Is the 2013 Cadillac ATS reliable?

The 2013 Cadillac ATS has 255 complaints filed with NHTSA (5.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Cadillac ATS?

Top problems: ENGINE (49 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (46 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (36 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Cadillac ATS?

Yes, there are 6 recall(s): VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, SEATS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Contact any Cadillac dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2013 Cadillac ATS?

The 2013 Cadillac ATS has an EPA rating of 23 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $3341. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Cadillac ATS?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Cadillac ATS is approximately $2,345/year (ev-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2013 Cadillac ATS qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2013 Cadillac ATS may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2013 Cadillac ATS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Cadillac ATS has 255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.7x the segment average of 45. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: rough idle when in drive and stopped at light (always), i did bring it in for service for the rough idle and dealership stated nothing showed up on computer so they were unable to correct problem. *tr. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year.

12 crash reports 8 injuries

255

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

5.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

49 complaints

19%

• ROUGH IDLE WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPPED AT LIGHT (ALWAYS), I DID BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE ROUGH IDLE AND DEALERSHIP STATED NOTHING SHOWED UP ON COMPUTER SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR
• 2.5 LITER ENGINE AT STOP ENGINE SHAKES FOR NO REASON. AS USUAL TAKE TO DEALER AND CAN'T FIND ISSUE WITHOUT A CODE. NOW AT 2572 MILES STILL SHAKES AND DEALER SAYS THAT ALL ATS DO THIS SO LIVE WITH IT. I SAY THAT THIS ATS BY GM. NEEDS TO TAKE THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY AS THIS WILL HURT THE SALES OF A
• RIGHT TURN FROM STOP ONTO MAJOR 6-LANE HIGHWAY; NO POWER TO ENGINE AFTER ENGAGEMENT OF ACCELERATOR; ACTED AS THOUGH NOT IN-DRIVE GEAR; TACHOMETER REVED PAST 6K; FOOT OFF OF PEDAL; TRANSMISSION ENGAGED; VERY SLOW RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION; EVASIVE ACTION BY OTHER DRIVERS FOLLOWING; NO REPLICATION BY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ROUGH IDLE WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPPED AT LIGHT (ALWAYS), I DID BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE ROUGH IDLE AND DEALERSHIP STATED NOTHING SHOWED UP ON COMPUTER SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Cadillac ATS

Based on 207 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 19K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

113

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 6K mi · 44 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 12K mi · 35 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 43K mi · 30 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 14K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 10K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 50K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (6)

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY24/07/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. 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."

Risk: 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.

Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2013 Cadillac ATS

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$3,311

Per month

$276

Per mile

27.6¢

kWh/mi

1.47

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Cadillac ATS

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,345

Full coverage / month

$195

Liability only / year

$767

vs US avg

+40%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-luxury)1.62x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$2345

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Cadillac New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

6 yr / 70K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

6 yr / 70K mi

These are the terms for a new Cadillac. If you're buying a used 2013 ATS, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Cadillac dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2013 Cadillac ATS

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 255 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ROUGH IDLE WHEN IN DRIVE AND STOPPED AT LIGHT (ALWAYS), I DID BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE ROUGH IDLE AND DEALERSHIP STATED NOTHING SHOWED UP ON COMPUTER SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: RIGHT TURN FROM STOP ONTO MAJOR 6-LANE HIGHWAY; NO POWER TO ENGINE AFTER ENGAGEMENT OF ACCELERATOR; ACTED AS THOUGH NOT IN-DRIVE GEAR; TACHOMETER REVED PAST 6K; FOOT OFF OF PEDAL; TRANSMISSION ENGAGED; VERY SLOW RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION; EVASIVE ACTION BY OTHER DRIVERS FOLLOWING; NO REPLICATION BY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: RIGHT TURN FROM STOP ONTO MAJOR 6-LANE HIGHWAY; NO POWER TO ENGINE AFTER ENGAGEMENT OF ACCELERATOR; ACTED AS THOUGH NOT IN-DRIVE GEAR; TACHOMETER REVED PAST 6K; FOOT OFF OF PEDAL; TRANSMISSION ENGAGED; VERY SLOW RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION; EVASIVE ACTION BY OTHER DRIVERS FOLLOWING; NO REPLICATION BY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: WHEN TAKING A CORNER THE CAR APPEARED TO OVER STEER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ME SO I WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO CORRECT IT AND IT FELT SLUGGISH FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. ALMOST INSTANTLY AFTER THAT A WARNING CAME UP ON THE DASH THAT INDICATED SOMETHING LIKE "SERVICE POWER STEERING, PLEASE DRIVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Cadillac dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)