The 2016 Cadillac CTS is associated with 31 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 6 reports (19% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 6 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl, 3.6l 6-cyl, and 6.2l 8-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 17 to 25 MPG combined.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 31 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Powertrain (6 / 19%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 0 crash / 1 fire / 1 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 17–25 MPG (6 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| CTS Sedan | 2L 4-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 30 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $3,050 / yr |
| CTS Sedan | 3.6L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 20 MPG | 29 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $2,550 / yr |
| CTS Sedan | 3.6L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 16 MPG | 24 MPG | 19 MPG | — | $4,000 / yr |
| CTS-V | 6.2L 8-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 14 MPG | 21 MPG | 17 MPG | — | $4,450 / yr |
| CTS Sedan AWD | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 29 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $3,150 / yr |
| CTS Sedan AWD | 3.6L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 19 MPG | 27 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 4 DR AWD | | | | | 10.100000000000001% |
| 4 DR RWD | | | | | 10.100000000000001% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Cadillac CTS models.
View complete 2016 Cadillac CTS crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Cadillac CTS problems & component breakdown (18 categories) →
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Defect Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026.
Affected Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Defect Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.
Affected Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Defect Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
View all 2016 Cadillac CTS recalls & campaign history (4 campaigns) →