2015 Cadillac ATS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Cadillac ATS has 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: first in line while stopped at a left-turn light on a city street. light turned green, began to accelerate. mid-way through the turn, heard a "pop", lost steering control, and the rear end spun car into the curb. keep in mind this is a 4-wheel-drive car. when the car came to a stop, the nose of the .

3 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

6 complaints

15%

• FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE
• I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND REALIZED THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I MOVES THE CAR FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE AGAIN AND A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN READ TO SERVICE POWER STEERING. UPON MY RESEARCH THE ELECTRICAL MODULE OR MOTOR HAS BEEN KNOW T
• The contact’s son owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that while his son was exiting his driveway, the vehicle lost power steering assist with the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the bolts holding the st

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

“FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

15%

• A1 INCOMING EMAIL: LETTER FROM CONSUMER RE THE SAFETY OF 2015 ATS CADILLAC. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE FUEL GAUGE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT DASH COMPUTER QUE READER SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. *JB
• I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND REALIZED THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I MOVES THE CAR FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE AGAIN AND A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN READ TO SERVICE POWER STEERING. UPON MY RESEARCH THE ELECTRICAL MODULE OR MOTOR HAS BEEN KNOW T
• ON FEBRUARY 22ND 2021 THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING WAS WET AND THE ENTIRE WIRING HAD COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED IT TO THE PRESENT DATE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“A1 INCOMING EMAIL: LETTER FROM CONSUMER RE THE SAFETY OF 2015 ATS CADILLAC. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE FUEL GAUGE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT DASH COMPUTER QUE READER SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. *JB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

5 complaints

12%

• FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE
• I NOTICED A ROARING NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER I WENT TO BARKLEY CADILLAC GMC IN TUSCALOOSA ALABAMA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR END HAD A PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
• REAR END IS MAKING HOWLING SOUND. THE SOUND STARTED IN LATE DECEMBER OF 2019. SINCE THEN I HAVE ONLY DROVE THE CAR TO THE REPAIR FACILITY THIS WEEK. CERTIFIED REPAIR FACILITY IS STATING MY DIFFERENTIAL IS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

12%

• THE VEHICLE CUE SCREEN CRACKING. I HAD THE SCREEN REPLACED IN 2017 AND NOW THE SCREEN IS CRACKED.*DT CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST GM FOR USING PLASTIC SCREENS FROM 2012 CADILLAC MODELS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. CURRENTLY CADILLAC IS CHARGING $1,000 TO $2,000 TO REPAIR THE SCREEN.*JB
• THE VEHICLE CUE SCREEN CRACKING. I HAD THE SCREEN REPLACED IN 2017 AND NOW THE SCREEN IS CRACKED.*DT CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST GM FOR USING PLASTIC SCREENS FROM 2012 CADILLAC MODELS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. CURRENTLY CADILLAC IS CHARGING $1,000 TO $2,000 TO REPAIR THE SCREEN.*JB
• The CUE screen doesn’t work, has spider web on each corner, can’t use hands free phone or navigation, the screen won’t change from the taking your eyes off message while driving.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE CUE SCREEN CRACKING. I HAD THE SCREEN REPLACED IN 2017 AND NOW THE SCREEN IS CRACKED.*DT CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST GM FOR USING PLASTIC SCREENS FROM 2012 CADILLAC MODELS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. CURRENTLY CADILLAC IS CHARGING $1,000 TO $2,000 TO REPAIR THE SCREEN.*JB ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

4 complaints

10%

• THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM A RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT WITH 20-20 VISION. THE CITY I LIVE IN DOES NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH STREET WALKERS THAT CAN BE EASILY SEEN BY OTHER MAKES AND MODELS. NHTSA RATES THE 201
• BOTH HID HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME AFTER LESS THAN 1000 HOURS OF USE. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
• The cue system screen has become unresponsive due to separation of the glue the system is pretty much the heart of the car everything electrical is controlled thre that screen along with the back up camera

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM A RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT WITH 20-20 VISION. THE CITY I LIVE IN DOES NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH STREET WALKERS THAT CAN BE EASILY SEEN BY OTHER MAKES AND MODELS. NHTSA RATES THE 201”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 41 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: A1 INCOMING EMAIL: LETTER FROM CONSUMER RE THE SAFETY OF 2015 ATS CADILLAC. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE FUEL GAUGE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT DASH COMPUTER QUE READER SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. *JB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: FIRST IN LINE WHILE STOPPED AT A LEFT-TURN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN, HEARD A "POP", LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND THE REAR END SPUN CAR INTO THE CURB. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE NOSE OF THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE VEHICLE CUE SCREEN CRACKING. I HAD THE SCREEN REPLACED IN 2017 AND NOW THE SCREEN IS CRACKED.*DT CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST GM FOR USING PLASTIC SCREENS FROM 2012 CADILLAC MODELS WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. CURRENTLY CADILLAC IS CHARGING $1,000 TO $2,000 TO REPAIR THE SCREEN.*JB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)