repaired · 2023 Q3
Suspension: rear
Do not driveRisk. A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2013 Cadillac SRXProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 393 owner complaints about the 2013 Cadillac SRX, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-473 the manufacturer reports only 67% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Cadillac SRX has problems
393 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
217Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
52Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
31Power train5 crash/fire/injury
25Vehicle speed control
17Engine
16Suspension
13Visibility/wiper
11Service brakes
9Seats
6218 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 217 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 52 | 4 |
| Power train | 31 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 1 |
| Engine | 17 | 0 |
| Suspension | 16 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 13 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 3 |
| Seats | 9 | 6 |
| 18 other systems | 62 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2013 Cadillac SRX 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 · 2016 Q1
Suspension: rear
Risk. Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk. A three to four second lag in acceleration may increase the risk of crash.
no report yet
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Risk. If the lug nuts loosen, they may fall off or cause the wheel studs to fracture.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Electrical system: software
Risk. If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
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.
Mileage at failure
When do exterior lighting problems start?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 120 exterior lighting complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.
7under 30k miles106under 100k miles14100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Exterior lighting
34 owners mentioned a cost$1,500median
Middle half: $1,066 – $1,700
Electrical system
9 owners mentioned a cost$1,500median
Middle half: $1,500 – $1,507
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other SRX 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 SRX median. How we score
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Cadillac SRX safety ratings
2013 Cadillac SRX SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (16.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Cadillac SRX, and the recalls they led to.
- Rear Toe Link Adjuster SeparationLed to recall 21V-473
In owners' words
What SRX owners report
Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The exterior lighting does not light up as warranted. It is impossible to see at night due to the lack of lighting from the headlights. The problem was confirmed with the dealership, however I was told to replace the bulbs which I had done. Replacing the bulbs did not fix the issue so I went back…
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway, limiting the driver’s vision while driving. The contact stated that the passenger’s side headlight was inoperable, and the driver’s side headlight was very…
My father gave me his 2013 Cadillac SRX and I have noticed the headlights have dimmed significantly over the past few months. I replaced the lamps, but the same issue still exists. I spoke with my local Cadillac dealership and they told me of the known issue with the headlights. I did some research…
Own a 2013 SRX?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.