AI Damage2021 Cadillac CT5: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Cadillac CT5 filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and structure. The maker issued 800 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 30
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 800
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 43% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 23% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 7% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 3% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 3% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 13 complaints (43% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 195.
- Structure: 7 complaints (23% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 31.
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 89.
- Visibility: 2 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Air bags: 2 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 10-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 30 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 13 | 1 | 195 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 89 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 65 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 42 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 25 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 20 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My 2025 Cadillac CT5 was stationary at a red light behind a red truck when a black truck traveling in the opposite direction struck the truck head-on. The red truck was pushed backward into the front of my CT5 with enough force to cause major front-end damage. Despite this, no airbags deployed.
There was no indication that the Automatic Braking System, Air Bags and Seatbelts were not working properly. In August 12, 2021, I was in an auto accident where I rear-ended another dodge car. The air bags did not deploy and Onstar was not notified. I believe I hit the steering wheel.
This vehicle is equipped with electronic door handles that are failing widely and prematurely. Essentially the button that actuates the cylinder to allow the door to open fails. This poses a safety risk as you're unable to open the door from the exterior in the event of an emergency.
This vehicle is included under NHTSA Campaign Number 25V148000 for an internal transmission control valve failure that can cause sudden, dangerous wheel lock-up while driving. My vehicle is currently experiencing an active, catastrophic failure of the transmission valve body.
I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue with the door handles on my Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The exterior door handles have stopped working, preventing the doors from being opened normally.
The exterior door handles on my 2021 Cadillac CT5 have experienced the same intermittent failure. The handles initially work intermittently and then become unable to release the door.
The pump gear on the transmission went out during normal driving with only having 30,000 miles on it. I am told my numerous people that the Gm 10 speeds always have issues with them.
The door opening mechanism has failed on the drivers outside door handle. It locks and unlocks fine but it will not open. I can use an alternative by the getting the emergency access key out of the fob and popping off the handle and open with that key.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,087 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 48% least complained about).
On average one model year of the CT5 has 15 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 30, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This PI advises of a procedure for a Service Door Latch System message with No Related DTCs
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an…
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
- Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection issue
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with a replace or low FOB battery message
- This PI communicates information on a SPS programming issue causing Serial Data Authentication…
This PI communicates information on a SPS programming issue causing Serial Data Authentication Configuration to fail.
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
NHTSA lists 800 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Cadillac CT5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, structure, powertrain. Total complaints: 30. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: door locks, latches, handles (60%), windows, sunroof (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Cadillac CT5?
NHTSA lists 800 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Cadillac CT5 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.