V463000Sunroof/Moonroof
~63,665 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

14V488000Seat Belts:front
~48,114 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.

14V446000Seats
~124,007 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

14V338000Automatic Transmission
~90,750 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.

13V220000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights · Electrical System
~10,210 affected

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."

Other Cadillac Ats Years

2013 Cadillac Ats — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Cadillac Ats reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Cadillac Ats has 255 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 48 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Cadillac Ats?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (48 complaints, avg 25,597 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (41 complaints, avg 47,419 mi); Electrical Faults (36 complaints, avg 36,566 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Cadillac Ats?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 35,362 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Cadillac Ats?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Cadillac Ats include 16 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Cadillac Ats have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 432,891 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Cadillac Ats?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Cadillac Ats shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Cadillac Ats reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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