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2016 Cadillac CTS steering problems

moderate Owners of the 2016 Cadillac CTS have filed 4 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →

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Complaints
4
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$700
steering complaints on the Cadillac CTS, by model year
Model yearsteering complaints
2012 CTS 4
2013 CTS 10
2014 CTS 13
2015 CTS 4
2016 CTS (this page) 4
2017 CTS 8
What stands out

All 2 active steering recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 19V086000 February 7, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles

Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
severe NHTSA 25V175000 March 20, 2025

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles

A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.

Service Bulletin PI0281L Apr 2025

This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 25-NA-065 Mar 2025

This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 16-NA-109 Feb 2025

This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 04-06-01-029K Oct 2024

This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin 17-NA-087 Nov 2023

This service bulletin provides information on Characteristics of Wide Low Aspect Ratio Tires, Vehicle Pulls Left or Right, Wanders, Follows Depressions in Road Surface, Tramlining.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 4 most recent

steering · filed 12/28/2020

While accelerating from a stop, my vehicle loses all power temporarily. Throttle modulation does not increase RPM. At times the vehicle will jerk forward and back as if power is being put down then stopped abruptly. One time I had this happen, my lights, gauges, power steering, and engine power all went away. It fixed itself after about 15 minutes of trying to figure out what was happening. Very…

steering · filed 12/08/2025

The contact owns 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (STEERING); however, the…

steering · filed 10/01/2019

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Cadillac cts. The contact stated that the battery became inoperable and the vehicle failed to start. Also, while making a turn, the signal indicator handle failed to engage in position. Additionally, the dashboard leather was curling and there was an abnormal rumbling noise while reversing. The contact stated that the power steering message was displayed. There were no…

steering · filed 09/07/2017

Steering wheel became inoperable while vehicle in motion, vehicle shut down multiple times while driving causing all loss of power to vehicle, accelerator stuck and fuel shut off when going hard on brake did not work requiring snit into neutral, many other issues. Taken to dealer for repair many times in service over 40+ days since november 2016. Not safe to operate. Cue screen replaced muriople…

Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 steering problem on the 2016 Cadillac CTS?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 4 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2016/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.
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