no report yet
Driver side: inflator module
NewRisk. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2016 Cadillac ATSProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 32 owner complaints about the 2016 Cadillac ATS, most often about the power train. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-463 the manufacturer reports only 96% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Cadillac ATS has problems
32 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
10Power train1 crash/fire/injury
6Electrical system
5Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
4Wheels
4Steering1 crash/fire/injury
3Engine
2Vehicle speed control
2Visibility/wiper
2Service brakes
55 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 10 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 1 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 |
| 5 other systems | 5 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2016 Cadillac ATS recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Risk. If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk. 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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Cadillac.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other ATS year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the ATS median. How we score
'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Cadillac ATS safety ratings
2016 Cadillac ATS 2DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What ATS owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V558000 Rear Defogger Coil Antenna Module may Overheat If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, not sure what is happening but car does seem to overheat off and on especially when radio is turned on
On 3rd differential in 2 years. Dealer won’t fix without us paying ANOTHER $4,700. There is NO way a differential goes 3 times in 2 years. Something is wrong. Help!!
When driving at around 40-50mph you can feel that the car has a shudder vibration. Took the car into Cadillac where they are informing me that it is the torque converter that needs replacement. No warning lights. If not fixed can lead to transmission failure.
Own a 2016 ATS?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.