The Lemon Index
201520171st generation
Better than average · most complaints: transmission & drivetrain
Better years to buy
12 owner complaints, first 3 years 19–26 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2016 Audi A62016 Mercedes-Benz CLA 782016 Audi A4 35
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 10 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 26V329000 (airbags), 15V558000 (visibility) and 15V463000 (visibility) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Cadillac sent dealers 1582 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Cadillac's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 12 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 38K miles (19K to 61K km) on the car (10 of all 12 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Vehicle tends to do a hard down shift when it's around 10-15 mph and it will feel like someone hit your car from behind. When accelerating from a complete stop 10-15 mph vehicle will stall sometimes.
2016 Cadillac ATS owner · NHTSA complaint 11206974
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 14.4M views · 2013–2019 Cadillac ATS
Most-watched topics
- Heat, A/C & blend door189K views
2014 Cadillac ATS 2.0T Blend Door Actuator ReplacementRussell Beermann · 72K views · 3 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical177K views
How to: Restart a Blacked out Radio on a 2013 Cadillac ATS if touch screen is not workingGEORGE LOPEZ HOW TO DO IT YOUR SELF · 100K views · 4 videos - Oil leaks & gaskets86K views
2014 CADILLAC ATS4 2.0 TURBO | VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACEMENT | OIL LEAK | Howto/DiyThe PullUpKing 👨🏾🔧 · 57K views · 3 videos - Transmission & shifter75K views
Remove TCM Transmission Control module Install unlocked TCM on 2018 Cadillac ATS 2 0TBoost Them All BTA · 39K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- Cooling system75K views
2013-2019 Cadillac ATS 2.0T Coolant Leak - EASY FIXJeff Lyle · 32K views · 3 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors72K views
2013-2018 Cadillac ATS 2.0T - P0171 Vacuum Leak - EASY FIXJeff Lyle · 37K views · 2 videos - Death wobble & steering56K views
2013 Cadillac ATS Suspension Clunk Repair (Sway Bar Link/Tie Rod End) (Mini Projects Ep.8)Fuzzy Dice Projects · 56K views - Windows, doors & mirrors51K views
2013-19 Cadillac ATS temperature door blend actuator replacement - PASSENGER sideOscar Benitez · 51K views
Before you buy, watch
2013 Cadillac ATS Premium (3.6 & 2.0T) Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth ReviewSaabkyle04 · 560K views
Review: 2017 Cadillac ATS-V (Manual)Matt Maran Motoring · 432K views
2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe 6MT: Regular Car ReviewsRegular Car Reviews · 343K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2016 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Cadillac told dealers about
Cadillac sent dealers 1582 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…
- Ome customers may comment on a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- Airbags · recall issued 2026 New: most likely still open
The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
- Visibility · recall issued 2015
In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
- Visibility · recall issued 2015
The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac ATS 2DR AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Cadillac ATS 2DR RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Cadillac ATS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Cadillac ATS 4 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Cadillac ATS V-Series 2DR RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,300–$3,950 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
Every Cadillac ATS year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 4 Cadillac ATS years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2016 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/cadillac-ats/?y=2016" title="Cadillac ATS reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="307" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/cadillac-ats/2016/">Lemon Index</a> (2016 Cadillac ATS reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2016 Cadillac ATS reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew about half as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 51; 100 is average, lower is better). The Cadillac ATS year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2015.
What are the most common 2016 Cadillac ATS problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (33%), airbags (8%) and tires (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have?
3 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Cadillac ATS get?
19 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Cadillac ATS safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 33% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Cadillac ATS cost in fuel a year?
About $2,300 to $3,950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Cadillac ATS year is better than the 2016?
Nearby, the 2015 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a fifth as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works