Cadillac ATS Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2013 draws 1.54 complaints per run and the 2018 1, a 1.5-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 60.9% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 99 complaints, typically at 5.4 years.

Cadillac ATS years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Cadillac ATS — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2018	1	20	20	yes
2017	1.14	32	28	yes
2016	1.06	35	33	yes
2015	1.07	29	27	yes
2014	1.43	96	67	yes
2013	1.54	151	98	yes

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2013 ATS asks a median $7,999, against $9,600 for a 2014, the next model year: about 17% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 6 Cadillac ATS years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2013, 2014, 2017; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2016, 2015.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Cadillac ATS — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	43	11.9%	covered
1 year	35	21.6%	covered
2 years	37	31.9%	covered
3 years	26	39.1%	covered
4 years	31	47.6%	you pay
5 years	37	57.9%	you pay
6 years	36	67.9%	you pay
7 years	34	77.3%	you pay
8 years	26	84.5%	you pay
9 years	17	89.2%	you pay
10 years	20	94.7%	you pay
11 years	11	97.8%	you pay
12 years	8	100%	you pay

ROWS 13·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 39.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 60.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 45% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Cadillac ATS, the early trouble is Engine and Service Brakes — reported at around 3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 5.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Cadillac ATS — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Power Train	99	5.4 yrs	3	—
Electrical System	72	4.2 yrs	—	1
Engine	65	3 yrs	1	2
Steering	59	4.3 yrs	2	—
Unknown Or Other	52	5.2 yrs	5	—
Air Bags	27	6.7 yrs	7	—
Service Brakes	25	3.4 yrs	3	—
Vehicle Speed Control	15	3.1 yrs	2	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the ATS's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 1.33 for the ATS.

FIG.05·Cadillac ATS — rivals in the same class
Same class as the ATS	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Corolla	12,389	219	1981–2026
Lexus IS	47	118	2001–2026
BMW M3	565	78	1988–2026
Acura TLX	893	41	2015–2026
Ford Focus	22,576	138	2000–2026
Subaru WRX	290	17	2015–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Cadillac ATS

Recalls29 campaigns Fuel economy26 mpg best Common problems386 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space14 cu ft Used prices617 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2013–2019

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cadillac ATS reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.33 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which ATS years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2013, 2014, 2017. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2016, 2015. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do ATS problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 5.4 years, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover ATS problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 39.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 45% of the complaints here.

Is the ATS more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?

Yes: 1.33 complaints per production run for the ATS against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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