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2021 Cadillac CT5Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 30 owner complaints about the 2021 Cadillac CT5, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-148 the manufacturer reports only 71% of affected cars repaired.

2021 Cadillac CT5
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 71%Owner complaints305 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem13Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 14, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2021 Cadillac CT5 has problems

30 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system131
Structure70
Power train40
Forward collision avoidance22
Air bags22
Steering10
Tires10
Visibility10
Visibility/wiper10
6 other systems62

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2021 Cadillac CT5 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.

71%repaired · 2026 Q3

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 25V-148 · Mar 6, 2025 · 90,081 vehicles · 64,082 repaired

Risk. Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

97%repaired · 2024 Q4

Lighting control module: software

Recall 22V-903 · Dec 8, 2022 · 740,108 vehicles · 715,321 repaired

Risk. DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

94%repaired · 2023 Q2

Air bags

Recall 21V-611 · Aug 5, 2021 · 34,157 vehicles · 32,243 repaired

Risk. Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

97%repaired · 2023 Q2

Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light

Recall 21V-421 · Jun 10, 2021 · 285,622 vehicles · 277,508 repaired

Risk. The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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

2021 vs. every other CT5 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 CT5 median. How we score

'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2021 Cadillac CT5 safety ratings

2021 Cadillac CT5 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2021 Cadillac CT5 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2021 Cadillac CT5 side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2021 Cadillac CT5 side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 5 stars (9.5% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2021 Cadillac CT5, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag MalfunctionPE21010 · closed Aug 24, 2023
    No recall
In owners' words

What CT5 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

This vehicle is equipped with electronic door handles that are failing widely and prematurely. Essentially the button that actuates the cylinder to allow the door to open fails. This poses a safety risk as you're unable to open the door from the exterior in the event of an emergency. Imagine if you…
Complaint 11771042 · Oct 14, 2026
I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue with the door handles on my Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The exterior door handles have stopped working, preventing the doors from being opened normally. On one occasion, I was trying to get my child out of the back seat when the rear door handle…
Complaint 11765920 · Sep 21, 2026
The exterior door handles on my 2021 Cadillac CT5 have experienced the same intermittent failure. The handles initially work intermittently and then become unable to release the door. The button on the inside of the door handle doesn't respond when pushed and that is the only way to get in the car…
Complaint 11765625 · Sep 20, 2026

Own a 2021 CT5?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.