2016 Cadillac CTS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 10 of 31 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 48 in 2015 to 31 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–5,550 | 2,600–5,550 | 2,600–4,550 | 2,600–4,550 | 2,600–4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 14–23 | 14–24 | 17–25 | 17–25 | 19–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 12–20 / 18–29 | 12–20 / 18–30 | 14–21 / 21–30 | 14–22 / 21–30 | 16–22 / 24–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 384–626 | 374–638 | 360–532 | 359–530 | 360–488 | |
| Complaints filed | 146 | 48 | 31 | 27 | 8 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 11 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
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 2016 Cadillac CTS have?
4 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 2016 Cadillac CTS?
Electrical: 10 of 31 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Cadillac CTS get?
EPA rates it 17–25 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Cadillac CTS?
EPA estimates $2,600–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (high) | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 372 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 472 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $3,100 | 360 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $2,600 (low) | 378 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 6.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 14 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 532 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 399 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 (4)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 26V329000 · May 21, 2026
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · Campaign 25V175000 · Mar 20, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · Campaign 19V086000 · Feb 13, 2019
Defect: 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.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
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.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER · Campaign 18V595000 · Sep 11, 2018
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Consequence: In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.