Cadillac ATS: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Cadillac ATS problems by model year, from 384 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2013 (57%, 82 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (50%, 15 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (45%, 43 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 5 Cadillac ATS years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2017 (27%) and 2015 (30%). 2017 and 2015 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2016 (50%) to 2017 (27%), down 23 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (82 of 155 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Cadillac ATS year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 ATS | high | 57% | 82 | 160 | 1/5 | 6 |
| 2014 ATS | high | 45% | 43 | 104 | 3/5 | 4 |
| 2015 ATS | no elevated signal | 30% | 7 | 29 | 4/5 | 4 |
| 2016 ATS | high | 50% | 15 | 35 | 2/5 | 3 |
| 2017 ATS | no elevated signal | 27% | 8 | 33 | 5/5 | 2 |
| 2018 ATS | too few to score | – | 7 | 21 | – | 2 |
| 2019 ATS | too few to score | – | 1 | 2 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Cadillac ATS years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Cadillac ATS transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Cadillac ATS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2014 | 14V338000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013–2014 |
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | 13V220000 | electrical system | 2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V446000 | seats | 2013–2014 |
| Aug 2014 | 14V488000 | seat belts: front | 2013 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V358000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2015 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V463000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2013–2016 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V558000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system | 2013–2016 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V086000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V175000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017 |
| May 2026 | 26V329000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2015–2016 |
What the free pages leave out on the Cadillac ATS
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Cadillac ATS
What are the worst years for the Cadillac ATS?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Cadillac ATS years are the 2013 (57% of relevant complaints, high), the 2016 (50% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2014 (45% of relevant complaints, high). 3 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Cadillac ATS?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Cadillac ATS years are the 2017 (27%) and the 2015 (30%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Cadillac ATS have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 155 of 321 relevant NHTSA complaints (48%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Is the Cadillac ATS reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 5 Cadillac ATS years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 48% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Cadillac ATS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Cadillac ATS years we track, out of 10 in total: 14V338000 (Jun 2014, 2013–2014). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.