Cadillac XT4 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Cadillac XT4 options? We analyzed 7 model years (2019–2025) 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 XT4 has 104 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls across model years 2019–2025. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2024 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Cadillac
- Model
- XT4
- Model years analyzed
- 2019–2025 (7 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 104
- Safety recall campaigns
- 12
- Crash-related complaints
- 4
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2024 (29 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (10 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Below Average
By model year
Cadillac XT4: 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 XT4 has 104 NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls on record. 4 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 104 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 12 federal recall campaigns
- 4 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: Sep 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SEATS
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:DASHBOARD
TIRES
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
SERVICE BRAKES
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2019–2025. 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 104 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
104 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.
The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac XT4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and lost motive power. The messages "Service Stabili-trak" and "Intake and Exhaust Valve To Optimize Performance And Efficiency, Please Schedule Service Now" were displayed. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who performed an unknown repair, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The digital instrument cluster will at random times go dark while driving. Took car to the dealership and they say there is no recall or service bulletin. This has happened so many times and i lose speedometer, fuel level and all other critical information all while driving. This is a safety issue and should be something done to resolve this as its dangerous.
When backing up the vehicle, the front brakes squeak as if the wear sensor is engaging. The noise goes away and does not reappear for the remainder of the drive cycle. I took it to the dealer and the pads are not in need of replacement. The service writer stated that it is a 'characteristic' of the vehicle and GM is aware of the problem. They have not issued a service bulletin for this. They also refuse to replace any parts relating to this problem. A search of the internet reveals this is a common problem with XT4's over several years. A simple solution appears to be to lubricate the pads where they seat into the caliper.
I purchased this car used in early 2024. Shortly after buying it, the brakes began squeaking while backing out of the garage in the morning. This is the only time day this occurs. It has been a constant complaint since. I took it to Suburban Cadillac in Troy, Michigan where I purchased the car. They said it is a characteristic of the car and GM is aware of it. Their only suggestion was to spend $1,800 to replace all four brakes and rotors. This causes anxiety as the noise is the same as if the brakes are worn out. The shop at the dealer checked the pads and they all had 8 to 9 mm left. Also, the mileage on the car is about 22,000 miles.
Vehicle is equipped with a 9 speed automatic transmission that will not engage (even after dealer re-program/re-learn). Transmission must either be manually shifted to 9th gear by paddle shifter or shifted to manual mode and quickly back to auto for it to shift to 9th gear (fuel efficiency affected). Report twice to dealer with no concern for repair. Incident happens at every use of the vehicle (infrequent times it does work (shifts to 9th on its own)).
Driving on freeway, vehicle in front slowed down and my vehicle detected vehicle in front slowing down only slowed, not stopping), so my vehicle immediately braked to a stop on the freeway. Concern vehicles behind me of rear end collision. Vehicle would not allow me to proceed until until my vehicle was at a complete stop. Very dangerous as this could cause injury or death by other drivers not able to react to sudden stop.
Read 14 more owner reports
Started vehicle in morning and no sound from the infotainment system (even if radio screen is on). Noticed turn indicators sound no longer functioned as well as I believe auto stop function also became non-functional. Safety concern while driving. Had to reset by performing a system re-set/re-boot myself to make everything work again. This issue occurred 2 times in 2 seperate days.
Turn signal canceler not working after making a left hand turn
Auto Emergency Braking {AEB} applies itself without any operator input and without cause for the brakes to engage, it can happen at any time at any speed without warning and throws everyone and everything in the vehicle abruptly forward as if you were in a crash, this is a very problematic issue that can make the vehicle at slow speeds to be rear ended because of the abrupt stop and also to be out of control at high speeds and causing severe injuries or death !!!! I am not the only person that has had this issue !!!!
Transmission fails to automatically shift into 9th gear. A GM bulletin #21-NA-181 indicates this is normal for efficiency operation, but the information indicated is false. Experiencing 9th gear is allowed to be shifted when manually over ridden or when shift to manual mode (without shifting to 9th gear), then shift back to auto mode, then transmission shifts to 9th gear automatically after this is performed then shift to 9th gear automatically during that cycle until vehicle is turned off. So condition GM claims in their "operating condition" is false.
My 2023 XT4 had a fuel module failure. I was driving along a busy highway at 50 MPH when i lost complete power. Now i see on the Cadillac forum, many people are having problems with the Cadillac XT4. According to the towing company it happens all the times. I also read on the forum other people were told this too by towing companies. This is Dangerous and you could be left in the middle of a intersection and be T-boned. Shame on Cadillac for not caring. We have another XT4 in the household and now are afraid to drive. My car is currently being repaired. so at this time i do not have a repair invoice. Its still at Sheehan Cadillac Pompano Beach fla.
I was driving down the street and the car just turned off. Would not go into gear and said the battery was bad. The exact same thing happened last year they said it was the alternator. Both times my car just power off with no warning while driving down the street
Fuel Pump module failed in middle of a busy intersection that could have caused a major life threatening crash.
The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac XT4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
Rear back half of sunroof exploded. I removed the glass so it would not fly out and hit other cars or people. It could have been very dangerous if the sunroof was open when it shattered.
The vehicle's transmission does not shift smoothly in the lower gears (1-3) when decelerating. It feels like a clutch is popping and the vehicle 'jerks' when this occurs. This began to occur immediately after purchase and continues to do so today. The vehicle was returned twice to the dealer for warranty service and they stated it was operating as designed. The vehicle currently has less than 5,000 miles.
I took my suv in for diagnostics to a certified GM dealership at least twice while still under warranty. The check engine light was on, the car was behaving abnormally as well as making unusual concerning noises. The dealership sent me away saying no codes showed up and they couldn’t find a problem.The light would come on and off sporadically. I took screen shots of my dashboard every time the light came on. Within months of my warranty expiring xI was traveling to IL 1.5 hours from home on I-90 during heavy traffic. Suddenly the dashboard provided extensive messages ex: engine overheating, idle engine, etc and I could not get the rpm’s over 68, then 65; then 60; then 58 etc. I pulled over to let the engine cool on the side of a four lane bumper to bumper interstate environment alone. I had to have the car towed back from Elgin on my dime and took it into the same dealership where this time I spent 1700 on what I recall being told “engine coolant repair” as they claim small leak. Less than a month later the check engine light came back on so I took it back to the dealership. My Cadillac app was registering the same alertmas before the fix : engine coolant system. Dealership said it was a blown head gasket (something about cyl 1) sep from what they worked on for the 1700 and ate wanting over 3700 for this repair. My car was I believe months out of manufacturer warranty though I complained multiple times of concerns and because it is a “separate” issue from May repair and no year warranty from them either . 7 day wait for replacement part alone. I had car towed directly from dealership it was at to a mom n pop auto repair center in town awaiting full diagnostics, preserving “evidence” I learned online my particular suv (2019 Cadillac xt4 premium luxury) is known to have engine and other issues that don’t register codes and likely over 90% chance related to misdiagnosis or a band aid repair. *i have screenshots of dash, “my caddy”app alerts, etc*
Recently went to my local Sewell dealership for my routine oil change. With an oil change they do a complimentary multipoint inspection. During the inspection they noticed that my camshaft carrier was leaking and needed to be resealed. The resealing of the camshaft carrier would be around $4,000. I don’t have that kind of money laying around especially in this economy. I just got a new place and I can’t Afford to spend $4,0000 right now. I did some research online and apparently this is a common issue with Cadillac cars. I reached out to other Cadillac owners and they advised me to submit a complaint with the NTHSA due to the frequency of this issue across Cadillac cars. Will there be some type of reimbursement/recall to fix this issue because if it happening across multiple Cadillac cars no matter the make or model, this should be on GM/Cadillac to fix and not the consumer.
I took my car is for service at the Cadillac dealership and they stated there was an oil leak from the camshaft carrier. When I asked more questions they stated it was a fairly common problem with the XT4 and a few other models where there was a faulty seal at the "T-joint" (cam carrier T-joint). My car is no longer under warranty, but had under 26000 miles at the time. There were no warnings or symptoms. I would not have not if the dealer had not told me. The cost was estimated at $3254.45. If this is a common problem, why isn't there a recall?
During oil change Cadillac mechanic noted camshaft oil seal leak. Video was provided. Mileage on car is 51,534 at that time. I feel that this is too premature and repair requires pulling the engine. Very expensive. Quote was $4,597
Showing 20 of 104 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Cadillac XT4
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 XT4, 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 XT4 has 104 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 XT4 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. 4 of the Cadillac XT4's 104 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 XT4 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Cadillac XT4 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 XT4 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 XT4 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 XT4.
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Cadillac XT4 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Cadillac XT4 reliable?
Below Average. The Cadillac XT4 has 104 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Cadillac XT4 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2024 (29 complaints), 2019 (20 complaints), 2020 (17 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 XT4 problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (24 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (23 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (20 complaints).
Does the Cadillac XT4 have recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Cadillac XT4. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.