2014 Cadillac ATS Powertrain (other) Problems

In August 2026, at approximately 99,639 miles, my 2014 Cadillac ATS was taken to an authorized Cadillac dealership for service. During the inspection, the dealership discovered and diagnosed a leaking right rear axle shaft seal. I was not aware of the leak beforehand and did not receive a warning light or message indicating the condition. The dealership’s written repair order states that the right rear axle shaft seal was leaking and that the right rear axle seal was replaced. The repair was completed at my expense. I have the dealership repair order and invoice documenting the diagnosis, mileage, parts replaced, and repair. After the repair, I researched this issue and found other NHTSA consumer complaints involving rear axle/differential seal leakage on 2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles. I also found GM manufacturer communications addressing rear axle leakage on certain Cadillac ATS vehicles. I am reporting this failure so NHTSA has a record of another rear axle seal leak involving a Cadillac ATS and can determine whether this condition may represent a broader defect or safety trend. I do not know the specific underlying cause of the seal failure and am not asserting that it has been established as the same cause as any other reported vehicle. The failed seal was replaced by the dealership. Documentation of the diagnosis and repair is available upon request.

NHTSA ID

11759033

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

My 2014 Cadillac ATS experienced a transmission shift cable/linkage failure. After driving normally, I pulled into my garage and moved the shifter to Park. The physical shifter was in Park, but the instrument cluster continued to indicate Drive (D). The vehicle would not recognize Park, the shifter became stuck, and the vehicle would not restart because the transmission was still being detected as being in Drive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Cadillac dealership for diagnosis. The dealership confirmed that the range selector lever cable had detached from the shift shaft. Their written diagnosis states that the plastic retainers securing the cable failed, causing the shifter to show the wrong drive mode. The dealer recommended replacement of the range selector lever cable. I later learned that this vehicle was previously subject to GM Safety Recall 14179 / NHTSA Recall 14V-338 concerning the automatic transmission shift cable. GM records show the recall was completed in 2014 through inspection; I was informed that no replacement part was installed at that time because none was required. I am reporting this because the vehicle has now experienced a shift cable/linkage detachment that appears similar to the failure condition addressed by that recall. This created a safety concern because the physical shifter position did not correspond with the transmission gear indicated/engaged, and the vehicle could not reliably be placed in Park. The vehicle and failed condition have been inspected and documented by an authorized Cadillac dealership. Dealer documentation and video of the diagnosis are available.

NHTSA ID

11757509

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

Vehicle transmission shift cable failed. This part is considered recalled, but GM is refusing to fix.

NHTSA ID

11690110

Incident

Sep 27, 2025

Rear differential issue

NHTSA ID

11590820

Incident

Aug 18, 2023

I was driving the car and trying to put the car in park at the stop light. The car shifter moved, but the shifter wasn't going into any other gear. The shifter moves forward and back, but nothing happens. I almost got in an accident and my dad had to help me park the car. I saw this is a past recall issue and I called Cadillac and they stated I needed to tow my vehicle there and there are no open recalls, so it will be out of pocket. They can't even see my car until the 31st at the soonest. I could've been seriously injured or injured someone else.

NHTSA ID

11590091

Incident

May 21, 2024

After routine maintenance (oil change) at Cadillac of Knoxville on 5/7/2024, I was notified that my rear differential was leaking. After I arrived back home, upon further research, I found that this was a common problem for this make and model of car and that there was a recall for Cadillac ATS' manufactured between 2013-2016. After calling GM's customer service line, the representative expressed that my VIN did not register under the specific recall and therefore would not qualify for a replacement rear differential. This is a problem in which can total my vehicle, though no problems besides the leak have occurred as of my knowledge. There was no indication before the oil change on 5/7 of a leak, no warning lamps or other telling signs. If I had not brought my vehicle for its routine maintenance, I would not be aware of the situation.

NHTSA ID

11588572

Incident

May 7, 2024

My engine RPM would randomly lock to 4000 rpms while driving, i could rev the car or apply the brakes but it will sit their until it decides to respond. This has happened a few times and mostly down hill and flats. Difficult to replicate. Cooling system has been a plague at around 80k miles i've had to replace a clamp at the back near the water outlet flange which i was quoted $2000 for just the labor alone as the engine would need to be removed.And the water pump failed at around 82000 miles. Also plagued with P06DE "Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit Stuck On" error code a few times now.

NHTSA ID

11575648

Incident

Jan 18, 2024

What are the cooling hoses that carry coolant from the engine to the radiator busted not once but twice. It has many electrical problems even when cleared with an OBD2 sensor they will still come on. The power steering is completely off and malfunctions.

NHTSA ID

11570484

Incident

Nov 14, 2023

My ball joints on both sides were completely gone, my struts have given out repaired all at the same time, because of those things going out it completely ruined my tires to where they squeak down the road. Both differentials are leaking and my transmission shutters, I also had to replace my water pump that was leaking cooling everywhere

NHTSA ID

11524138

Incident

May 1, 2023

Differential keeps going out

NHTSA ID

11523488

Incident

May 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while attempting to accelerate. There was a howling sound coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear differential failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle not been repaired due to the part being on backorder. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was inoperable. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11465686

Incident

May 16, 2022

Mileage

55,000 mi

The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on the highway the transmission was shifting irregularly and the vehicle started to decelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact was able to pull off to the side of the roadway and waited 10-15 minutes before restarting the vehicle. The contact was able to drive safely to an independent mechanic however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,396.

NHTSA ID

11460393

Incident

Jan 15, 2022

Mileage

105,396 mi

transmission shift cable detach. The gear selected does not change for the vehicle to operate correctly.

NHTSA ID

11433272

Incident

Sep 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was engaged but the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission shift cable had detached, and the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V338000 (Power Train). The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that her VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

NHTSA ID

11432511

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO OTHER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE RESTARTED AND SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER. 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 WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,500.

NHTSA ID

11399290

Incident

Feb 27, 2021

Mileage

49,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM AUTOMATIC TO AUTO-MANUAL MODE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MURPHY CADILLAC, INC. (174 E HIBISCUS BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901) AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY PLACED ON THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AUGUST 2020. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A VOUCHER TOWARD THE COST OF REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA ID

11386513

Incident

Dec 14, 2020

Mileage

24,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK HOWEVER, THE SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP ROLLING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PETRO NISSAN (6248 US-98, HATTIESBURG, MS 39402) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V338000 (POWER TRAIN) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,180.

NHTSA ID

11362809

Incident

Oct 4, 2020

Mileage

42,182 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CEASED IN PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE ED MORSE CADILLAC TAMPA DEALER LOCATED AT 101 E FLETCHER AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612, AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V338000 (POWER TRAIN) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11348849

Incident

Aug 10, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

REAR LEFT/REAR RIGHT AXLE SEALS LEAKING REPORTED TO ME ON 06/01/2020 WHILE 2014 ATS WAS IN FOR SERVICE FOR TIRES AND COOLANT LEAK MILEAGE 71,538. I WAS ADVISED IT'S A VERY SLOW DRIP AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT AWAY BUT TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT VEBALLY OVER THE PHONE. I LOOKED BACK ON MY SERVICE RECORDS AND THE LEAK WAS DETECTED ON 03/20/2020 BY THE DEALER BUT R.0 CLOSURE DATE IS NOTED AS 03/18/2020 I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF A CRITICAL REPAIR NEEDED ON THE DRIVE AXLE (REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK) ODOMETER ON 03/18/2020 59,750. THE SEALS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING AT THIS MILEAGE... THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S A MASSIVE ISSUE WITH THE CADILLAC ATS. THIS IS GOING TO COST AROUND $1500.00 TO FIX NOW... WHICH IS OBSURD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE THE CAR LIKE THIS AS PER MANY ONLINE REPORTS THAT I'VE READ ONLINE.

NHTSA ID

11340351

Incident

Mar 18, 2020

Mileage

59,750 mi

CAR FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN STOPPED. CAR SHUTS DOWN WHEN STOPPING AT STOPLIGHTS STOPSIGNS. RPM'S FALL TO ZERO, THEN CAR SHUTS DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WILL SHUDDER BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN. WHEN STARTING CAR BACK UP, IT WILL SHUDDER AND SLOWLY TRY TO START. THIS HAS PUT ME IN SOME DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331238

Incident

Jun 27, 2020

CAR WAS PARKED IN PARKING SPOT/LOT OF HEB. STARTED ENGINE AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS SHIFTING W/OUT PRESSING THE BRAKE WHILE REMAINING IN PARK. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. CALLED TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE TO DRIVE IT TO PEP BOYS, A MECHANIC NEARBY. AFTER 5 DAYS, PEP BOYS STATED IT WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER MY VIN NO. IS NOT ASSOCIATED W/ANY RECALL PER CADILLAC. TOWED IT TO CADILLAC AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE CABLE THAT IS CONNECTED TO YOUR TRANSMISSION OR SHIFT LEVER GOT DETACHED. FURTHER THEY STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS SIMILAR TO THE GM RECALL NO. 14179. *JS

NHTSA ID

11268263

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, EXITED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED THAT THE BUSHING CABLE WAS DETACHED, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION LEVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11209298

Incident

May 21, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE - TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTION DOES NOT MATCH THE INDICATED GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED OR UNEXPECTED DIRECTION. I WAS BACKING UP AND WENT TO PUT THE GEAR IN DRIVE AND I PRESSED THE GAS BUT THE CAR WENT BACKWARDS. I HIT THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE GEAR HANDLE AND IT SHIFTED FORWARD VERY LOOSELY. ALTHOUGH IT DISPLAYED DRIVE ON THE GEARBOX, WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS THE CAR WOULD STILL GO IN REVERSE. CAPITAL CADILLAC IN SMYRNA, GA LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT NEVER MENTIONED THIS RECALL "GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 90,750 MODEL YEAR 2013-2014 CADILLAC ATS, AND 2014 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ON THE AFFECTED ATS AND CTS VEHICLES MAY DETACH FROM EITHER THE BRACKET ON THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER OR THE BRACKET ON THE TRANSMISSION. IN FACT, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT CAPITAL CADILLAC THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN IT WOULD COME IN.

NHTSA ID

11144831

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

154,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND HEARD GRINDING NOISES. ROUNTREE MOORE CHEVROLET (4316 WEST US HIGHWAY 90, LAKE CITY, FLORIDA 32055, (386) 269-9222) WAS CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER APPLIED A SEAL ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DUE TO AXLE SEAL LEAKS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

NHTSA ID

11132975

Incident

Sep 6, 2018

Mileage

41,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING TO A PARKING LOT, THE GEAR SHIFT SWITCHED TO REVERSE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,777.

NHTSA ID

11129878

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

140,777 mi