2013 Cadillac Xts problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (23) · Electrical System (20) · Engine (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Cadillac Xts model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
75 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Parking Brake 2014-09-09 · campaign 14V541000 · 205,309 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
Risk: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2014-08-28 · campaign 14V518000 · 5 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."
Risk: In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14532.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2014-03-17 · campaign 14V116000 · 63,903 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, through March 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a cavity plug on the brake booster pump connector may dislodge allowing corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector.
Risk: The corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector may cause a resistive short and melt the connector, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealant to the connector cavity plugs, re-route the vacuum pump vent hose and replace the front body wiring harnesses as needed, free of charge. The recall began on April 7, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's number for this recall is 14062.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2013-05-24 · campaign 13V220000 · 10,210 vehicles
Defect: 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 tot
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2012-10-31 · campaign 12V525000 · 12,626 vehicles
Defect: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured from October 12, 2011, through August 30, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 202, "Head Restraints." The rear seat head restraints may not lock in the upright position after being folded forward. If the head restriant is at its lowest position and it falls forward, it will not meet the height required by the standard.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the lowered head restraint may increase the occupant's risk of neck injury.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2012. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-458-8006.
Service bulletins (2,093)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 2,093 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-01 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 156,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 cadillac xts. the contact stated that several codes will intermittently illuminate on the vehicle, such as code 813, which refers to a transmission communication failure; a malfunction with the instrument or cluster (ipc); and code 62, which refers to the body control module (recalls 13 and 158). the power steering, drive c…”
2026-02-09 · Suspension:front:stabilizer Bar · 200,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 cadillac xts. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear suspension was bouncing, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. the message to "check leveling system" was displayed on the instrument panel. the contact researched and became aware of a recall; however, the vin was not under recall.…”
2025-12-08 · Exterior Lighting“automatic headlamp leveling system malfunction causing safety issues with nighttime driving.…”
2025-04-25 · Unknown Or Other“my vin is not associated with the recall, identified as nhtsa id 12v525. it affected 12,626 2013 cadillac xts vehicles manufactured between october 12, 2011, and august 30, 2012. however, the rear seat headrests in this 2013 cadillac xts will not stay in the upright position. safety concern: this could lead to the headrest collapsing during a cra…”
2025-02-28 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“as i’m driving with cruise set my brake lamps intermittently flashing without breaking and the cruise control potentially disengage. a software glitch in the body controls module. plus, my passenger light says the dim light it out when it’s not. i’v had a mechanic replace the light multiple times and he says it something in the wiring.…”
2025-02-13 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“i have replaced my low beam 4 times and it’s still showing the light is out and it is. my cruise control disengaged when i’m driving above 65 with the cruise set and there’s no cars in front of me. …”
2024-11-04 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 118,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 cadillac xts. the contact stated while driving 25 mph and attempting to stop, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed with the brake pedal going down to the floorboard. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the brake booster had…”
2024-04-29 · Unknown Or Other“the gear is stuck between p and r. i am unable to move the vehicle when this occurred, i have too call aaa.…”
2024-01-17 · Electrical System“cadillac cue radio spider web cracked. after doing further research i have found that gm has been aware of the issues and has still yet to do a recall or work with people on replacing them at no cost as the radio screen is something out of the consumer hands. the whole touch screen will go out as i’ve read and not be able to use any radio function …”
2023-10-18 · Seats“rear seat head restraint does not lock in upright position. i drive with read head restraint folded down for visibility. when i try to lock in upright position for passengers, brighter head restraint locks upright.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.