2013 Cadillac Xts Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear suspension was bouncing, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The message to "Check Leveling System" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact researched and became aware of a recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to the residence and the vehicle was self-diagnosed and it was determined that the stabilizer bar had detached. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report a failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11716757

Incident

Aug 9, 2025

Mileage

200,000 mi

Front right passenger side suspension slams hard on the ground while driving at times. It has occurred multiple times and this can be dangerous while driving. It has been checked out and repaired by replacing them but front right side suspension still slams while driving after a few months. This is an expensive problem as well as dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11500963

Incident

May 16, 2022

THE SUSPENSION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING TOTALLY COLLAPSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO ONE FIRST GETTING INTO AND STARTING THE CAR. MECHANIC REPLACED A RELAY SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES STILL. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR ACCOUNTS FROM VARIOUS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL!

NHTSA ID

11402892

Incident

Mar 14, 2021

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE GIVES OUT AND A CORNER OF THE CAR WILL SLAM TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. YEAR OVER YEAR WE HAVE HAD THE " SERVICE LEVELING SYSTEM " ERROR COME UP FOR OUR VEHICLE. IT IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE NOT KNOWING WHEN THE SUSPENSION WILL GIVE OUT. DEALERSHIPS HAVE MADE MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND UPDATES TO NO AVAIL. NOTHING SEEMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11396005

Incident

Feb 6, 2021

Mileage

35,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DECEMBER, 2019. THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGED THE RADIO. THE SECOND PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THAT THE HAZARD 4-WAY FLASHER STOPPED WORKING AND WAS ON PERMANENTLY AND BECAUSE OF THAT IT KILLED THE CAR BATTERY. I CALLED THE CADILLAC DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN. I GIT IT JUMPED START AND TOOK IT IN THAT WAS IN AUGUST, 2020. THEY TOLD ME THE SWITCH WAS NO LONGER GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IT COST ME OVER $400 TO BE FIXED. ON THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR I NOTICED IT A SIGNED ON THE DASH BUT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANT BUT THE CAR STARTED TO BOUNCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS ON MY WAY TO NY FROM NY SO I TOOK LOTS OF HIGHWAY, FROM 287, RT 80 AND SO ON INTO LONG BRANCH, NY. ON MY WAY I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BOUNCING OUT OF CONTROL. I CALLED THE DEALER AND REPORTED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MATTHEW TOLD ME TO BRING BACK THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPED. I LEFT THE CAR FOR COUPLE OF DAYS I THINK IT WAS 8/28/2020. HE CALLED ME ON 9/1/2020 TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER $1700.00 TO BE FIXED. SINCE THAT TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY AND CANNOT DRIVE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THAT MONEY TO GET IT FIX. THE CAR ONLY HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN. DOES THIS CAR HAS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED? I AM PAYING CAR PAYMENT AND INSURANCE FOR A DEFECTED CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO HERE. I HAVE UPLOADED THE ODOMETER READING AND THE STATEMENT FROM THE DEALER. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11387748

Incident

Aug 28, 2020

AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN FOR 30 MINUTES, I PARKED THE CAR, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, GOT OUT TO TALK TO A NEIGHBOR 6 HOUSES AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE. 10 MINUTES LATER, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR, AND DROVE FOR HOME. THE FIRST LITTLE CRACK IN THE ROAD MADE THE CAR RIDE LIKE A GO CART. AFTER A FEW MORE FEET, I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG, SO I PULLED OVER, AND GOT OUT, AND SAW THE REAR OF THE CAR SQUATTING DOWN TO WHERE THE TOP OF THE WHEEL OPENING WAS WAY PAST THE TOP THE THE REAR TIRE. I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND COULD HEAR THE AIR COMPRESSOR RUNNING, AND WATCHED TO SEE IF IT WAS RAISING THE REAR END TO A LEVEL POSITION, BUT AFTER 30 SECONDS, IT WASN'T RAISING. SO I GOT BACK IN AND LIMPED HOME, SCRAPING THE STREET AS I TURNED IN TO A SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY, AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I GOT OUT TO LISTEN FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR TO KICK ON AND AFTER 2 MINUTES, IT DID NOT KICK ON, SO I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND STARTED IT UP, THEN GOT OUT WHILE IT WAS RUNNING , TO HEAR IF THE COMPRESSOR WOULD KICK ON THO RAISE THE REAR END UP TO LEVEL. IT DID NOT KICK ON, SO I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND LET IT SIT FOR AN HOUR, THEN GOT IN IT AND STARTED IT UP, AND GOT OUT TO LISTEN FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR TO KICK ON. IT DID KICK ON AND I COULD SEE THE REAR END RAISING UP, AND IT CONTINUED TO RUN AND LIFT UNTIL IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL OPERATING LEVEL, AT WHICH TIME THE COMPRESSOR SHUT OFF. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT. WHEN I CHECKED IT IN THE MORNING, IT WAS STILL IN THE NORMAL OPERATING LEVEL, AND IT HAS NOT MALFUNCTIONED IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS 200 MILES. IT HAS 70,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I TOOK IT TO THE CADILLAC DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT, BUT IT DID NOT HAVE ANY CODES TO SHOW WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE ROAD, AND BOTTOMS OUT AT THAT SPEED. VERY LEAST IT NEEDS A SAFETY STOP

NHTSA ID

11319185

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2013 CADILLAC XTS4 PREMIUM REAR SUSPENSION LEVEL SYSTEM DEFLATED WHILE DRIVING AND DIDNT STAY RAISED IN THE REAR. I PULLED OVER TO SEE AND THE REAR END WAS TOO LOW. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I STARTED THE CAR AND IT RAISED UP UNTIL IT REACHED HEIGHT LEVEL. I THEN DROVE OFF AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN I STOP AND PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR, THE AIR COMPRESSOR KICKS IN AND RAISES THE CAR TO LEVEL AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR SHUTS OFF ONCE HEIGHT LEVEL IS ACHIEVED. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MANY SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND I WOULD NEED NEW STRUTS, SHOCKS, AIR SPRINGS, AIR RIDE COMPRESSOR, AND AIR LINES. I'M OUT OF WARRANTY AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THAT. IT WAS RIDING FINE AND THE NEXT DAY IT JUST GAVE UP. THE SUSPENSION FEELS LIKE A PIECE OF JUNK AND I NEED A NEW SUSPENSION FOR THE XTS AND I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED AND PAID FOR BY GM. THE CAR COULD'VE LOST CONTROL AND COULD'VE KILLED ME AND MY PASSENGERS ALONG WITH ANYONE AROUND ME IN THE FREEWAY. IT WAS RIDING FINE AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION FAILED. I WANT GM TO FIX MY SUSPENSION BECAUSE IT FAILED AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED.

NHTSA ID

11306783

Incident

Jan 30, 2020

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. AFTER EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS OFF BALANCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FELL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE BACK HOME AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH HAWK CADILLAC OF JOLIET (2001 W JEFFERSON ST, JOLIET, IL 60435, 815-600-7027) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11254181

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR SUSPENSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SELF LEVELING SUSPENSION SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOWERED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALAN JAY CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 441 US HIGHWAY 27 N, SEBRING, FL 33870, (866)278-2120) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND AIR HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE COMPRESSOR WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11252170

Incident

Aug 25, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

REAR END OF CAR SUSPENSION IS NOT WORKING IT DROPPED ON A CITY STREET

NHTSA ID

11228894

Incident

Apr 12, 2019

Mileage

2 mi

SUSPENSION LOST AT REAR OF CAR ON STREET

NHTSA ID

11219980

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

Mileage

40,700 mi

6 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE CUE SYSTEM COMPLETELY STOP FUNCTIONING SO I HAD THAT REPLACED AT LEE CHEVROLET COSTING AROUND $1000. NOW THE REAR SHOCKS ARE STUCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION CAUSING A RIDE SIMILAR TO A GOCART. THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST REPAIR ON THIS VEHICLE THEN IT WILL BE NO MORE CADILLAC'S FOR ME. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT SO I FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE CARS IM SURE THEY KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES WITH A CAR COSTING $50,000 PLUS WHEN IT WAS NEW.

NHTSA ID

11218198

Incident

Apr 5, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE I WAS DRIVING REAR DROPPED TO GROUND I ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT ON BUSY HWY STOPED THE CAR ON CURB SIDE TO LOOK REAR WAS ALMOST ON GROUND WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES START THE CAR IT WENT UP BUT NOW IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND DEALER DOESN'T KNOW THE CAUSE I SOW MORE THAN 100 COMPLAINE ON THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR CAR I AM HOPING TO NHTSA WILL DO SOMETHING TO MAKE GM FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED LAST DECEMBER AND STILL HAPPENING

NHTSA ID

11193684

Incident

Dec 4, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

MY CAR HAS ABOUT 84K MILES AND THE STRUTS ARE SHOT. I HAVE A 2003 TRUCK WITH WAY MORE MILES....NO PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND EACH STRUT IS ABOUT $700

NHTSA ID

11171996

Incident

Jan 24, 2019

Mileage

84,000 mi

REAR SUSPENSION COMPLETELY LOWERED TO THE GROUND WHILE RUNNING. DEALERSHIP STARTED THIS WAS DUE TO A BURNT LEVELING SYSTEM. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CUE SYSTEM DISCONNECTED TO WORK AS IT SHOULD. VEHICLE HAS 68K MILES. AFTER FIXED, NOW THE GETS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION OFTEN. DEALER THEN REPLACE THE FRONT STRUT SINCE THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE. VEHICLE STILL WITH THE SAME ISSUES EVENT AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER TO RE-LEVEL THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11138772

Incident

Jul 22, 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, MY REAR SUSPENSION LOST ALL AIR AND DROPPED FULLY CAUSING A VERY BUMPY RIDE AND UNSAFE HANDLING. VEHICLE SHOWED A LEVELING FAULT ON THE DASH. LATER THAT DAY IT WAS WORKING NORMALLY AGAIN. WHILE IT IS UNKOWN WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN I BELIEVE THE AIR COMPRESSOR THAT INFLATES THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

11099537

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

62,700 mi

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEED -( 70 MPH) ABOUT 4 PM WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE REAR PART OF THE CAR. IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE AND DROP ABOUT 6 INCHES. I ALMOST HITTING AN 18 WHEELER AND THERE WAS ANOTHER 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME. OTHER CARS AROUND ME STARTED TO BLOW THEIR HORNS IN ALARM. I CAREFULLY SLOWED THE CAR WHILE, PUTTING ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE ATTEMPTING TO FIND AN EMERGENCY PARKING PLACE. I FELT I NEEDED TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO STOP! I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE @ A MILE TO AN EXIT RAMP WHERE I COULD SAFELY STOP AND CALL THE CADILLAC SERVICE DEPT. THE SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED I DRIVE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER (AUSTIN TX - 35 MILES AWAY) OR LIMP 60 MILES TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAVE IT SERVICED). MY WIFE IS NOT WELL AND I SELECTED SAN ANTONIO FOR MEDICAL REASONS. THE DASH WARNING INDICATOR STATED, "LEVELING DEVICE SERVICE NEEDED." SAN ANTONIO'S CADILLAC SERVICE MGR.STATED TWO PROBLEMS NEEDED REPAIRING: 1) BOTH AIR BLATHERS EXPLODED AND 2) THE LEVELING AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED REPLACING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS CAR WAS SEEN BY THIS DEALERSHIP FOR LEVELING PROBLEMS. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS EXPERIENCE FOR ME, A COMBAT VETERAN AND SENIOR CITIZENS NEAR AGE 80 . MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY COMMUTER TRAFFIC ON I-35 IN AUSTIN TX IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN AUTO DRIVING ACCIDENT IN MY LIFE. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS FREIGHTING AND I AM RELIVING THE DRAMA OF HOW BAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE TWO OF US. I NO LONGER TRUST THE CAR AND FEEL I MAY BE FORCED TO TRADE EARLY EVEN THOUGH I JUST PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 85K OR JULY 2020 WHICH EVER OCCURS FIRST.. CALL ME AT[XXX] IF YOU NEED MORE DATA. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11019454

Incident

Aug 22, 2017

Mileage

57,500 mi

THE SUSPENSION IS HORRIBLE - EVERY LITTLE BUMP IN THE ROAD THE CAR MAKES A LOAD NOISE - LIKE THE SUSPENSION IS GONE. THIS IS A 2013 AND THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. I HAVE A 2008 CTS AND NEVER HAD A SUSPENSION ISSUE AND THAT CAR HAVE OVER 160,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT BECAUSE I WAS READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2016 AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. I CAN'T BE A SPECIFIC DATE BUT THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING. I DON'T THINK THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET THIS FIX.

NHTSA ID

11004758

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT IS FROZEN, VERY HORRIBLE RIDE AND WHENEVER I RUN OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS GOING TO FALL OUT. DEALER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTEE

NHTSA ID

10949849

Incident

Jan 28, 2017

Mileage

88,000 mi

REAR END OF THE CAR DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. MECHANIC SAID THE REAR AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED, AND ONE OF THE AIRBAGS BURST. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, IT WAS NOT DRIVE ABLE.

NHTSA ID

10949844

Incident

Jul 22, 2016

Mileage

82,000 mi

CADILLAC XTS LIMOUSINE WITH 2,800 MILES. WHEN DRIVING A KNOCKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN FRONT END. THE NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE MAKING TURNS, HITTING THE SMALLEST BUMPS IN THE ROAD, AND VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN EASING OVER A TRAIN TRACK AT 2MPH.

NHTSA ID

10909585

Incident

Sep 24, 2016

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING 40 MPH AND THE REAR SUSPENSION DROPPED WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10906196

Incident

Sep 13, 2016

Mileage

73,000 mi

REAR SUSPENSION FAILED DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROX 60 MPH. REAR END OF VEHICLE WAS LOWERED TO THE POINT WHERE THE TIRE WAS RUBBING ON UNDERCARRIAGE. CAR WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND BOUNCING UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY. MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD STATED "SERVICE LEVELING SYSTEM". COULD NOT TOW THE CAR REAR WAS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND.

NHTSA ID

10905186

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

Mileage

33,500 mi

REAR COMPRESSOR FOR AIR SUSPENSION FAILS AND LOWERS CAR TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION. COMPRESSOR FAILED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION CAUSING ERRATIC HANDLING BEHAVIOR.

NHTSA ID

10822487

Incident

Jan 25, 2016

Mileage

20,774 mi

2013 CADILLAC XTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE REAR SUSPENSION HAD BOTTOM OUT. THE LAST TIME THE SUSPENSION FAILED, THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10722968

Incident

May 14, 2015