Cadillac ATS — the 7 years we've written up
2013–2019, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 5 of the 7 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 7 Cadillac ATS model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Cadillac built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Cadillac ATS by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
One car that intermittently loses power, accelerates on its own and goes hard to steer — filed under four headings — $150–$400 for diagnosis and a battery or ground repair; $1,200–$2,500 if the steering gear is the fault
Electric power steering assist cuts out while driving — steering gear recall (2025) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Electric power steering assist fails — recalled in 2019, then again in 2025 — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Driver's front airbag inflator may rupture on deployment (2026 recall) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
2.0T timing chain / oil consumption — $1,500-$3,000 if affected
Rear differential leaks at the axle seals, howls, and fails — $300–$600 for axle seals; $2,500–$4,000 for a differential
2.0L turbo pistons crack; engine replaced — sometimes under 10,000 miles — $5,000–$9,000 for a replacement engine
2 of these 7 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Cadillac ATS in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for that year.
Known issues are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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