AI Damage2021 Cadillac XT6: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Cadillac XT6 filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 814 service bulletins for this year. We found 2 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 21
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 814
- YouTube repair videos
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 24% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 19% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 19% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 14% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 10% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (24% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 197.
- Engine: 5 complaints (24% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 80.
- Backover prevention: 4 complaints (19% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 31.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (19% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Steering: 3 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
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
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 21 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 | 5 | 0 | 197 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 80 |
| Backover prevention | 4 | 0 | 31 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 130 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 96 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 32 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 216 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 20 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I didn’t get any warning lights or notice anything leaking under the car but when I checked under the hood the coolant reservoir was empty. I made appointment at GM dealership and they found I had a leak along the side seam of my radiator. The car only has 61k miles!
The Check Engine Light appeared, a Steering warning appeared on my information screen, and the engine cooling fan continued to run excessively after turning off. I understand there is a Special Coverage N252508350 for this exact issue, however, GM is refusing to cover the cost of repairs.
On September 15,2026, my vehicle experienced a catastrophic los of power steering assist accompanied by severe heavy steering. Please review General Motors TSB 20-NA-215 & TSB 17-NA-158 both addressing this issue.
Your site shows no recalls. I got a recall for a repair I had to have done a few months ago. I just got the recall notice from GM, but when I called to inquire about a reimbursement, they state the recall was released in 10/2025. Even though your site says there was no recall at the time.
The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure and informed the contact that the contact had to pay for the rear-view camera software update. The vehicle was not repaired.
Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the H-pipe was leaning more to the right side. The H-pipe was not centered as intended. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired.
The vehicle was previously recalled for an intermittent backup camera failure. Prior to me purchasing the vehicle, the recall was completed and documented as repaired. I went in to the [dealer] dealership for reoccurring issues with the camera failing exactly as disclosed in the recall.
Symbols appeared on dashboard screen : triangle with excamation point, and box with "x" thru a camera. Car is difficult to see out of when backing due to pillar placement in rear. Rely on camera(s) on 4 sides of car to see what is going on. I see that several other gm models have had this problem.
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 1,228 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 42% least complained about).
On average one model year of the XT6 has 16 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 21, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
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 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 that a vehicle may be encountered with the heated/ventilated…
This Preliminary information communicates that a vehicle may be encountered with the heated/ventilated seats inoperative. Upon further inspection it will be found that the F19DA fuse will be open. The technician is…
- 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 information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- Improvements to OnStar functionality
- 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
- Improvements to OnStar functionality
During the update process, your radio may stay on up to 5 minutes after you exit the vehicle. This is expected behavior when an update package is onboard the vehicle. Do not service your vehicle during installation.
NHTSA lists 814 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.
- From Crash to Cash: 2021 XT6 Flipped for Profit #copart #iaaiamount per author: 122,000 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
- 2021 Cadillac XT6 3.6 Random Misfire Cyl 2 (Injector Seal Problem)
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Cadillac XT6?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, backover prevention. Total complaints: 21. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (29%), infotainment or screen glitches (19%), fuel system, fuel smell (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Cadillac XT6?
NHTSA lists 814 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 XT6 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.