2020 Cadillac XT5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 has 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: driving the car normally at night the dashboard lights went to full intensity without driver input, and wouldn't change. a few minutes later the rear windshield wiper started operating and wouldn't stop. twenty minutes later the car flashed a notification that power steering assist was not functio.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

6 complaints

19%

• DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY AT NIGHT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT TO FULL INTENSITY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, AND WOULDN'T CHANGE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED OPERATING AND WOULDN'T STOP. TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE CAR FLASHED A NOTIFICATION THAT POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS NOT FUNCTIO
• POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS FAILED ON 2 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST IN LATE JAN. 2021, WITH APPROX 2000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND THE SECOND ON 30 APRIL 2021. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING ASSIST AT START-UP AFTER STOPPING FOR FUEL. THE SECOND WAS WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 40 MPH. TH
• While driving at low speed lost all power steering . Was able to get it back home . When checked again later power steering was working . While driving later that day brakes engaged to a sudden slamming stop , red abs engaged light flashed then went away . Both incidents could’ve caused accidents.

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

“DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY AT NIGHT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT TO FULL INTENSITY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, AND WOULDN'T CHANGE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED OPERATING AND WOULDN'T STOP. TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE CAR FLASHED A NOTIFICATION THAT POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS NOT FUNCTIO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

19%

• THE CAR SHOWS A WARNING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS. THE CAR REVS AT 5000RPM AND ONLY GOES 15 MPH, VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR LAST TIME AND SEEMS UNCONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVING.
• The contact owns a 2020 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard abnormal noises coming from the vehicle. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The manu
• When driving on the interstate traveling roughly 70 miles an hour went to accelerate and vehicle transmission made a hard shift and clunk. Then RPMs all transmission started slipping attempted to use paddle shifter to change gear felt transmission engage a different gear than instantly disengage fel

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

“THE CAR SHOWS A WARNING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS. THE CAR REVS AT 5000RPM AND ONLY GOES 15 MPH, VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR LAST TIME AND SEEMS UNCONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

13%

• VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE STOPS RUNNING. AFTER A SHORT TIME, IT CAN BE STARTED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR CITY STREET, THERE IS A RECALL PENDING FOR REPLACEMNT OF FUEL PUMP MODULE. IN THE MEANTIME IT IS AT DEALER (3 WEEKS) AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE A
• This vehicles transmission has went out twice. Both while driving and could have caused death on the freeway because the vehicle came to a complete stop. 2 young children could be at high risk for this issue. It was taken to the dealership the first time and the transmission was replaced and within
• Faulty termostat which creates reduce steering error code PO128, tempeture indicator is not listed on the dash board, engine RPMs are increased. This problem has increased for now the engine check light is highlighted.

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

“VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE STOPS RUNNING. AFTER A SHORT TIME, IT CAN BE STARTED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR CITY STREET, THERE IS A RECALL PENDING FOR REPLACEMNT OF FUEL PUMP MODULE. IN THE MEANTIME IT IS AT DEALER (3 WEEKS) AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

• Auto shut down completely in the middle of the road. No one including tow truck driver could not put vehicle into neutral. Once the vehicle was towed to the dealership in was confirmed that battery just died and the dealership stated due to the electrical shifter there was no way to engage neutral
• WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE THE BACKUP CAMERA STOPS WORKING IN THE SUN LIGHT MUST WAIT 2 MINUTES FOR IT TO START WORKING IN SUN LIGHT. WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE BLIND TO THE REAR FOR AT LEAST 2 MINUTES. NO OTHER CAR I NOW OF DOES THIS. BEEN TO TWO CADILAC DEALER IN TO DIFFERENT STATES BOTH SAID NOT
• The radiator had a leak that required replacement in my 2020 Cadillac XT5. The car only had 30,000 miles. Because of that GM replaced the radiator for $600 instead of the standard cost of $2,000. This is the 3rd Cadillac of my relatives of similar age that had a radiator leak. The service manage

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

“Auto shut down completely in the middle of the road. No one including tow truck driver could not put vehicle into neutral. Once the vehicle was towed to the dealership in was confirmed that battery just died and the dealership stated due to the electrical shifter there was no way to engage neutral”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

• While driving at low speed lost all power steering . Was able to get it back home . When checked again later power steering was working . While driving later that day brakes engaged to a sudden slamming stop , red abs engaged light flashed then went away . Both incidents could’ve caused accidents.
• The contact called on behalf of her grandmother who owns a 2020 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate while attempting to switch lanes. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle w

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

“While driving at low speed lost all power steering . Was able to get it back home . When checked again later power steering was working . While driving later that day brakes engaged to a sudden slamming stop , red abs engaged light flashed then went away . Both incidents could’ve caused accidents.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 32 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY AT NIGHT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT TO FULL INTENSITY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, AND WOULDN'T CHANGE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED OPERATING AND WOULDN'T STOP. TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE CAR FLASHED A NOTIFICATION THAT POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS NOT FUNCTIO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE CAR SHOWS A WARNING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 MONTHS. THE CAR REVS AT 5000RPM AND ONLY GOES 15 MPH, VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR LAST TIME AND SEEMS UNCONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE STOPS RUNNING. AFTER A SHORT TIME, IT CAN BE STARTED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR CITY STREET, THERE IS A RECALL PENDING FOR REPLACEMNT OF FUEL PUMP MODULE. IN THE MEANTIME IT IS AT DEALER (3 WEEKS) AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: Auto shut down completely in the middle of the road. No one including tow truck driver could not put vehicle into neutral. Once the vehicle was towed to the dealership in was confirmed that battery just died and the dealership stated due to the electrical shifter there was no way to engage neutral
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)