FaultScore

2016 Cadillac ATS transmission problems

10 of the 45 complaints about the 2016 Cadillac ATS are about the transmission — 22% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 24,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 10 100.0%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Cadillac ATS year

2013 46 54.1%
2014 29 34.1%
2016 10 11.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Kihei, HI

POWER TRAIN

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

NHTSA complaint #11744660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasant Prairie, WI

POWER TRAIN

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!!

NHTSA complaint #11735357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delray Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11633794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, OH

POWER TRAIN

I’ve only had this vehicle for about 2 years now. I purchased it off of Carvana and had 30 days I could’ve returned the vehicle if there was issues. When I first got it, I noticed the vehicles gas pedal would shutter a tad while going up a hill or at a higher speed like on the highway. It would also jolt a little while taking off but when I took it to the dealership they were saying everything is normal and I believed everything was fine since there was no lights on the dash, it was my first time ever buying a car myself, and I had no reason not to trust them. The vehicle is now at a little less than 85,000 miles and I can’t drive it because of how bad it’s jerking, I did a little more research and come to find out this is a huge issue with GMs vehicles transmissions within that years range however my vehicle in particular isn’t on that list. The CTS and i believe even a few ATS Vs were on there but mine is doing the same exact behaviors as they’re describing. If there’s any way you guys can help me out it would honestly be a blessing

NHTSA complaint #11626993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

College Park, GA

POWER TRAIN

Transmission drags. When stopping the car jerks bad and sometimes proceeds to accelerate. When at a stop auto start has a hard jerk I reported this problem to Cadillac dealership when I first got the car. They claim they couldn't find an issue. The touch pad goes out frequently.

NHTSA complaint #11575697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,000 miles Homeland, CA

POWER TRAIN

WHILE ARRIVING AT STOP LIGHTS THE CADDILLAC ROUGHLY SHIFTS DOWN JOLTING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. AROUND 1500 RPMS WHETHER ITS SITTING OR JUST PASSING 1500 RPMS THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND VIBRATES AGGRESIVELY UNTIL AROUND 2000 RPM. RPMS JUMP UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 1000 AND 3000 RPMS

NHTSA complaint #11383582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Richmond, VA

POWER TRAIN

AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THE ENTIRE CAR IS VIBRATING. ENGINE RPM IS BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500. RESPONSE IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE CAR MAY SPEED UP OR ATTEMPT TO STALL. VERY DANGEROUS ENTERING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC SITUATIONS OR ACCELERATING IN LOCAL TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #11310482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,000 miles Santa FE, NM Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR ACHES AND PAINS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC OF SANTA FE (505-240-6622, LOCATED AT 4450 CERRILLOS RD, SANTA FE, NM 87507) THE PREVIOUS DAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE IT STARTED. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE SAME DEALER AFTER THE CRASH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN FEATURE IN THE VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE SENIOR ADVISER STATED THAT THE PRODUCT DIVISION WOULD BE NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. *DT CONSUMER TRADED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11255000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hesperia, CA

POWER TRAIN

TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES TO DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. GM HAS REPLACED IT AT 17475 MILES. MORE TRIPS FOR ISSUES WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. IMPROPER SHIFTING, HARD DOWN SHIFTING, HOLDING RPM GEAR LONGER THAN NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #11246431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salem, OR

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE TENDS TO DO A HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT'S AROUND 10-15 MPH AND IT WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR FROM BEHIND. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP 10-15 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL SOMETIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11206974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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