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ProblemsByVin File / 2013-CADILLAC-ATS NHTSA data synced 4 days ago
2013 · Cadillac

Cadillac ATS problems

160 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.4 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2013 ATS?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

powertrain
40 reports · fails ~57,011 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
steering
25 reports · fails ~25,359 mi · avg $700
moderate
electrical
23 reports · fails ~53,139 mi · avg $850
moderate
engine
23 reports · fails ~52,182 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
airbags
6 reports · fails ~67,000 mi · avg $1,100
severe
lighting
5 reports · fails ~44,250 mi · avg $250
moderate
brakes
4 reports · fails ~13,400 mi · avg $450
moderate
suspension
4 reports · fails ~82,500 mi · avg $900
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2013 ATS's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2013 ATS?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2013 ATS · engine
My wife was driving to her parents house going up a incline and the vehicle couldn't pull the hill slowed down to approx. 20mph bumped and shook as it went up the hill. When she got out of the car at her parents house you could smell something like burnt transmission or…
12/23/2014 · at 18,571 mi · NHTSA ODI #10668068.0 · see engine pattern →
2013 ATS · powertrain
Cruising down a hill probably in neutral, car stalled silently with no bucking or noise, just died. Numerous attempts to start the car were unsuccessful. After easily 15 attempts and approximately 30 minutes the car started but was with family, at night on dark twisty and…
12/23/2013 · at 1,822 mi · NHTSA ODI #10557080.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2013 ATS · powertrain
My Vehicle will shift out of gear but will not move and there is a rattling sound when the gear is tried to be put back in park and rest of gears
12/19/2024 · NHTSA ODI #11631694.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2013 ATS · steering
I have two issues to report that may be a safety concern: 1) there have been multiple times when driving in wet conditions (rain/snow) where I will get a 'power steering failure' warning. When this happens the power steering does one of two things. It either almost locks up…
12/11/2013 · at 3,500 mi · NHTSA ODI #10555555.0 · see steering pattern →
View all 160 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2013 Cadillac ATS? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 14V488000 August 8, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to March 1, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to May 1, 2013

If the seat belts do not remain locked in the retracted position when under load, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front the driver's and the passenger's lap belt pretensioners, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. GM sent interim notifications on October 7, 2014 and will send a second notification when remedy parts are available. The recall began on November 20, 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14171.

Common questions

Is the 2013 Cadillac ATS reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 160 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Cadillac ATS is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2013 Cadillac ATS?

The 2013 Cadillac ATS is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2013 Cadillac ATS?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 40 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 57,011 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 57,011 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Cadillac ATS has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Cadillac ATS?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 160 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Other model years
2017 ATS2016 ATS2015 ATS2014 ATS
Problem categories across the fleet
powertrain across all vehicles steering across all vehicles electrical across all vehicles engine across all vehicles airbags across all vehicles lighting across all vehicles brakes across all vehicles suspension across all vehicles
Component family deep-dives
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Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Cadillac/ATS. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Cadillac. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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