Cadillac CT6 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Cadillac CT6 options? We analyzed 5 model years (2016–2020) 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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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Cadillac CT6 has 76 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls across model years 2016–2020. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2020 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Cadillac
- Model
- CT6
- Model years analyzed
- 2016–2020 (5 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 76
- Safety recall campaigns
- 13
- Crash-related complaints
- 5
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (26 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2020 (11 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
Cadillac CT6: 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
AverageThe CADILLAC CT6 has 76 NHTSA complaints and 13 recalls on record. 5 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 76 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 13 federal recall campaigns
- 5 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: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
13 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
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2016–2020. 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 76 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
76 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.
During refueling the gas station pumping nozzle would shut off indicating a full gasoline fuel tank; but, the dash board fuel gage indicated the fuel was not full. Had to dribble in fuel to fill. Dealer Mechanic found: Crash roll over gasoline vent safety valve was stuck in the crashed roll over cut off state. No gas tank ventilation. This caused back pressure in car gasoline tank to shut off gas station filler nozzle as though the car was full . Entire gas tank had to be replaced. Still under warranty.
When vehicle was purchased new there was a slight bearing wear noise at the front driver side, which grew louder with years. Noise synchronized with tire rolling rpm. Replacing (my self) front trans axle, the brake pads, shaving rotors, & wheel hub bearing did not fix noise. Next; Dealer shop reported that the AWD front transfer case (differential) had a bad bearing AND that this was a common problem with the model car. $1600 repair bill.
Stuck Thermostat. Vehicle not achieving operating temperature in the correct time. ALL 3 of the people I know with CT-6's had the exact same issue this year.
Front differential case ripped in half and separated from the ring gear. The broken chunk of differential case and pinion was still attached to the driveshaft while coming to an abrupt stop. Damage done within driveshaft tunnel. No warning, no vibration, no cause for concern, just catastrophic failure. Differential and propeller shaft were replaced by an independent mechanic. Cadillac has not been notified as of today, receipt for repair available upon request.
Yes my car was sold to me with structural damages, and I was told any of this when I purchased it!!!!
The brake makes a rattling and metal grinding sound, the dealership said nothing is wrong with the brakes, still problematic. The transmission shifts too hard. Dealer said nothing wrong. Yet cat kicks too hard.
Read 14 more owner reports
MY DRIVER FRONT HEAD LIGHT IS PARTLY NOT WORKING. I BELEIVE IT IS AN LED LIGHT AND THE FACT THAT IT NO LONGER WORKS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FROM LED, IT SHOULD LAST MUCH MUCH LONGER THAN 5 YEARS; AFTER ALL IT IS A CADILLAC AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. I REQUESTED CADILLAC CORPORATE TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS AND ALL THEY WOULD DO FOR ME IS GIVE ME A $250.00 CREDIT TOWARDS THE REPAIR THAT IS APROX. $1,800.00 THIS HEAD LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY SHOULD DO GOOD BY ME, THIS IS MY 5TH. CAR WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
ON MAR 1, 2021 WHILE DRIVING SUPER CRUISE MODE, MY CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT ALMOST STRIKING ANOTHER CAR. I WAS ON THE FL TURNPIKE ABOUT 20 MILES NORTH OF ORLANDO HEADING SOUTH. THE HIGHWAY WAS INCREASING FROM 2 LANE TO 3 LANE SOUTHBOUND AND I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE. WHEN I ENTERED THE LANE TRANSITION, THE CAR DRIFTED RIGHT . AS THE CAR CAME UPON THE NEW WHITE LINE THE CAR ABOUT CENTERED IT. THE CAR TURNED HARD LEFT, AND TURNED OFF SUPER CRUISE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE STEERING WHEEL AND CORRECT THE TURN. WE DID NOT CRASH, BUT IT WAS MOST UNSETTLING.
MY CADILLAC CT6 (2018) QUIT WORKING WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE, IN GEORGIA. THIS MADE FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 75 MPH. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET AROUND TRAFFIC TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER AS THERE WAS 0 POWER. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK FROM CADILLAC ARRIVED WE WERE TOLD WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK BECAUSE OF COVID. WE WERE MADE SIT IN THE RAIN IN 40 DEGREE WEATHER WHILE I SPOKE WITH MY HOME CADILLAC DEALER AS WELL AS THE NEAREST TO WHERE I WAS. BOTH DEALERS WERE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL, MY CAR IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND WAS JUST IN FOR TRANSMISSION WORK ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR (I'VE TAKEN THE CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND IT STILL HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH CADILLAC DEALERS THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO 'DIAGNOSE' THE CAR AND COULDN'T UNTIL FIVE DAYS LATER. I WAS OFFERED AN UBER RIDE IN A CITY THAT HAD 0 ZERO UBER, TAXI OR LIFT SERVICES. I WAS HUNG UP ON BY THESE PEOPLE, THEY WERE RUDE AND THIS WAS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. I HAD TO WALK TO A CAR RENTAL COMPANY AND PAY OVER $400 DOLLARS SO I COULD SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY.
MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THIS IS THE 15TH TIME I HAVE BOUGHT MY CAR IN FOR VARIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS LIKE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIDE OR JERKING AS I DRIVE IT. I HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAS STALLED BEFORE AS I DRIVE. I HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2018
LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE, POWER LIMITED, AND ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERHEAT WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THE COMBUSTION ENGINE WILL NOT START, AND BATTERY POWER AVAILABILITY GOES TO ZERO. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DUE TO INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF COMBUSTION ENGINE AND ELECTRIC BATTERY POWER WHILE IN FAST-MOVING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THERE ARE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING IN MANY CADILLAC OWNERS FORUMS, SO GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR CT6 PHEV TRANSMISSIONS. THE FIX SEEMS TO BE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO A BAD CLUTCH PACK, BUT PEOPLE COULD GET HURT IF THIS ISSUE IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITHOUT A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE, THE NAV SCREEN KEPT FLICKERING, CAUSING A DISTRACTED DRIVER SITUATION AND A HAZARD. THE DEALER DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD PER GM GUIDELINES, BUT EVEN AFTER THE 1ST SERVICE VISIT, THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN IN DRIVE MODE, AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF USING THE POWER OFF BUTTON. GM IS TELLING THE DEALER, THE NAV FLICKERING SCREEN IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, HOWEVER I BEG TO DIFFER IF EVERY 2 MINS, A DRIVER IS FIXATED, FOCUSED ON THE SCREEN MORE SO THAN ON THE ROAD, WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD A FEW TIMES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND ELECTRICAL CONCERN THAT GM DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT EVEN AFTER 60+ DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP.
The contact's husband owned a 2016 Cadillac CT6. The contact stated that while her husband was making a left turn, the vehicle was struck on the front passenger side by another vehicle. The contact stated that her husbands air bag did not deploy. Medical attention was needed, and the contact's husband was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. A police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to the tow lot, where it was deemed a total loss. The contact stated that there were no additional injuries. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the incident. The failure mileage was unknown.
The turbo boost failed cylinder 2 ( after being repaired ) continues to show issues
I am experiencing recurring transmission and drivability issues with my 2016 Cadillac CT6. 1.Rough Shifting: When shifting from park to reverse, the transmission shifts roughly, causing a noticeable jolt throughout the vehicle. 2.Fluid Leakage: I have observed fluid leaking from underneath the car when parked in my driveway. However, the leak is inconsistent—it disappears for a few days after rain or washing my driveway but then reappears under similar conditions. 3.Delayed Shifting: When accelerating from a stoplight, there is a delay before the transmission engages, causing hesitation before the car moves forward. 4.Automatic Start-Stop Issue: The vehicle has an automatic engine shut-off feature that activates when stopping at a light. When I take my foot off the brake, the engine restarts abruptly, causing a harsh jerk that shakes the entire car. This makes it feel like the transmission or another component is not engaging smoothly. 5.Check Engine Light Issue: The check engine light came on for a day, but before I could take it to a repair facility, it turned off on its own. Because of this, I was unable to retrieve any diagnostic codes. I am concerned these issues indicate a faulty transmission system or related defect that may worsen over time. I request an investigation into whether this is a common defect in the 2016 Cadillac CT6 and if any recalls or manufacturer repairs are available.
The car keep losing power pressure when driving it's jerk when put into gear
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac CT6. The contact stated that while in reverse, the vehicle accelerated inadvertently. The brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving between 30-45 MPH on several occasions, the gears shifted, and the vehicle jolted forward. Additionally, that contact stated that the vehicle was constantly shaking. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was first not able to be duplicated. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for the third time where it was diagnosed that an unknown harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred a month later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Approximately in November 2022, I was driving my 2016 Cadillac CT6. While operating at a normal speed of 40 mph, while in traffic the vehicle began to hesitate and a loss of power. The vehicle was towed to Waldorf Cadillac & Chevrolet. The vehicle was diagnosed with a transfer case issue. The vehicle in the repair shop for approximately 4 months. I retrieve my vehicle in February 2023, with a brand-new Transfer Case with a price tag of $2,200.00. On Thursday, August 3, 2023, I managed to drive the vehicle back to Waldorf Cadillac & Chevrolet to have to vehicle repaired. The vehicle is doing the same thing it was doing , when the vehicle was previously in the Repair Shop. The Technician informed me that Cadillac recommend the fluid in the transmission be changed to a high-performance fluid. This recommendation was issued to the dealers several months ago. Now the dealer is charging me approximately $1,000.00 for Transmission Fluid. I asked the Technician why the problem wasn't corrected while previously in the shop. No reply. If Cadillac knows this is the problem, why is the customer being charged for this service, if this will correct the problem. There is 64,000 miles on my vehicle.
Vehicle has sudden violent forward Jerking motion at stops, delayed performance when accelerating ,hard shifting when changing gears, clunking noise when shifting into low gear
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HWY. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN LAUNCHED INTO A DITCH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE INCIDENT.
Showing 20 of 76 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Cadillac CT6
These pages show model-year patterns across 5 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 CT6, 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 CT6 has 76 complaints on record across 5 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 CT6 has 13 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. 5 of the Cadillac CT6's 76 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 (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 CT6 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Cadillac CT6 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 CT6 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 CT6 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 CT6.
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Cadillac CT6 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Cadillac CT6 reliable?
Average. The Cadillac CT6 has 76 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Cadillac CT6 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (26 complaints), 2019 (16 complaints), 2018 (12 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 CT6 problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (46 complaints); ENGINE (8 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (8 complaints).
Does the Cadillac CT6 have recalls?
Yes — 13 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Cadillac CT6. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.