Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Cadillac XT6, and it carries 4 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 | 5 | 14% |
| Back over prevention | 5 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Vehicle stalled while driving on a busy road creating a very dangerous situation. Could not put it in neutral to push it out of the road; it was partially in the road for over an hour. Had to have it towed to replace the
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
at 60,740 miles, "Steering Assist is Reduced Drive with Care" message appeared. Under warranty, but dealership booked for 2 months. Error went away. After powertrain warranty expires (70,000 miles), message constantly
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Transmission jerking and has become unsafe to drive. Will have to go back to the dealership for this issue. This will be the third time 4 same issue.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Vehicle has a known condition with many same year make and model that could cause the engine coolant thermostat to open at a lower temperature than intended. This condition has occurred. As a result the Malfunction Indic
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
While driving approximately 15 MPH I noticed a scraping sound and shimmy in the back. I took the car to Capital Cadillac for diagnostic. They found that the tires were separated. I bought the car brand new in 2020 and it
NHTSA complaint: Tires
The Radiator is not functioning, confirmed by a mechanic at a dealership. An engine light did appear to notify me of the problem, however the car has been kept in great condition without accident or cause for the radiato
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Moldy smell coming from vents when AC runs. Had engine sprayed with a cleaner, but smell is still there. It is mold on the condenser.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Transmission shudder at low RPMs. Feels like transmission should down shift sooner, but it shudders and shakes until RPMs get up higher. Does it when RPMs are around the 1500 mark. Vehicle almost seems like it will st
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2020 Cadillac XT6. 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 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient fuel supply to
Risk: Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-6
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly cr
Risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadilla
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th
Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the p
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contac
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped improperly, causing the rearview camera to fail or function intermittently.
Risk: An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the coaxial cables, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer servi
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 68 | good |
| Depreciation | 56 | average |
| Performance | 68 | good |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 5 of them (14%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) 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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2020 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.