Is the 2013 Cadillac ATS a bad year?
161 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 49, 4.9× a quiet ATS year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 1k–34k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 ATS owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 7,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 49 (30%) | 1k–34k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 46 (29%) | 3k–87k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 36 (22%) | 2k–60k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 25 (16%) | 4k–35k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 17 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 7,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 161 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 7 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Transmission issues. Rattling under the chassis that sounds like someone grabs the drive shaft and shakes it when the clutch is pushed at slow speeds ie moving up at a stop sign, in traffic etc.
Vehicle stalled quietly when coming to stop with vehicle in neutral and/or clutch depressed. I say quietly because I did not hear or feel it shut off.
While about to turn left, after pulling out the car engine stalled, and shut down leaving me in the middle of the roadway while being approached by oncoming cars.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 7,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Cadillac ATS: 6
In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation. If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems." Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.
In the affected vehicles, the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables may not lock in a retracted position, allowing the seat belts to extend when pulled upon. If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash. A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission. If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Cadillac: 755
Repair instructions Cadillac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Cadillac ATS. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Inspection/diagnosis/correction information on a cold start misfire and/or rough idle and DTC P0300 that may also be set
Neighbouring years
2014 ATS: 104 complaints, keep it.
Every Cadillac ATS year
2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All ATS years side by side
Other Cadillac models: Cadillac CTS · Cadillac DTS · Cadillac Deville · Cadillac Escalade · Cadillac Escalade ESV · Cadillac Lyriq · Cadillac SRX · Cadillac STS · Cadillac Seville · Cadillac XT5 · Cadillac XTS. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Cadillac ATS a bad year?
161 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 49, 4.9× a quiet ATS year. At 7,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 1k–34k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Cadillac ATS?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (49), transmission and drivetrain (46), electrical system (36), steering (25), brakes (17). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 1k–34k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Cadillac ATS have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-558), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-463), Seat belts (NHTSA 14V-488), Seats (NHTSA 14V-446) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.