Cadillac CT5 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Cadillac CT5 options? We analyzed 7 model years (2020–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Cadillac CT5 has 118 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls across model years 2020–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2020 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Cadillac
- Model
- CT5
- Model years analyzed
- 2020–2026 (7 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 118
- Safety recall campaigns
- 12
- Crash-related complaints
- 14
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2020 (39 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (9 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Below Average
By model year
Cadillac CT5: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
Below AverageThe CADILLAC CT5 has 118 NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls on record. 14 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 118 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 12 federal recall campaigns
- 14 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
12 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
SERVICE BRAKES
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2020–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 118 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
118 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Air bags did not deploy in bad car accident. Safety issue.
issue with all doors and trunk moldings - after heavy rain or after washing the car, the frames inside all doors and trunk have water. This will cause rust and body rot over time. Spoke with the dealer yesterday regarding this issue and was told that all cars have issues and I am not alone complaining about this issue.
michillin pilot sport 4s size 245/40 R 19, all 4 tires became defective, dealer notified was told because of being a vt5 v warranty i bought does not apply to them
Outside door handle/pads stopped working. Car has 30K miles and 2 door handles stopped working and others are starting to be intermittent. Understanding is the pad and electronic switch gets gunked out and wouldn’t make connection. Only way you can open the door is via inside door latch. Seems like a really bad situation if you get into an accident and can’t open thru door from the outside due to a faulty door handle.
The driver door will not open from the outside. My car only has 38k miles on it. All doors will open other than the driver door. This is a safety feature that needs to be recalled and fixed. The dealership even told me this happens often. I have to climb through my passenger door to get in the driver seat. I am a single woman and do not feel safe unless I’m in a busy parking lot bc I could easily get mugged while not being able to safely enter my vehicle fast enough.
My driver side door is unable to open due to the pressure pad. This is a known problem to Cadillac. I have already had to have 2 door handles replaced on the passenger side. It is unsafe to not be able to enter the driver seat of your vehicle in an emergency.
Read 14 more owner reports
Front driver side door unable to open from the outside. Faulty door handle pad. Initially randomly wouldn’t work, would have to press the pressure pad multiple times or press on specific part of the pad. Eventually, stopped working all together. It’s a safety issue if unable to open the door during an emergency. Pretty common issue on Cadillac CT5s regardless of trim. Affects all 4 doors, just happen to be the driver side is the most used.
The front wheels are locking up sometimes when either hitting a bump in the road or just out of the blue while driving. The auto braking will engage quickly and then shut off.
See attached document for complaint
2022 CADILLAC CT5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SHORTAGE OF COMPUTER CHIPS FOR VEHICLES HEATED STEERING WHEEL.
The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Service Restraint System message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side air bag sensor needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.
I purchased vehicle on 7/28/22 from Bayview Cadillac in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On August 2, 2022, I noticed that my brakes were making a loud, harsh, scraping noise when coming to a full stop. Brakes also felt like they were going to lock up or stutter. On August 3, 2022, I brought the car back to the dealership to be serviced. On August 4, 2022, dealership told me that GM and Brembo (brake manufacturer) KNEW of this issue and were working on a bulletin to fix issue but that the bulletin would not be issued until late 2022 or early 2023. GM refused to take back vehicle in this dangerous condition with faulty brakes. Apparently ALL Brembo brakes across many different car manufacturers are having same issue. GM states it is "not a safety concern", however, the brakes are clearly faulty and dangerous. NHTSA should investigate this issue before someone is really hurt or dead.
Received message on dashboard 'Service Safety Restraint System'. Dealership says that airbag needs to be replaced and it is not safe to drive the car. Manufacture of the car does not have the part and cannot repair the car. No timeframe on when the car can be repaired was given. GM is already under investigation for this same exact issue from 2021 where 15 collisions resulted in airbags not deploying.
My car was hit from behind very hard and my head hit the steering wheel. The whole back was crushed and the airbagss did not deploy.
The car was parked for 4 to 5 hours. The keys were with me and the car was unoccupied. It proceeded to unlock from being parked, the alarm went off, and the vehicle rolled down a hill, hit a person and another parked vehicle. The incident occurred on August 8th, 2026. Case No. 26054085 Clayton County Police Department 770-477-3747. The car is being repaired and has been inspected by Cadillac. They were unable to determine the cause. We have video of the incident. With the car being unoccupied we have no idea what the dashboard said or any warnings. While the car was moving it pinched a man in between the car and another car. EMS was called and he was taken to hospital for observation.
I put up a rubber stop to test the emergency stop feature the car is equipped with. With car moving either forward in drive or backwards in reverse the car would not automatically stop before hitting this two foot high aid. A warning vibration is felt just before the car struck the device but the way I understand it in the owners manual the car should come to a complete emergency stop. This could endanger anyone or anything that the driver did not see while moving the car, i.e., a child on a tricycle for example.
Rough idle, reduced acceleration, engine failure requires engine/motor to be replaced. Only 4300 miles on car. Purchase date 6/21/2025. Failure10/25/2025.
I went to test drive this car on Saturday 9/27, and noticed that the rear view mirror--the actual mirror, not the video screen inside it--was vibrating/shaking immensely as I drove it. I told them I'd buy the car, but they have to fix the mirror. Tuesday 9/30 I bought the car, with the assurance that the mirror had been fixed. Apparently there's a screw that was loose. Upon leaving the dealership, I discovered that the shaking/vibrating hadn't gone away--it was merely diminished. I took the car back. We discovered another identical model and year of the car on the lot, and it exhibited the exact same problems. Initially the same screw was loose, but after fixing it that mirror also gave the same shaking/vibrating. We determined that this looks like an overall problem with this model and year, at the least, and the dealership didn't know what to do. I declined the car. This is a serious issue with rear visibility. The rear view mirror is almost unusable, and it's almost illness-inducing to see in action.
I just bought a new car 5 days ago, and after running 378 miles, it started to pull the cylinder. The after-sales service is still delaying the time. I don't know what to do, and Cadillac still doesn't give me a mobility scooter.
This new 2025 Cadillac CT5 displays incorrect posted speed limits on Rte. 114 Flanders Rd, Gulf Rd, Bear hill Rd , .Ryan Rd, in Henniker NH. speed of 55mph which is incorrect to legal posted speed limits being much slower. This vehicle also shows roads that have no posted speed limit sign of 55 mph, which should be for safety reason(--) Can we have these roads updated to display the correct posted speed limits from the third party supplier /google.
Showing 20 of 118 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Cadillac CT5
These pages show model-year patterns across 7 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Cadillac CT5, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Cadillac CT5 has 118 complaints on record across 7 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Cadillac CT5 has 12 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 14 of the Cadillac CT5's 118 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Cadillac CT5 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Cadillac CT5 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Cadillac CT5 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Cadillac CT5 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Cadillac CT5.
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Keep researching before you buy
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Cadillac CT5 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Cadillac CT5 reliable?
Below Average. The Cadillac CT5 has 118 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Cadillac CT5 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2020 (39 complaints), 2021 (29 complaints), 2026 (15 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Cadillac CT5 problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (27 complaints); POWER TRAIN (27 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (22 complaints).
Does the Cadillac CT5 have recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Cadillac CT5. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.