2016 Cadillac ATS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Cadillac ATS has 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 45. The most common issue is transmission problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle tends to do a hard down shift when it's around 10-15 mph and it will feel like someone hit your car from behind. when accelerating from a complete stop 10-15 mph vehicle will stall sometimes.. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year.
45
Total Complaints
3
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
10 complaints- • VEHICLE TENDS TO DO A HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT'S AROUND 10-15 MPH AND IT WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR FROM BEHIND. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP 10-15 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL SOMETIMES.
- • TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES TO DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. GM HAS REPLACED IT AT 17475 MILES. MORE TRIPS FOR ISSUES WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. IMPROPER SHIFTING, HARD DOWN SHIFTING, HOLDING RPM GEAR LONGER THAN NORMAL.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR ACHES AND PAINS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A P
“VEHICLE TENDS TO DO A HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT'S AROUND 10-15 MPH AND IT WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR FROM BEHIND. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP 10-15 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL SOMETIMES.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2016 Cadillac ATS
Based on 21 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 24K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
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 (3)
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.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2016 Cadillac ATS
Live EIA pricesBased 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.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Cadillac ATS
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Cadillac New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Cadillac. If you're buying a used 2016 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.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 45 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE TENDS TO DO A HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN IT'S AROUND 10-15 MPH AND IT WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR FROM BEHIND. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP 10-15 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL SOMETIMES.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THE RADIO SCREEN IS CRACKING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SCREEN I'M GETTING A SPIDERWEB EFFECT THAT IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO SEE THE SCREEN. CAN'T SEE THE SPEED OF MY AC FAN BECASUE I CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN, CAN'T CHANGE TO BLUETOOTH BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN, CAN'T USE MY NAVIGATION SYSTEM THAT I PAID E
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT PLACED A MOBILE PHONE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (HENNESSY CADILLAC LOCATED AT 3377 SATELLITE BLVD, DULUTH, GA 30096; (770) 680-7000) WHO STATED T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES AND DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RED NOLAND CADILLAC (719-633-4633, LOCATED AT 990 MOTOR CITY DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Cadillac dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Cadillac ATS — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 45
- Recalls
- 3
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 45
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Cadillac ATS