- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 3
- on record
- MPG
- 14
- combined
Open recalls on record
3 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2015 Cadillac CTS
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- Owner complaints
- 47
- Complaints citing a crash
- 2
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 We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.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.
Safety recalls
3 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 18V595000high
Safety restraint issue
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Consequence
In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Full campaign recordRemedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
- 15V358000high
Brake system issue
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
Consequence
If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15352.
- 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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2015 Cadillac CTS.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 4 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 10.1%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2015 Cadillac CTS 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 21 comparable 2015 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 10.1% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2015 Cadillac CTS, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
12
City
18
Hwy
14
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $5,450
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 638 g/mi
How this compares
At 14 MPG combined, the 2015 Cadillac CTS ranks 23rd of 23 midsize cars EPA rated for 2015 — 10 MPG short of the 24 MPG median for that group.
That places it among the thirstiest vehicles in 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 $5,450, $2,900 more than the $2,550 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $27,250, a $14,500 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 638 grams per mile — about 9.6 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
47 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 47
- Total
- 2
- Crashes
- 2
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE19
- BRAKES8
- OTHER7
- ELECTRICAL5
- STEERING2
Normal Range
47 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 2 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2015 Cadillac CTS, newest first.
- Recall
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Recall
In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Recall
If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
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
- Midsize Cars
- Drive type
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 6.2L 8-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
12
City
18
Hwy
14
Comb
- Annual cost
- $5,450
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Recall
In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Recall
If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.