2019 Cadillac XT5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2019 Cadillac XT5 has 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: my vehicle is receiving a notice "steer assist is reduced drive with care". per discussion with the dealership this is a result of a thermostat issue causing an issue with the grease temperature in the steering. based on a bulletin to the dealerships from 2017 this is a known issue and continues t. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 3 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

8 complaints

18%

• My vehicle is receiving a notice "Steer Assist is Reduced Drive with Care". Per discussion with the dealership this is a result of a thermostat issue causing an issue with the grease temperature in the steering. Based on a bulletin to the dealerships from 2017 this is a known issue and continues t
• While traveling home to Louisiana from a vacation, I noticed the engine temperature what stuck on Cold. We also were experiencing loss of power steering, and loss of AC in the car. We stopped at AutoZone in Destin, FL where they completed their FixFinder which reported the thermostat needed to be re
• Message Displayed on 2019 Cadillac XT-5 "Steering Assist is Reduced - Drive With Care". No check engine light, and no apparent loss of steering. Noted that Temperature Gauge and Air Conditioning ceased to work. Suspiciously, a 2017 Cadillac XT-5 that I also own, the identical displayed message ca

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

“My vehicle is receiving a notice "Steer Assist is Reduced Drive with Care". Per discussion with the dealership this is a result of a thermostat issue causing an issue with the grease temperature in the steering. Based on a bulletin to the dealerships from 2017 this is a known issue and continues t”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

7 complaints

16%

• AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I
• MY VEHICLE HAS SHOWN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, TCS OFF, AND TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO SHIFT SOON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES; AND AFTER CERTAIN TIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GO PAST 50-60 MPH.
• While traveling home to Louisiana from a vacation, I noticed the engine temperature what stuck on Cold. We also were experiencing loss of power steering, and loss of AC in the car. We stopped at AutoZone in Destin, FL where they completed their FixFinder which reported the thermostat needed to be re

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

11%

• WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN WHEN I GET TO 40 TO 45 MPH YOU THINK YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO EXPLODE. IT IS ACTUALLY PAINFUL. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I ALSO HAVE A SERVICE DOG THAT IS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES AND THEIR EARS ARE EVEN MORE SENSITIVE THAN OURS. I AM ALSO THE ONLY CARE TAKER FOR MY 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER I
• AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I
• WE BOUGHT XT5 ON 12/04/18, ON 02/19/19, BROUGHT IN FOR TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 06/10/19, BROUGHT IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE. 06/16/19, ON THE WAY BACK FROM KNOXVILLE ON FREEWAY I-40, WHILE IT WAS RAINING HARD, ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. WIPE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN WHEN I GET TO 40 TO 45 MPH YOU THINK YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO EXPLODE. IT IS ACTUALLY PAINFUL. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I ALSO HAVE A SERVICE DOG THAT IS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES AND THEIR EARS ARE EVEN MORE SENSITIVE THAN OURS. I AM ALSO THE ONLY CARE TAKER FOR MY 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

11%

• EXCESSIVE BRAKE SQUEAL WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY DURING INITIAL DRIVE OF THE DAY OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE. SQUEAL WILL GO AWAY AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE APPLICATIONS. DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATION AND OFFERED NO FIX.
• " TAKATA RECALL " WHEN DRIFTING FORWARD LIGHTING TOUCHING BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE LIGHTING TOUCHING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. VERY EMBARRASSING!!! NEVER PURCHASED A CAR WITH BRAKE ISSUES LIKE THIS AND BEING TOLD THIS JUST HAPPENS WILL GO AW
• Service stability track light came on. Brought to Mechanic hooked up to computer. No code shown. Mechanic says car is fine. Keep it off for 15 minutes and the computer will reset. Driving on the highway Emergency brake came on by itself and stopped the vehicle all caution lights lit up on on the das

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

“EXCESSIVE BRAKE SQUEAL WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY DURING INITIAL DRIVE OF THE DAY OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE. SQUEAL WILL GO AWAY AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE APPLICATIONS. DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATION AND OFFERED NO FIX.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

4 complaints

• CHECKING FOR POTENTIAL AIRBAG RECALL TAKATA
• MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT APPROX 35 MPH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STRIKING VEHICLE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES SO THE FULL FORCE OF THE VEHICLE HIT. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, LEAVING ME WITH A CONCUSSION AS MY HEAD STRUCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN ON
• I keep getting a warning to service the Safety Restraint System. I have taken my car in several times to be fixed and have paid a lot of money and it is still not fixed. The dealership says they fixed it but then it happens again. This has been going on for about 3-4 months now. At this point I do n

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“CHECKING FOR POTENTIAL AIRBAG RECALL TAKATA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

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:

☐
STEERING: My vehicle is receiving a notice "Steer Assist is Reduced Drive with Care". Per discussion with the dealership this is a result of a thermostat issue causing an issue with the grease temperature in the steering. Based on a bulletin to the dealerships from 2017 this is a known issue and continues t
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN WHEN I GET TO 40 TO 45 MPH YOU THINK YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO EXPLODE. IT IS ACTUALLY PAINFUL. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I ALSO HAVE A SERVICE DOG THAT IS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES AND THEIR EARS ARE EVEN MORE SENSITIVE THAN OURS. I AM ALSO THE ONLY CARE TAKER FOR MY 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: EXCESSIVE BRAKE SQUEAL WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY DURING INITIAL DRIVE OF THE DAY OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE. SQUEAL WILL GO AWAY AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE APPLICATIONS. DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATION AND OFFERED NO FIX.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)