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2013 Cadillac XTS recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 5 US recalls for the 2013 Cadillac XTS, and 5 in Canada. Owners filed 103 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system. Its best NHTSA overall crash rating is 5 stars.

5US recalls
0urgent recalls
103owner complaints
5★overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (5)

Parking brake

2014-09-09 · campaign 14V541000 · 205,309 vehicles

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 and remedy

Risk: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.

Remedy: 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

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 and remedy

Risk: In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: 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

2014-03-17 · campaign 14V116000 · 63,903 vehicles

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 and remedy

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.

Remedy: 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

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."

Risk and remedy

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.

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.

Seats: mid/rear assembly

2012-10-31 · campaign 12V525000 · 12,626 vehicles

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 and remedy

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the lowered head restraint may increase the occupant's risk of neck injury.

Remedy: 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.

Canadian recalls (5)

Show 5 Canadian recalls

Brakes

2014-09-09 · campaign 2014-380

Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 135 - Brake Systems. The electronic parking brake may not fully release, which could cause the brakes to drag. In this condition, the parking brake indicator also may not illuminate even though the parking brake is engaged, contrary to the requirements of the standard. Brake drag could affect vehicle acceleration and cause undesired deceleration, excessive brake heat, and premature wear to some brake components. If the brake drag is significant or if the vehicle is operated for an extended period of time in this condition, there is a potential for the rear brakes to generate significant heat, smoke and sparks. Correction: Dealers will update the electronic parking brake software.

Electrical

2014-03-18 · campaign 2014-082

On certain vehicles, a buildup of pressure in the brake booster pump wiring harness could dislodge sealing plugs from an electrical connector and allow contaminates to enter the brake booster pump relay connector. This could result in corrosion and cause a short in the connector, potentially resulting in a fire and increasing the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs.

Lights and instruments

2013-10-16 · campaign 2013-356

On certain vehicles, the brake lamps could flash intermittently without the brake pedal being depressed. This would convey a confusing message to following road users who, in turn, may not react in a timely manner when the driver does apply the brakes. As such, this could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module. Note: This recall supersedes 2013-176.

Lights and instruments

2013-05-24 · campaign 2013-176 · 118 vehicles

On certain vehicles, the brake lamps could flash intermittently without the brake pedal being depressed. This would convey a confusing message to following road users who, in turn, may not react in a timely manner when the driver does apply the brakes. As such, this could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module.

Seats and restraints

2012-10-29 · campaign 2012-367 · 181 vehicles

On certain vehicles, the rear seat headrest mechanisms may not lock in the upright position after the headrests are folded. Failure of the headrests to remain in the upright position could increase the seat occupant’s risk of personal injury during a crash. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the rear seat headrest assemblies.

Owner complaints (103)

Owners filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Cadillac XTS (2 fires reported). Among 7 model years of this model, it ranks #1 for the most complaints (median 22).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Electrical system41
Suspension25
Unknown or other13
Engine12
Exterior lighting9
Service brakes6
Vehicle speed control6
Wheels6

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Cadillac XTS.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2013 Cadillac XTS 4 DR FWD5★5★5★4★
2013 Cadillac XTS 4 DR AWD5★5★5★4★

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2013 Cadillac XTS version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
XTS 3.6 L Automatic (S6)172721$3,200
XTS AWD 3.6 L Automatic (S6)172620$3,350
XTS Hearse 3.6 L Automatic (S6)152117$3,950
XTS Limo 3.6 L Automatic (S6)152117$3,950
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.