RoadVitals

2020 Cadillac CT5 Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
8
Latest Mar 8, 2026
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.
21%
of 38 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.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2020 Cadillac CT5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2026

My front door latch doesn't work often leaving me locked out of the car. If the car is off I can use the auto roll down feature, but if the car is on i can't. This is a safety issue if I am in danger or my child is in the car.

NHTSA ID
11722816
Incident
Jan 30, 2026
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 2026

The electronic exterior door handle on my CT5 has failed and raises a concern of what if there was an accident and nobody was able to open the door if I was unconscious. I believe that having a key access is not enough and there should be a mechanical exterior door handle instead of an electronic handle that fails and is costly to repair.

NHTSA ID
11712001
Incident
Jan 9, 2026
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Dec 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had noticed an oil leak and that the battery charge was abnormally low. The contact received an alert from OnStar pertaining to the critically low battery. Additionally, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal squishing sound coming from the dashboard, and the contact believed that the sound was coming from an animal that had intruded into the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to a tire center where all four TPMS sensors were replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID
11705360
Incident
Oct 1, 2025
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2025

CT5 2020 Doors will not unlock.

NHTSA ID
11683415
Incident
Aug 25, 2025
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 5, 2021
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I have had many issues with Onstar failing. I bought the 2020 Cadillac CT5 AWD 10/2020. It took Onstar over a month to connect to my car to provide AT&T internet plan (via Onstar). On 4/22/21 I was hit in my driver front & wheel, Onstar failed- never contacted us & the airbags did not deploy. I noticed my Onstar light was red. Onstar was repaired during the body shop repair. Soon after I picked up the car (approximately 1 month) the SRS light came on & Onstar turned red again on 7/31/21. Dropped off the car to be repaired 8/13/21. After repair, SRS light came on again on 8/29/21. Then 10/4/21 the entire CUE system malfunctioned, could not use Carplay, Car Internet would not work, & Navigation would not load. 10/30/21 I cranked my car & left keys in car, the doors locked- which it should not have done. My Onstar app could not unlock the car. I called Onstar to unlock the vehicle & was told they were receiving a "busy signal, spinning sign" when trying to reach my car. My car finally shut off after idling for so long, and it unlocked the doors. I dropped off for service again 11/4/21. GM & Onstar both investigated car for the failures following the accident that occurred 4/22/21-both companies said no issue was found. GM downloaded data from wreck data, I received the report and it was missing data.

NHTSA ID
11439475
Incident
Apr 22, 2021
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 11, 2021

There are multiple issues with the electrical / electronics The dealer has never found any data in the systems that shows issues. Driver speedometer screen disappears and will be gone for hours or a trip. Restarting car does not fix. Center console screen that shows camera information disappears and you have no camera. Can be one or multiple trips and restarting car does not fix Dealer says the previous two issues are known but no fix or recall has have been implemented as far as we are are aware. This has been a year approx. Drivers assist package threw the car into a curb creating minor damage to divers side wheels. Cadillac found no issues in recent service. When backing car up it has engaged the parking brake When driving the car it has shifted itself into neutral. The last 3 items the dealer spent weeks going thru the car with Cadillac and found nothing. No parts have ever been replaced in multiple visits The last 3 are huge safety issues

NHTSA ID
11428695
Incident
Jun 16, 2021
Electrical
Filed Dec 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 CADILLAC CT5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER - DUBLIN CADILLAC (4200 JOHN MONEGO CT, DUBLIN, CA 94568: (925) 526-4384) AND MATAGA BUICK GMC CADILLAC (3261 AUTO CENTER CIR, STOCKTON, CA 95212, (209) 951-2600) HOWEVER, THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.

NHTSA ID
11385267
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
Mileage
20 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 18, 2020

PURCHASED MY 2020 CT5 IN APRIL 2020. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME SERVICE DRIVER ASSIST AND FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE. GM HAS DISPATCHED A SENIOR ADVISOR TO TEST THE VEHICLE AND EVEN LEFT A CODE READER IN THE VEHICLE TO TRACK ITS PERFORMANCE. MESSAGES CAME ON AGAIN. I RECORDED IT AS INSTRUCTED AND THE DEVICE WAS SENT BACK TO THE GM ENGINEERS. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH TODAY 18 SEPTEMBER AND STILL NO UPDATE AS TO WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS CAR. THEY'VE REPLACED AND REINSTALLED CAMERAS AND DEVICES AND IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. I GET A CALL TODAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THE RECALL CAME OUT. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND I KNOW THEY STILL CAN'T FIX THE ISSUE AFTER MY CAR HAS BEEN THE FIRST CASE AND GUINEA PIG OF RESEARCH. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. IT'S INTERMITTENT AND AT ANY TIME OF DAY

NHTSA ID
11359880
Incident
Apr 11, 2020
Mileage
300 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 .