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2013 Cadillac ATS: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Cadillac ATS, most recently filed September 2015. Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 5 stars overall.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Recalls 6campaigns 2 visibility · 1 seat belt · 1 seat Source: NHTSA Complaints 160filed Owner reports, 2013–2019 shown Source: NHTSA ODI Crash tests 5★overall ★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 5★ Source: NHTSA NCAP Fuel economy 26mpg combined $2,512/yr at this week's prices Source: EPA · EIA Specs 2.5 L 4-cyl· 6-speed automatic 8 engine and transmission configurations Source: NHTSA vPIC
Compare

Recalls (6)

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Cadillac ATS. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2013 Cadillac ATS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 15V558000 Filed Sep 3, 2015

Rear Defogger Coil Antenna Module may Overheat

Visibility · defroster/defogger/hvac system
Official NHTSA text
Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
Consequence
If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
98.1% repairedof 96,145 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V558000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac ATS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 15V463000 Filed Jul 24, 2015

Power Operated Roof Panel/FMVSS 118

Visibility · sun/moon roof assembly
Official NHTSA text
Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Consequence
Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.
95.7% repairedof 63,665 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V463000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac ATS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 14V488000 Filed Aug 8, 2014

Seat Belts may not Remain Retracted Under Load

Seat belts · front
Official NHTSA text
Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon.
Consequence
If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.
93.4% repairedof 48,114 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V488000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac ATS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 14V446000 Filed Jul 23, 2014

Front Seats may not Remain Anchored in Vehicle

Seats
Official NHTSA text
Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
Consequence
A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14340.
95% repairedof 124,007 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V446000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac ATS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 14V338000 Filed Jun 19, 2014

Transmission Shift Cable Detachment/Rollaway Risk

Power train · automatic transmission
Official NHTSA text
Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Consequence
If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the 'PARK' position, the transmission may not be in 'PARK.' If the vehicle is not in the 'PARK' position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14179.
97.9% repairedof 90,750 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V338000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac ATS. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 13V220000 Filed May 24, 2013

Brake Lights Flashing Intermittently/FMVSS 108

Electrical system
Official NHTSA text
Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence
If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.
94.6% repairedof 10,210 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V220000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Which ATS years had the most recalls?Best & worst years →Every recall for the Cadillac ATSAll model years →Where is the VIN on my car?VIN location guide →

Owner complaints (160)

160 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.

9involved a crash
0involved a fire
8injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Cadillac ATS, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 160.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2013 compares with other ATS years

Best and worst ATS years →
160 104 29 32 32 21 2
2013201420152016201720182019
This year (2013)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Crash tests: 5 stars overall

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 10.1%★★★★★
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2013 Cadillac ATS 4 dr awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined

26
mpg combined
22
city
32
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$2,600
CO₂ tailpipe
344 g/mi
EPA class
Compact Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,512per year
$209per month
577gallons a year

Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2013 Cadillac ATS configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive22 / 32 / 26$2,600344
2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive21 / 31 / 24$2,800366
2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive20 / 29 / 23$2,900379
2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manualRear-Wheel Drive19 / 29 / 23$2,900389
3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive19 / 27 / 22$3,050408
3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive19 / 27 / 22$3,050408
3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200426
3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200426

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2013 ATS for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All ATS years

Where to next

Which ATS years drew the fewest complaints?Best & worst years →2014 Cadillac ATS report104 complaints · 4 campaigns →Have a VIN? Decode itVIN decoder →

2013 Cadillac ATS FAQ

How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac ATS have?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 15V558000 (visibility), 15V463000 (visibility), 14V488000 (seat belt), 14V446000 (seat), 14V338000 (power train), 13V220000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2013 Cadillac ATS problems?

Owners filed 160 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (48), Power train (45), Electrical system (36) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2013 Cadillac ATS get?

EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 22 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

What safety rating did the 2013 Cadillac ATS get?

NHTSA rated the 2013 Cadillac ATS 4 dr awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (10.1% rollover risk).

How does the 2013 ATS compare with other years?

Among the 2013–2019 Cadillac ATS model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2013 the most (160). The 2013 drew 160. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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