2025 Cadillac XT5 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2025 Cadillac XT5, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance333.3%
- Engine222.2%
- Powertrain (other)222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
We were traveling out of our development at 17-20mph while approaching our exit gate the car jolted forward and accelerated at a rapid speed. My husband immediately stepped on the brake but the brake pedal became hard, the brake did not work. The car would not stop while pressing down on the brake. We crashed through the exit gate heading to the water, he then turned the wheel which also became difficult to turn as we headed into the brick wall . Hitting the wall, caused the car to come to a stop! Upon the airbags deploying there was a fire which burned through my husbands shirt and burned his arm. The car is available for inspection. It is currently in the salvage yard in Mt Pleasant South Carolina. Coastal Cadillac Dealership declined to have the vehicle diagnostic tested to find out why the car malfunctioned because the car was declared as expediated totaled by State Farm Insurance Company. The vehicle gave no warning messages to our knowledge messages prior to the accident. Engine and braking components failed.
Failed transmission--April 16, 2026 I was backing out of my garage when I heard a very loud bang noise and it stopped my car instantly. I thought I had hit something but I did not. On may 22, 2026. I stopped at a red light a few cars back but when the light changed the car would not go as it hesitated a few seconds (maybe 15) like it was not going to drive off but it did. On May 23, 2026, I was going up the driveway from my sisters house and again the very very loud bang noise and it stopped instantly. This time it pushed me toward the steering wheel, if I had been going a little faster I think the air bag would have popped out. This time the flasher come on like someone pulled out or I was going to hit something. I was told by the Cadillac service person that they would drive it cold today(May 26, 2026) and see if anything happens. Well I am not driving this car 55 miles per hour and it stops instantly maybe killing me and others on the road. I think this is a safety problem. I love my Cadillac but I do not want to die in it.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
We were traveling out of our development at 17-20mph while approaching our exit gate the car jolted forward and accelerated at a rapid speed. My husband immediately stepped on the brake but the brake pedal became hard, the brake did not work. The car would not stop while pressing down on the brake. We crashed through the exit gate heading to the water, he then turned the wheel which also became difficult to turn as we headed into the brick wall . Hitting the wall, caused the car to come to a stop! Upon the airbags deploying there was a fire which burned through my husbands shirt and burned his arm. The car is available for inspection. It is currently in the salvage yard in Mt Pleasant South Carolina. Coastal Cadillac Dealership declined to have the vehicle diagnostic tested to find out why the car malfunctioned because the car was declared as expediated totaled by State Farm Insurance Company. The vehicle gave no warning messages to our knowledge messages prior to the accident. Engine and braking components failed.
purchased 2024 XT5 brand new less than 6,000 miles SES light on..dealer states part failure w/transmission snap ring-traded vehicle for 2025 XT5. At 5,464 miles SES light comes on-another internal transmission part failure this time control valve body needed to be replaced. The control valve body is currently being recalled in the Cadillac CT5 but GM has not acknowledged issues with the control valve body on the XT5. After leaving the dealership after being serviced for a control valve body replacement I was involved in an accident 79 miles later/none of the safety features on this $60,000 vehicle engaged… no emergency braking… no vibration of seat…. no audible or visual alert stating approaching the vehicle to closely-NOTHING!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle does not recognize when it is in park . To use the Cadillac maps app you have to approve to their terms . When I tried to read it ,I get two warnings that tell me I must be in park . I am sitting in my garage when this happens . I have a video and a pic of the warnings . I need another method to upload the video . Its too large
Failed transmission--April 16, 2026 I was backing out of my garage when I heard a very loud bang noise and it stopped my car instantly. I thought I had hit something but I did not. On may 22, 2026. I stopped at a red light a few cars back but when the light changed the car would not go as it hesitated a few seconds (maybe 15) like it was not going to drive off but it did. On May 23, 2026, I was going up the driveway from my sisters house and again the very very loud bang noise and it stopped instantly. This time it pushed me toward the steering wheel, if I had been going a little faster I think the air bag would have popped out. This time the flasher come on like someone pulled out or I was going to hit something. I was told by the Cadillac service person that they would drive it cold today(May 26, 2026) and see if anything happens. Well I am not driving this car 55 miles per hour and it stops instantly maybe killing me and others on the road. I think this is a safety problem. I love my Cadillac but I do not want to die in it.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
We were traveling out of our development at 17-20mph while approaching our exit gate the car jolted forward and accelerated at a rapid speed. My husband immediately stepped on the brake but the brake pedal became hard, the brake did not work. The car would not stop while pressing down on the brake. We crashed through the exit gate heading to the water, he then turned the wheel which also became difficult to turn as we headed into the brick wall . Hitting the wall, caused the car to come to a stop! Upon the airbags deploying there was a fire which burned through my husbands shirt and burned his arm. The car is available for inspection. It is currently in the salvage yard in Mt Pleasant South Carolina. Coastal Cadillac Dealership declined to have the vehicle diagnostic tested to find out why the car malfunctioned because the car was declared as expediated totaled by State Farm Insurance Company. The vehicle gave no warning messages to our knowledge messages prior to the accident. Engine and braking components failed.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle does not recognize when it is in park . To use the Cadillac maps app you have to approve to their terms . When I tried to read it ,I get two warnings that tell me I must be in park . I am sitting in my garage when this happens . I have a video and a pic of the warnings . I need another method to upload the video . Its too large
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .