RoadVitals

2013 Cadillac ATS Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
41
Latest Mar 24, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 160 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Cadillac ATS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 24, 2025

Car has a shudder at acceleration acting as if it's in the wrong gear or shifts too soon seems like failing TCC in tge transmission not sure this issue could cause accidents due to car not accelerating fast enough with people behind you they could rear end you

NHTSA ID
11650155
Incident
Mar 24, 2020
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 19, 2024

My Vehicle will shift out of gear but will not move and there is a rattling sound when the gear is tried to be put back in park and rest of gears

NHTSA ID
11631694
Incident
Dec 12, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and switching gears, the vehicle would not move forward or backward. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the failure was possibly related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train). Another local independent mechanic was contacted for a second opinion and informed the contact that the transmission shifter cable had failed. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the VIN not being included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID
11621735
Incident
Oct 24, 2024
Mileage
87,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train). The contact discovered that the recall was repaired, however, the failure occurred. The contact's husband was parked in the vehicle while shifting into drive, and the gear shifter became stuck in between park and drive. The contact turned the vehicle off; however, the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with automatic transmission control shift cable detachment. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID
11583376
Incident
Apr 11, 2024
Mileage
86,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 15, 2023

Took it in 2 weeks ago for an oil changed and they replaced a camshaft solenoid saying that was causing my issues. I had to take it back yesterday and now they're telling me it's a torque converter or a transmission and it's going to cost me $3,500. After reviewing I think have GM has a lot of issues with this component . GM was aware of the situation and never fixed it. As I read through the technical Bulletin due to the cost so they have the consumers pick up the cost.

NHTSA ID
11555187
Incident
Nov 14, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and attempting to shift into drive, the vehicle failed to shift out of park. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train), and the VIN was included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired under the recall by the previous owner of the vehicle. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11545227
Incident
Sep 14, 2023
Mileage
150,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2023

Second time shifter cable failed. Thankfully I was in park and not driving. I had it replaced in 2021 and now 2023 it did the same thing.

NHTSA ID
11538026
Incident
Aug 10, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the contact attempted to shift into reverse; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned off the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to shift out of drive. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the shifter cable was out of place. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 89,000.

NHTSA ID
11528990
Incident
Feb 1, 2022
Mileage
89,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 6, 2023

Rear differential is a main issue with the 2013 Cadillac ATS I have read many complains I’m not understanding why there has yet to be a recall on the year an model there was a recall on the 2014 cts. But for the 2013 Ats the dealership said there was poor welding which caused leaks and that should have been and automatic recall.

NHTSA ID
11515821
Incident
Jan 2, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while attempting to reverse, the gear shifter was stuck in park(P), while the instrument panel indicated that the vehicle was in neutral(N). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was a recall related to the failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11503162
Incident
Jan 6, 2023
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 13, 2022

2011 Cadillac ATS 3.6, Rear Differential went out, Repairmen has stated that this part is not available anywhere, and that Cadillac should have recalled this in the ATS, because there is a shortage of this part. Due to the inefficiency of the Rear Differential. But, Cadillac would have been out of a lot of money. Without this part, the Cadillac is undrivable.

NHTSA ID
11479166
Incident
Mar 1, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2022

There is a shudder at around 1500 to 2k rpms and appears there have been thousands of complaints about this. Also the touch screen has been replaced 7 times in my car which is another issue with the ATS LEMON.

NHTSA ID
11461018
Incident
Apr 25, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 27, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot, the vehicle was shifted to reverse and then shifted to drive however, the vehicle moved backward. The brakes would not engage when depressed to stop the vehicle from moving backward. The contact applied parking brakes to stop the vehicle. The contact had assistance from an independent mechanic who helped to move the vehicle into a parking space. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the parking lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11434476
Incident
Sep 24, 2021
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CADILLAC OF NOVI (41350 GRAND RIVER AVE, NOVI, MI 48375, (866)613-0742) AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V338000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID
11407229
Incident
Nov 15, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 28, 2021

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2.5.21. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT NEEDED A HOSE AND SENSOR WHICH WAS FIXED. ON THE MULTIPOINT INSPECTION,IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING WHICH CAN CAUSE THE TIRES TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR ONLY HAS 63K MILES ON IT. IT IS A 2013 CADILLAC ATS TURBO.THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT.HOWEVER, I DID FIND A RECALL ON THE CTS MODEL. I ALSO SEE A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE ATS MODEL, AS WELL. THE DEALER QUOTED ME $5K TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL WITH ONLY A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RESULT OF POOR QUALITY AND CRAFTMANSHIP AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE ATS MODELS, AS WELL. THE FACT THAT THEY ONLY OFFER A 1 YEAR WARRANTY IS ALSO CONCERNING. THIS WOULD REFLECT THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE, AND WILL ONLY COVER IT FOR THE SHORTEST AMOUNT POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
11398266
Incident
Feb 5, 2021
Mileage
63,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 9, 2020

I?M REALLY UPSET MY CAR WHEN I GOT IT HAD 92,000 MILES FIRST WEEK I GOT IT START TO SHUTTER THEN STALL WHILE AT STOP AND SHUT OFF OR DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THEN JUST STALL AND LOOSE PIER AND SHUT OFF VERY UNSAFE AND I FEEL SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR I TOOK IT TO SO MANY SHOP AND THEY ALL CAN?T FIND THE ISSUE ON WHY IT STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF TOLD CADILLAC DEALER THEY SAID IT NEEDED UPDATE GUESS WHAT DID UPDATE AND GUESS WHAT STILL HAPPENING I'VE DONE ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE CHANGE SPARK PLUGS KEEP UP ON OIL. CHANGE AND ETC STILL STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND AT COMPLETE STOP IT NOT SAFE CAR TO DRIVE IT JUST STALLS AND TURN OFF TOOK IT TO CADILLAC STILL NOTHING NOW IT BACK IN SHOP FOR THE 14 TIME WITH CADILLAC GILBERT AZ TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND THE ISSUE AND THE FIX I THINK THIS IS GM CADILLAC ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CAUSING MY CAR GO INTO SOME TYPE SAFE MODE AND MAKE THE CAR STALL AND SHUTTER THEN TURN OFF BUT WHEN IT ON HIGHWAY IT DRIVES FINE THEN STALLS . I?M FOR SURE THIS IS MECHANICAL ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH SOMETHING CADILLAC DID AND THEY NEED BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS ISSUE EVERYONE TELLS ME GO DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE CODES THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE ONLY CADILLAC WELL CADILLAC MAKES NO SINCE I THINK MY COMPUTER SYSTEM IS MAKING THE CAR GO INTO SOME TYPE SAFE MODE AND SHUT OFF I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND IT CRAZY AND UNSAFE I'VE REPORTED THIS TO HIGHWAY SAFETY BOARD AND BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND OTHER PLACES THIS DOESN'T MAKE SINCE YOU GUYS NEED PROVIDE SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE . *TR

NHTSA ID
11328076
Incident
Jun 8, 2020
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 23, 2020

BUSHING FOR THE SHIFTER LINKAGE ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED RENDERING THE CAR NOT TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS

NHTSA ID
11310948
Incident
Feb 22, 2020
Mileage
116,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 11, 2020

CAR WON'T DRIVE PAST 40MPH WITHOUT SERIOUS SHAKING AND VIBRATIONS. HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD MULTIPLE THINGS FIXED WITH THE VEHICLE BUT STILL HAVE MAJOR CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR PAST 40MPH. LAST ESTIMATE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. 4-5K TO REPAIR. CADILLAC TOLD ME IT WAS THE COIL RODS WHICH THEY REPLACED. BROUGHT IT BACK AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PIPE THAT WAS CRACKED GOING TO THE ENGINE. STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM. HAD THE TIRES AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED. THEY SAID IT WAS TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT TO ANOTHER PLACE THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE ENGINE. ISSUE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SPEEDS OVER 40MPH.

NHTSA ID
11308616
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
70,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 2020

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON JANUARY 8, 2020 TO SOUTHTOWNE GMC IN NEWNAN,GA . I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. I TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON MY CAR WAS TAKING A LITTLE TIME ONCE I PUT IT IN DRIVE MODE. THE SERVICE GENTLEMAN TOOK A HAN HELD DEVICE AND PLACED IT UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME IT WAS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM. HE CHECKED THE DASHBOARD AND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I TOLD HIM I WANTED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE, HE SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM IT DOES NO GOOD TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC. HE NEVER INFORMED ME ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO, THAT HE WAS SWAMPED WITH REPAIRS AND THAT IF I WANTED HIM TO CHECK MY TRANSMISSION I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN MARCH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AWAY. ONE WEEK LATER THE CAR BARELY MOVES. BARELY GOES INTO GEAR. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE JANUARY 15, 2020. CAN I GET SOME HELP PLEASE.

NHTSA ID
11300420
Incident
Jan 15, 2020
Mileage
124,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 3, 2019

I PULLED OVER 2 SEE WHAT A NOISE WAS PUT IT IN PARK THANK GOD I DID BECAUSE WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT BACK IN GEAR IT WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEARS BUT THE SHIFTER REMOVE IT JUST WASN'T CONNECTED IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GEAR I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED

NHTSA ID
11265929
Incident
Aug 13, 2018
Mileage
82,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2019

2013 ATS AWD 3.6 . VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 100,203 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) AND UNDER 5 YEARS AND REAR END DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DEALER ESTIMATED COST $3500 BECAUSE WARRANTEE ENDED AT 5 YEARS OR 70,000. IS THIS RELATED TO POOR WELDS PREVIOUS REPORTED?

NHTSA ID
11243211
Incident
Jul 24, 2019
Mileage
100,020 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2019

IMPROPER REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING GEAR WELD. THERE IS A GAP THAT IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED ON REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING THAT CAUSES FLUIDS TO LEAK.

NHTSA ID
11222825
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 13, 2019

FROM 3/2013 TO 3/2019 A 3 YEAR PERIOD I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES 3 TIMES DUE TO IRREGULAR WEAR INSIDE, NOW EXPERIENCING ROARING NOISE FROM READ WHEEL. TIRES WERE CONTINUALLY ROTATED DURING REGULAR SERVICES WITH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHOWING LOW PRESSURE LOW, DEALER WAS ADVISED ON EACH OCCURRENCE PRIOR TO RECEIVING SERVICE . THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE DISENGAGED ON 8/31/2018 THE DEALER CHARGED ME FOR REPAIRS WHEN THIS WAS PART OF A RECALL PRIOR TO MY OWNING THE CAR, AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE CARFAX DID NOT DISCLOSE

NHTSA ID
11219857
Incident
Nov 11, 2016
Mileage
42,199 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 22, 2018

RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V338000. ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 16, 2018, MY 2013 CADILLAC ATS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. BACKED OUT OF A PARKING PLACE IN A PARKING GARAGE AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND THE SHIFTER STUCK IN NEUTRAL. SHIFTER WOULD MOVE FREELY BUT NOT CHANGE GEARS OUT OF NEUTRAL. THE CAR COULD HAVE ROLLED FORWARD OVER THE EDGE OF THE PARKING GARAGE AND DOWN A HILL WHICH WAS NOT SAFE. I HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURN THE CAR OFF TO KEEP IF FROM ROLLING FORWARD. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED TO TOW CAR AND RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AS A DISCONNECTED SHIFT CABLE. HE WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE SHIFT CABLE. ON JUNE 17, DROVE THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP (CLASSIC CADILLAC IN ANNISTON, AL) AND PARKED AT DEALERSHIP FOR DEALER TO INSPECT SHIFT CABLE AND DETERMINE THE CURRENT STATUS. DEALER DETERMINED THE SHIFTER CABLE CONNECTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER REPAIRED THE SHIFTER CABLE BUT SAID IT DID NOT RELATE TO RECALL NUMBER 14V338000. CONTACT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REVIEW THE ISSUE AS IT APPEARED TO RELATE TO THIS RECALL. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ALSO SAID THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. IN READING THE RECALL NOTICE AND THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR, THEY APPEAR RELATED.

NHTSA ID
11112946
Incident
Jun 16, 2018
Mileage
99,207 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 27, 2016

MY SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE WHILE PARKED MY CAR DID NOT START. THE GAUGES AND LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE PARKED MY DEFROST DOESN'T WORK ON THE FRONT WINDOW WHEN RAINING. THE WINDSHIELD IS FOGGY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID
10889015
Incident
Jul 26, 2016
Mileage
52,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .