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 393 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Cadillac SRX, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 201 | 51% |
| Unknown or other | 20 | 5% |
| Power train | 19 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 5% |
| Suspension | 12 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2% |
| Engine | 6 | 2% |
| Seats | 5 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Valentine day a car side swiped me on the 91 freeway my car went out of control but I was able to get control of the vehicle driver side got banged up from the back bumper all the way to the driver side front fender.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
The exterior lighting does not light up as warranted. It is impossible to see at night due to the lack of lighting from the headlights. The problem was confirmed with the dealership, however I was told to replace the bul
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
I was driving and had to hard brake as to not hit a young driver who wasn't paying attention to his driving. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. There were no warning lights on. I got the car checked out by
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway, limiting the driver’s vision while driving. The contact stated that the pass
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
My father gave me his 2013 Cadillac SRX and I have noticed the headlights have dimmed significantly over the past few months. I replaced the lamps, but the same issue still exists. I spoke with my local Cadillac dealers
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
Vehicle Headlamps fail to project adequate light to see the road. Several hundred dollars have been invested in attempting to fix this, resulting in zero noticeable help.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
While driving steering becomes unresponsive for a few seconds then returns to normal
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Left front headlight is so dim I cannot drive my car in the dark. I have spent money replacing the bulbs, cleaning the lenses through professional shop(s) and still goes dim and unsafe. After researching this I see th
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Cadillac SRX. 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 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured April 14, 2009, to September 1, 2014, and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, to September 13, 2011. On the affected vehicles, the jam nut in the rear suspension toe adjuster
Risk: Failure of the toe adjuster link could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the left and right rear toe link adjuster lock nuts, and replace the parts if there is evidence of damage or a loose link, free of charge.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured May 29, 2012, through June 26, 2013, and equipped with 3.6L engines. In the affected vehicles, in certain driving situations, there may be a three to four second lag in acceleration due to the transmissi
Risk: A three to four second lag in acceleration may increase the risk of crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal
Risk: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured January 31, 2012, through March 18, 2013, and equipped with 18 inch wheels. On the affected vehicles, the wheel lug nuts may loosen.
Risk: If the lug nuts loosen, they may fall off or cause the wheel studs to fracture. Either condition would allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the wheel nuts by performing a tire rotation, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300.
| Reliability raw | 55 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 65 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 68 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 393 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 201 of them (51%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 55/100 (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 65/100, 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 63/100. 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.