Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Cadillac ATS, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 26 | 16% |
| Engine | 22 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 8% |
| Steering | 8 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 3% |
| Air bags | 4 | 3% |
| Power train | 4 | 3% |
| Seats | 3 | 2% |
| Steering | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I was in a vehicle accident on 9-26-25 and was t-boned. The other driver hit me at 35-45 after she blew the stopping, I was hit on the driver side pillar and back driver door. My air bags never deployed and I was trapped
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Vehicle would not steer lost power steering and loud noise. Had the vehicle towed to a mechanic. The mechanic informed me that the bolts for the electronic power steering had corroded causing the electronic steering moto
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Found metal shavings in oil after 13 visits to 3 different dealerships. Engine had to be replaced. Under 100,000 mikes with a service contract
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Car has a shudder at acceleration acting as if it's in the wrong gear or shifts too soon seems like failing TCC in tge transmission not sure this issue could cause accidents due to car not accelerating fast enough with p
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact stated that the A/c was independently turned off due to engine overheating. The contact was able to pull o
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Car keeps cutting off, when put in neutral, or just cutting on RPM goes up then goes down and cut off, when driving car starts off slow then speed up. put a new fuel pump in the car.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
I had a total loss of steering about two weeks ago, scariest thing ever in my 50 years of driving. A local automotive shop inspected the car and found one steering motor bolt missing and two broken/sheared laying in the
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Cadillac ATS. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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-
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
Risk: If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: 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
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 af
Risk: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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 co
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 m
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 o
| Reliability raw | 60 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 68 | good |
| Maintenance | 69 | good |
| Depreciation | 72 | good |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 26 of them (16%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 60/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 68/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.