2013 Cadillac ATS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 49 of 160 complaints (31%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | vs. 2013 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,950 | 2,400–2,950 | 2,500–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 21–26 | 21–26 | 21–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18–22 / 26–32 | 18–22 / 26–32 | 18–21 / 26–32 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 344–426 | 344–428 | 356–419 | |
| Complaints filed | 160 | 104 | 29 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 4 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 9 | 6 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 10 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 6 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac ATS have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2013 Cadillac ATS?
Engine: 49 of 160 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Cadillac ATS get?
EPA rates it 21–26 MPG combined across 8 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Cadillac ATS?
EPA estimates $2,400–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 344 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 18 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 426 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Compact Cars | 18 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 426 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 408 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 408 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 379 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 31 mpg | 24 mpg | $2,600 | 366 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 389 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 49 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 45 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 10 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM · Campaign 15V558000 · Sep 3, 2015
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
Consequence: If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · Campaign 15V463000 · Jul 24, 2015
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Consequence: Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT · Campaign 14V488000 · Aug 8, 2014
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.
Consequence: If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.
SEATS · Campaign 14V446000 · Jul 23, 2014
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Consequence: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 14V338000 · Jun 19, 2014
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Consequence: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · Campaign 13V220000 · May 28, 2013
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.