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 CTSProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 31 owner complaints about the 2016 Cadillac CTS, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-175 the manufacturer reports only 46% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Lucas Klappas, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Cadillac CTS has problems
31 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
10Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
9Power train
4Steering
4Suspension
4Engine
3Structure1 crash/fire/injury
2Wheels
2Air bags
1Lane departure
33 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 10 | 1 |
| Power train | 9 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 1 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 |
| 3 other systems | 3 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2016 Cadillac CTS 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 · 2026 Q3
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started.
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 CTS 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 CTS median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Cadillac CTS safety ratings
2016 Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (10.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What CTS owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Center console screen again has stopped working, no access to settings for the car nor any way to correct settings at this point. Many of the settings can be critical to safe driving of the car and have no manual alternative. This is the second screen in 50k miles.
The side detection light in both side mirrors stays on even when the vehicle is turned off. This may cause an accident while driving The problem is confirmed by the dealer No No
CUE screen is “cracked”. Can no longer see about 1/2 of back up camera screen. Barely missed backing into my neighbors car.
Own a 2016 CTS?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.