Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 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 ↗Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
- Summary
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
- Consequence
- An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026.
Rear Defogger Coil Antenna Module may Overheat
- 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.
Power Operated Roof Panel/FMVSS 118
- 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.
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.
Owner complaints (32)
32 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 32 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 10 | 31.3% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 18.8% |
| Air bags | 5 | 15.6% |
| Steering | 4 | 12.5% |
| Wheels | 4 | 12.5% |
| Engine | 3 | 9.4% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 6.3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 6.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 6.3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 6.3% |
How 2016 compares with other ATS years
Best and worst ATS years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 160 | 6 |
| 2014 | 104 | 4 |
| 2015 | 29 | 4 |
| 2016 | 32 | 3 |
| 2017 | 32 | 2 |
| 2018 | 21 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
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
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Cadillac ATS 4 dr awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 348 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
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
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 348 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 30 / 25 | $3,300 | 358 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $3,300 | 349 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 378 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $3,550 | 388 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 399 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 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.
Where to next
2016 Cadillac ATS FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 26V329000 (air bag), 15V558000 (visibility), 15V463000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Cadillac ATS problems?
Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (10), Electrical system (6), Air bags (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Cadillac ATS get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 8-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 2016 Cadillac ATS get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 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 2016 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 2016 drew 32. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
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.