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2016 Cadillac ATS

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
not rated
Recalls
3
on record
MPG
25
combined

Open recalls on record

3 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2016 Cadillac ATS

3 recalls
35 complaints
25 MPG combined

Before You Buy

Confirm all 3 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 3 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 35 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
3
Owner complaints
35
Complaints citing a crash
3

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

3 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 15V463000high

    Visibility issue

    VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

    Consequence

    Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.

    Remedy

    GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.

    Full campaign record
  • 15V558000high

    Visibility issue

    VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 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.

    Consequence

    If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electronic Climate Control module to remove the automatic rear defogger "on" function, free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.

    Full campaign record
  • 26V329000high

    Airbag system issue

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

    Consequence

    An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NHTSA holds no crash-test rating for this model year.

Not every model year is tested. A missing rating is not a poor rating.

Fuel economy & emissions

EPA figures for the 2016 Cadillac ATS, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.

22

City

31

Hwy

25

Comb

Annual fuel cost
$3,050
Tailpipe CO₂
349 g/mi

How this compares

At 25 MPG combined, the 2016 Cadillac ATS ranks 14th of 17 compact cars EPA rated for 2016 — 3 MPG short of the 28 MPG median for that group.

That places it in the lower third of its class. If annual mileage is high, the running-cost gap against a class-average rival compounds quickly.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $3,050, $750 more than the $2,300 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $15,250, a $3,750 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 349 grams per mile — about 5.2 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.

Consumer complaints

35 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

35
Total
3
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE14
  • AIR BAGS5
  • STEERING4
  • ELECTRICAL3
  • WHEELS/TIRES3

Notable Issues

35 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 5 reports involve injuries. 3 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)14
airbag concerns (warning light, deployment issues)5
steering issues (play, noise, loss of assist)4

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2016 Cadillac ATS, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 26V329000

    An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

  2. Recall

    Recall 15V558000

    If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.

  3. Recall

    Recall 15V463000

    Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Compact Cars
Drive type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Engine
2L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Automatic (S8)
Seats
0

Fuel economy

22

City

31

Hwy

25

Comb

Annual cost
$3,050
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Cadillac ATS years

Common problems

Cadillac ATS problems

119 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 26V329000

    An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

  2. Recall

    Recall 15V558000

    If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire.

  3. Recall

    Recall 15V463000

    Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.