Recalls
5campaigns
3 brake · 1 air bag · 1 seat
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
103filed
Owner reports, 2013–2019 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
21mpg combined
$3,110/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
3.6 L 6-cyl· 6-speed automatic
2 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Cadillac XTS. 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 XTS. Not checked against your VIN.
Electronic Parking Brake may Drag
Parking brake
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.
- Consequence
- Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.
96.8% repairedof 205,309 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 14V541000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac XTS. Not checked against your VIN.
Reprogram Sensing And Diagnostic Module
Air bags · frontal · sensor/control module-inactive
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."
- Consequence
- In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14532.
100% repairedof 5 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 14V518000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac XTS. Not checked against your VIN.
Brake Booster Pump Relay Connector Corrosion
Service brakes, hydraulic · power assist · vacuum · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, through March 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a cavity plug on the brake booster pump connector may dislodge allowing corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector.
- Consequence
- The corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector may cause a resistive short and melt the connector, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealant to the connector cavity plugs, re-route the vacuum pump vent hose and replace the front body wiring harnesses as needed, free of charge. The recall began on April 7, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's number for this recall is 14062.
98.6% repairedof 63,903 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 14V116000
Listed for 2013 Cadillac XTS. Not checked against your VIN.
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
Listed for 2013 Cadillac XTS. Not checked against your VIN.
Head Restraint Height/FMVSS 202
Seats · mid/rear assembly
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured from October 12, 2011, through August 30, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 202, "Head Restraints." The rear seat head restraints may not lock in the upright position after being folded forward. If the head restriant is at its lowest position and it falls forward, it will not meet the height required by the standard.
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the lowered head restraint may increase the occupant's risk of neck injury.
- Remedy
- General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2012. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-458-8006.
Repair progress not yet reported12,626 vehicles potentially affected
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 12V525000
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 (103)
103 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
0involved a crash
2involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 103 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 41 | 39.8% |
| Suspension | 25 | 24.3% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 12.6% |
| Engine | 12 | 11.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 8.7% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 8.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 5.8% |
| Wheels | 6 | 5.8% |
| Seats | 4 | 3.9% |
| Air bags | 3 | 2.9% |
How 2013 compares with other XTS years
Best and worst XTS years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 103 | 5 |
| 2014 | 50 | 4 |
| 2015 | 14 | 3 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2017 | 24 | 0 |
| 2018 | 7 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 | 2 |
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 11.8%★★★★☆
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 XTS 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
21
mpg combined
17
city
27
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 430 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
$3,110per year
$259per month
714gallons a year
Miles ÷ 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 27 / 21 | $3,200 | 430 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 448 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2013 XTS 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
2013 Cadillac XTS FAQ
How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac XTS have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 14V541000 (brake), 14V518000 (air bag), 14V116000 (brake), 13V220000 (brake), 12V525000 (seat). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2013 Cadillac XTS problems?
Owners filed 103 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (41), Suspension (25), Unknown or other (13) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2013 Cadillac XTS get?
EPA rates the 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 17 city, 27 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2013 Cadillac XTS get?
NHTSA rated the 2013 Cadillac XTS 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (11.8% rollover risk).
How does the 2013 XTS compare with other years?
Among the 2013–2019 Cadillac XTS model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (5) and the 2013 the most (103). The 2013 drew 103. 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.
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