VehicleVerdict

2013 Cadillac XTS problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 148 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.9 times the median XTS year — the 2013 model ranks #1 of 7 XTS years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

Electrical System leads the complaint categories with 45 reports (30% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

148

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2013 compare to other XTS years?

XTS NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted148 complaints2013: 148 complaints2014: 71 complaints2015: 17 complaints2016: 25 complaints2017: 33 complaints2018: 7 complaints2019: 7 complaints
XTS NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all XTS years to avoid →

What are the most common 2013 Cadillac XTS problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System4530%
Suspension2517%
Other1510%
Engine128%
Brakes96%
Lighting96%
Tires & Wheels96%
Speed Control64%
Seats43%
Driver Assistance43%
Airbags32%
Steering32%
Body & Structure11%
Seat Belts11%
Transmission11%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2013 Cadillac XTS have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

14V541000BrakesSeptember 9, 2014 · 205,309 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.

Remedy

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.

14V518000AirbagsAugust 28, 2014 · 5 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy

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.

14V116000BrakesMarch 17, 2014 · 63,903 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

The corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector may cause a resistive short and melt the connector, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

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.

13V220000LightingMay 24, 2013 · 10,210 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

12V525000SeatsOctober 31, 2012 · 12,626 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

In the event of a vehicle crash, the lowered head restraint may increase the occupant's risk of neck injury.

Remedy

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 6, 2016 · fire

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · May 16, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE PACKAGE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN THE RAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · February 15, 2013

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 20, 2022 · fire

BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN VEHICLE PLACED IN REVERSE ON INITAL MOVEMENT AFTER SETTING ALL NIGHT (INTERSTATE BATTERY) BATTERY DRAINED TOTALLY DEAD AFTER 1 YEAR OF SERVICE ON NEW BATTERY. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO STORE, PARKED, AFTER SHOPPING THE CAR WAS DEAD WOULD NOT CRANK. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 22, 2018

2013 Cadillac XTS — common questions

Is the 2013 Cadillac XTS reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 148 complaints put the 2013 model at #1 of 7 XTS years. It is one of the XTS years to avoid.

What are the most common 2013 XTS problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (45 complaints), suspension (25 complaints), other (15 complaints).

Does the 2013 Cadillac XTS have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2013 Cadillac XTS. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Cadillac XTS years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the XTS years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2017. The cleanest record among XTS years belongs to 2019.

How safe is the 2013 Cadillac XTS?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2013 Cadillac XTS earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.