27 of the
556 complaints filed about the Cadillac ATS
are about the braking system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
Vehicle has an issue where it intermittently throws errors, loses power, accelerates on its own, and is difficult to steer. I purchased it with 12,800 miles in it and it has been having this issue since then and no one has been able to fix it. It appears from maintenance records it has been happening since it had 2800 miles on it. It has happened many times with me since I purchased the vehicle in November of 2023.
NHTSA complaint #11689817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I’m writing here to state that the Cadillac with this VIN [XXX] IS A FRAUDULENT SALE my husband and I have experienced. The car show no damages on CarFax but when we took the car to a certified Cadillac dealership they said they were shocked we could even drive it. The catalytic Converter is completely missing along with several other computer systems issues. The car jumps up and down when you drive it, feels like horseback riding more than a car ride. Cadillac denied working on the car and advised us not to drive it at all Every single warning light that could be on the dash/odometer lit up approx 5mins of being on the highway. Throw the car in the junkyard where it belongs! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11644330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Breaks are not working properly, once the car sits for a few hours, then once I start it and put it into gear (reverse/drive) as I press the breaks(new break pads) the car continues to roll. This could be the abs module or the calipers but these should be good for the life of the vehicle. No dealer has the abs module. So now I'm stuck putting myself and others in danger.
NHTSA complaint #11591239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal all the way to the floorboard, the vehicle hesitated to respond as needed. The brake assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the brake sensors had failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 132,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11584055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was very stiff and hard to depress causing the braking distance to be extended. The contact drove off the roadway to avoid a collision and activated the parking brake and shifted to park(P) causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. During the failure the “Service Brake Assist" message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,098.
NHTSA complaint #11464773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DROVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. I APPLIED ALL OF MY FORCE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN LESS THAN 14 MONTHS. HAD IT REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME. IT HAD NO BRAKE ASSIST AND A CRACKED PCV VALVE. THE VACUUM PUMP AND HOSE TO BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. 14 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11397631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE ASSIST AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKES THREE WEEKS PRIOR HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT CALLED VALDOSTA CADILLAC LOCATED AT 3685 INNER PERIMETER RD, VALDOSTA, GA 31602, AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11344289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN OPERATING MY VEHICLE INTO DRIVE MANY TIMES WHEN TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS THE CAR LOOSE IT POWER AND STALLS. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING VEHICLE INTO OTHER CROSS SECTIONS OR SMIPLY TURNING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENHIS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY OR MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY. I WAS MOVING FORWARD OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO ON GOING TRAFFIC. LUCKLY I WAS ABLE TO BAGBACK INTO DRIVEWAY .
NHTSA complaint #11317835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL THERE HAS BEEN NO "INCIDENT" RE THE 2013 ATS. THE ISSUE ORIGINATED WITH RECALL NOTICES TO MY DEALER AND TO ME RE (1) STEERING (2) AIR BAGS (3) BRAKES. THE AIRBAG ISSUE INVOLVES CONTINUAL WARNING BY LIGHT AND BY SOUND RE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER SECRETARY STATES THAT SHE HAS NOTICES FOR ALL THREE (ABOVE) TO BE RECALLED. DEALER GARAGE, HOWEVER, STATES THAT THE ONLY RECALL WAS STEERING AND HAVE RECENTLY REPAIRED THE STEERING. I RECALL RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES AT MY HOME BUT NO LONGER HAVE THEM. AND SO, COMPLAINANT IS SEEKING TO LEARN WHETHER THE BRAKES AND THE AIR BAG WARNING NEED ADDRESSING.
NHTSA complaint #11255602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #11255814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR MY AIRBAGS. NOTHING HAPPENED. MY AIRBAGS WERE DEEMED TO BE DANGEROUS/RECALLED/ SAME WITH MY STEERING WHEEL (2).. SAME FOR REAR BRAKES. YOUR QUESTIONS ARE NOT RELEVANT. NOTHING HAPPENED. RATHER RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED ON AIRBAGS, STEERING WHEEL (2) AND ON MY REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #11232942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FROM 3/2013 TO 3/2019 A 3 YEAR PERIOD I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES 3 TIMES DUE TO IRREGULAR WEAR INSIDE, NOW EXPERIENCING ROARING NOISE FROM READ WHEEL. TIRES WERE CONTINUALLY ROTATED DURING REGULAR SERVICES WITH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHOWING LOW PRESSURE LOW, DEALER WAS ADVISED ON EACH OCCURRENCE PRIOR TO RECEIVING SERVICE . THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE DISENGAGED ON 8/31/2018 THE DEALER CHARGED ME FOR REPAIRS WHEN THIS WAS PART OF A RECALL PRIOR TO MY OWNING THE CAR, AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE CARFAX DID NOT DISCLOSE
NHTSA complaint #11219857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARTED VEHICLE AND WENT IN RESERVE. THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AS I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE REARWARD. I HAD TO APPLY HARD PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BRAKE PEDAL BARELY MOVES AS I PRESS IT. HARD TO STOP VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11156889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON BRAKING CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE BUT EVENTUALY STOPS. ABOUT 8 DAYS LATER WHILE PARKING THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE RESULTING IN A COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #11064482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE WILL FAIL TO DISENGAGE FULLY (WHEN DISENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE) OR PARTIALLY ENGAGE ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. THE RESULT IS THAT THE CAR EXPERIENCES INCREASING DRAGGING, POOR ACCELERATION, AND SUDDEN STOPPING. THE CONSOLE BRAKE LIGHT FAILS TO ILLUMINATE IN ALL INSTANCES AND FAILS TO INFORM THE DRIVER THAT THE PARKING BRAKE HAS ENGAGED. WHEN RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE FROM A PARKED STATE, THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL RAISES AND INDICATES TO THE DRIVER THAT THAT IT FULLY BEEN HAS DISENGAGED. THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ALSO TURNS OFF. HOWEVER, WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR, THE DRIVER DISCOVERS THAT THERE IS NO RESISTANCE/PUSHBACK ON PARKING BRAKE AND THAT IT FAILED TO RELEASE IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. AGAIN, IN THESE INSTANCES THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED IN SEVERAL INSTANCES IN NORTHING CALIFORNIA UNDER DRY AND FAIR WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #10871441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING/AUTO BRAKING FEATURE MALFUNCTIONED AT 45MPH AND FLASHED COLLISION WARNING IN HUD AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FULL FORCE WITH NO OBJECTS/CARS ANYWHERE NEAR THE VEHICLE. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN BEHIND US THE CAR WOULD HAVE HIT US.
NHTSA complaint #10817024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CADILLAC ATS 2013 CONTINUES TO STALL AND TURN OFF CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR REPAIR, AND VEHICLE HAS STILL BEEN STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10691265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD 4 RECALLS ON MY ATS SINCE PURCHASE JUNE 2013. STARTING 2/5/14 WITH ONLY 3308MI TAKEN THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE COMPLAINED AFTER FOURTH VISIT WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND LISTENING TO THE DEALER TO SAY THAT WAS NORMAL FINAL ON 5TH VISIT ON 12/10/14 7960MI FINAL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHEN BACK WINDOWS ARE ROLL DOWN THERE IS A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND THAT HURTS YOUR EAR AND DISTRACT YOUR DRIVING AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL HOW CAN THAT BE NORMAL WHEN YOU CAN'T ROLL BACK WINDOW DOWN FOR FRESH AIR. ALL SO COMPLAINED ABOUT LOSING RADIO SIGNAL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS PENSKE REPROGRAMMED. REPLACED WEATHER STRIP AROUND FRONT DOORS DRIVER& PASS SIDE 8/20/14 6521MI. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW ROUGH THE ENGINE RUNS WHEN STOP AT RED LIGHT ON 12/10/14 REPROGRAMMED ENGINE. IS THERE ANY SAFETY STATION I CAN TAKE MY CAR FOR SAFETY CHECK. I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED. I PAID OVER $37,000 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS CAR I WAS DRIVING WHICH WAS 2001 BUICK LESABRE. I DON'T FEEL THAT PENSKE CADILLAC IS BEING HONEST WITH PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT THE LOUD NOISE FROM DRIVING IS COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHERE I CAN GO TO GET A SECOND OPINION WITHOUT VOIDING MY WARRANTY. WHAT IS THE LEMON LAW REGARDING THESE ISSUES? I REALLY DON'T FEEL THAT I BROUGHT A NEW CAR BY ALL THE TROUBLE THIS CAR IS GIVING ME. BACK AND FORTH FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10672783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURNED CAR OFF. STARTED 5 MINS LATER MOVED JUST A COUPLE MILES AND HOUR AND POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WENT OUT. TURNED CAR OFF AND WORKED AFTER THAT.
NHTSA complaint #10598875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEED, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO CARS OR OBSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF MY CAR. THE BRAKES WERE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED, THE COLLISION WARNING APPEARED ON THE HUD, AND THE CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED. HAD THERE BEEN A VEHICLE BEHIND ME, THERE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS COLLISION. I HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI-TRUCK AND THOUGHT MAYBE A REFLECTION FROM THE TRUCK MAY HAVE ACTIVATED THE SYSTEM, BUT I HAD COMPLETED THE PASSING MANEUVER BEFORE THE CAR BRAKING ACTIVATED. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 4/4 BUT THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10593499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.