Is the 2021 Cadillac CT5 reliable?

The 2021 Cadillac CT5 has 28 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Cadillac CT5?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (7 complaints, avg repair $500); BODY/STRUCTURE (3 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (2 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Cadillac CT5?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN, AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Contact any Cadillac dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Cadillac CT5?

The 2021 Cadillac CT5 gets 24 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2000. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Cadillac CT5?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Cadillac CT5 is approximately $2,115/year (sedan-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.

2021 Cadillac CT5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Cadillac CT5 has 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 14. The most common issue is electrical problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: when approaching a stopping vehicle the brake pedal became extremely hard to press and i could not brake enough to stop and had a collision. come to find out that the abs computer and the main ecu weren't communicating correctly which turned off the assisted braking, assisted steering and the awd.. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year.

6 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

7 complaints

25%

• When approaching a stopping vehicle the brake pedal became extremely hard to press and I could not brake enough to stop and had a collision. Come to find out that the ABS computer and the main ECU weren't communicating correctly which turned off the assisted braking, assisted steering and the AWD.
• Driver Side door handle stops working. Because the door handle operates with a sensor and not a standard pull door handle something is being affected and it will not open door. Causing safety issue and not being able to enter car normally.
• The exterior door handle latch release switch fails to open the door. This issue happened to all 4 exterior doors. The problem starts with intermittently, then progresses to complete failure. Once it fails, the entire door handle needs to be replaced. If all 4 doors fail, the only way to access t

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

“When approaching a stopping vehicle the brake pedal became extremely hard to press and I could not brake enough to stop and had a collision. Come to find out that the ABS computer and the main ECU weren't communicating correctly which turned off the assisted braking, assisted steering and the AWD.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN05/08/2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.

Risk: Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Cadillac CT5

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,001

Per month

$167

Per mile

16.7¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,527/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,500/yr

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.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Cadillac CT5

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

$2,115

Full coverage / month

$176

Liability only / year

$668

vs US avg

+26%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-luxury)1.28x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$2115

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 2021 CT5, 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

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 28 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: When approaching a stopping vehicle the brake pedal became extremely hard to press and I could not brake enough to stop and had a collision. Come to find out that the ABS computer and the main ECU weren't communicating correctly which turned off the assisted braking, assisted steering and the AWD.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: Currently my passenger door and my rear driver side door do not open from the outside. I already had to have my driver side door handle replaced for the same issue, now three out of four of my handles have failed. If an accident were to occur no one would be able to access the passenger or the rear
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: There was no indication that the Automatic Braking System, Air Bags and Seatbelts were not working properly. In August 12, 2021, I was in an auto accident where I rear-ended another dodge car. The air bags did not deploy and Onstar was not notified. I believe I hit the steering wheel. I went to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: There was no indication that the Automatic Braking System, Air Bags and Seatbelts were not working properly. In August 12, 2021, I was in an auto accident where I rear-ended another dodge car. The air bags did not deploy and Onstar was not notified. I believe I hit the steering wheel. I went to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Cadillac dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)