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2013 Cadillac ATS
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Cadillac ATS, covering visibility, seat belts and seats, and 95 consumer complaints received since 2012.
The component named most often is engine: 224.2 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 140.3 per 1,000 across all 2013 model-year vehicles and against 189.4 per 1,000 for the Cadillac ATS line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 27.2 complaints per model year across the 6 Cadillac ATS model years on this register; 6 complaints reported a crash and 0 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2014 (26); the most recent in the file is dated 15 May 2019.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
Consequence: If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 15299).
Defect, as filed: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Consequence: 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 risk of personal injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 15568).
Defect, as filed: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.
Consequence: If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 14171).
Defect, as filed: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Consequence: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 14340).
Defect, as filed: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Consequence: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 14179).
Defect, as filed: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
Filed by General Motors LLC (manufacturer campaign 13158); components: exterior lighting:brake lights; electrical system.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2013 Cadillac ATS (black) against all 2013 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2013 | ATS line | All 2013 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 224.2 | 189.4 | 140.3 |
| Electrical System | 175.8 | 143.9 | 136.2 |
| Power Train | 133.3 | 125 | 114.7 |
| Steering | 103 | 117.4 | 75.2 |
| Unknown or Other | 54.5 | 68.2 | 71.6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 48.5 | 41.7 | 38.7 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 37 | 224.2 | 189.4 | 140.3 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 175.8 | 143.9 | 136.2 |
| Power Train | 22 | 133.3 | 125 | 114.7 |
| Steering | 17 | 103 | 117.4 | 75.2 |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 54.5 | 68.2 | 71.6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 48.5 | 41.7 | 38.7 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 48.5 | 45.5 | 52.4 |
| Wheels | 4 | 24.2 | 30.3 | 14.2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 18.2 | 26.5 | 27.5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 18.2 | 11.4 | 2.4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 3 | 18.2 | 22.7 | 22.2 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 18.2 | 11.4 | 15.4 |
| Tires | 3 | 18.2 | 26.5 | 10.6 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | 18.2 | 30.3 | 20.6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 12.1 | 11.4 | 5.9 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | 12.1 | 11.4 | 2.2 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 12.1 | 22.7 | 89.5 |
| Visibility | 2 | 12.1 | 7.6 | 10.5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 6.1 | 7.6 | 7.7 |
| Seats | 1 | 6.1 | 7.6 | 11.9 |
| Suspension | 1 | 6.1 | 18.9 | 19.3 |
| Equipment | 1 | 6.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 6.1 | 7.6 | 41.5 |
95 unique complaints, 165 component mentions; 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Cadillac ATS model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 6 | 95 | 432,891 |
| 2014 | 4 | 48 | 374,567 |
| 2015 | 4 | 6 | 166,987 |
| 2016 | 3 | 4 | 164,824 |
| 2017 | 2 | 8 | 27,706 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 | 1,829 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Cadillac ATS model years · Cadillac: 36 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac ATS have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 15V558000, was reported to NHTSA on 3 Sep 2015 and concerns visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system. Across all model years the Cadillac ATS line has 11 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2013 Cadillac ATS?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2013 Cadillac ATS complain about most?
Engine: 37 of 165 component mentions (224.2 per 1,000). Next is electrical system with 29. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.