This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Cadillac CTS electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Cadillac CTS have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 17,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 CTS | 22 |
| 2011 CTS | 18 |
| 2012 CTS | 9 |
| 2013 CTS (this page) | 20 |
| 2014 CTS | 10 |
| 2015 CTS | 5 |
| 2016 CTS | 6 |
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 20 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Cadillac CTS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Electrical accounts for 28% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 CTS electrical complaints cluster around the ignition switch defect covered by GM Recall 14V394000. Owners report the vehicle stalling without warning at various speeds—from idle to highway speeds—with the engine cutting out and power steering/brakes/airbag systems becoming unavailable. Some stalls occurred below 10,000 miles; others at 37,000 or more. One owner experienced uncontrolled acceleration from a stop, loss of power to doors and windows, and collision damage; another lost control at 15 mph and crashed into a tree with injury. A dealer diagnosis found defective ECM wiring requiring replacement of wiring, camshaft sensor, and ECM.
GM's recall remedy—small key rings to attach to the fob—drew widespread criticism; owners state it does not address the root defect and merely instructs drivers to remove extra weight from the key ring. Several owners report dealers attached the fob to the key anyway despite the warning paperwork. One owner reports the engine continuing to run after removing the key and accelerating unexpectedly. Secondary electrical faults include airbag lights, backup camera failure with reverse lights staying on, power seat/window lag or failure, dashboard light outages, and seat heating/memory function loss.
Dealers often could not diagnose or repair the stall condition, citing inability to duplicate the failure or unavailability of recall parts.
Same Cadillac CTS electrical reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition switch rotation / unintended key position change
The ignition switch rotates unintentionally due to weight on the key ring, moving the key out of the ON position. This cuts engine power, disables power steering, brakes, and airbag deployment—creating a potentially life-threatening condition.
When: Varies; reported from below 300 miles through 37,000+ miles; occurs at idle and while driving at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; Power steering loss; Brake power loss; Airbags disabled; Engine restarts after stall; Failure recurs intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 14V394000 remedy: two small key rings attached to remote fob to reduce weight on key ring. Owners report this does not solve the defect. One independent repair: ECM wiring replacement, camshaft sensor replacement, ECM replacement (cost not stated). Dealer parts unavailable in some cases; dealers unable to diagnose or replicate failure in others.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V394000 (Campaign ID 14V394) issued July 21 (N140172) and August 4, 2014 (N140497). GM remedy: two small key rings to distribute weight. GM also issues paperwork instructing owner not to attach additional items (house keys, other keys, fob) to the key ring. One owner reports OnStar and CCA gave conflicting information about whether the vehicle was safe to operate; another reports the dealer attached the fob despite the written warning.
Engine continues running after key removal and unintended acceleration
Engine does not shut off when key is removed from the ignition; engine has begun accelerating unexpectedly in this state within recent days.
When: Occurring in recent days; age/mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine runs after key is removed; Unintended acceleration when key is removed; No stalling warning sound
Uncontrolled acceleration from stop with power loss
Vehicle accelerated to uncontrollable speed while attempting to pull out of driveway from dead stop. Vehicle also experienced power failures to doors and windows. Resulted in collision with neighbor's vehicle and property damage.
When: While pulling out of residential driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled acceleration from stop; Loss of power to door locks; Loss of power to windows; Driver had to exit by crawling through window
Backup camera failure with reverse lights always on
Backup camera stopped working. Reverse lights remain on continuously, even while driving forward on the road.
When: Mileage approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera inoperative; Reverse lights on at all times; Reverse lights on while driving forward
Power seat and seat/mirror memory malfunction
Heated seat function stopped working. Seat and mirror memory settings stopped working suddenly. Seat control buttons lag and require several tries to function.
When: Sudden onset; mileage approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Heated seat inoperative; Seat memory setting lost; Mirror memory setting lost; Seat adjustment buttons lag or require multiple presses
Dashboard and interior trim light outages
Dashboard and interior trim lights intermittently turn off and will resume at unpredictable times.
When: Intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights turn off; Interior trim lights turn off; Lights resume unpredictably
Airbag light illumination
Airbag warning light has illuminated on the dashboard.
When: Mileage approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on
Passenger rear window unwanted operation
Passenger rear window lowered on its own while vehicle was in motion on the highway and would not roll back up.
When: While driving on highway at approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Window lowers without input; Window will not raise
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
This car on your list shows "recall incomplete" ! This is not correct! Recall was corrected by me (owner at home) with the gm kit and I sent the enclosed gm recall signature form to 'recall processing center, po box 909989, milwaukee, wi, 53209, as instructed! Form dated sept. 16, '14. Please check your/ gm Cadillac records!! [xxx], lease /owner information redacted pursuant to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Cadillac cts. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted immediately but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14v394000 (electrical systems). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.…
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Cadillac cts. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 14v394000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
Recall campaign number 14v394. Replacement key rings sent to "fix" problem. This does not solve the problem. It makes me aware of the issue, but does not prevent any future owners from attaching extra weight to key ring. How will this prevent future owners from risk of accident ? This is a lame repair. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Cadillac cts. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and the contact was able to drive normally. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign id number: 14v394000 (electrical…
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 Cadillac CTS?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2013 Cadillac CTS?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 5,000 and 37,000 miles, with the median around 17,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,000; a quarter make it past 37,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Cadillac/CTS.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.