AI DamageCadillac XT5: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Cadillac XT5 across 11 model years: 306 owner complaints and 1,572 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 62 complaints (20% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 641.
- Engine: 60 complaints (20% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 661.
- Electrical system: 53 complaints (17% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1,377.
- Steering: 44 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 180.
- Service brakes: 33 complaints (11% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 219.
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 2020–2026
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2017–2026named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 8-speed 2017–2019
- automatic, 9-speed 2020–2026
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 306 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 62 | 3 | 641 |
| Engine | 60 | 2 | 661 |
| Electrical system | 53 | 3 | 1,377 |
| Steering | 44 | 0 | 180 |
| Service brakes | 33 | 4 | 219 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 5 | 31 |
| Visibility | 14 | 1 | 140 |
| Air bags | 13 | 6 | 32 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 5 | 91 |
| Wheels | 11 | 0 | 313 |
| Structure | 9 | 0 | 276 |
| Backover prevention | 9 | 0 | 121 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 0 | 108 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 | 140 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My husband immediately stepped on the brake but the brake pedal became hard, the brake did not work. The car would not stop while pressing down on the brake. We crashed through the exit gate heading to the water, he then turned the wheel which also became difficult to turn as we headed into the brick wall .
The airbags did not deploy and onstar did not recognize crash. I heard nothing from anyone. I called 911 to get the police to come and a wrecker driver. Even though I was wearing my seatbelt, my chest struck the steering wheel and my left hand was badly bruised. This is a serious safety concern.
The contact slightly depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The steering wheel inadvertently veered to the left. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle then drove on top of another vehicle that was parked in front.
At 5,464 miles SES light comes on-another internal transmission part failure this time control valve body needed to be replaced. The control valve body is currently being recalled in the Cadillac CT5 but GM has not acknowledged issues with the control valve body on the XT5.
The air bags did not deploy so the crash computer did not activiate. GM either did not examine the soft ware on the car, or, if they did, that information was not shared with us. If I had been in a crowded parking lot, the consequences could have been catastophic.
Both myself and my wife were wearing our seat belts. Mine held but the passenger one held only the lap belt part. The shoulder part of the SB allowed her face to go crashing into the dashboard. She ended up with abdominal injuries and head trauma.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the thermal break tabs induce stress into the radiator…
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is…
- This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform…
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the thermal break tabs induce stress into the radiator…
- Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the thermal break tabs induce stress into the radiator…
- Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the thermal break tabs induce stress into the radiator…
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- This Preliminary information communicates to the technicians a diagnostic tip if a technician loses…
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is…
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 models of this make
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.