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2013 Cadillac Xts Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2013 Cadillac Xts carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering sensor/control module-inactive and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Rear air suspension leveling system failure.” Cadillac uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm watches engine revolutions, temperature, and load, then lights the change-oil message — typically around 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, with dexos-approved oil. Turbo fours in ATS, CT4, XT4, and XT5 are harder on oil than the indicator suggests in short-trip driving. Northstar-era V8s (DeVille, Seville, Eldorado) live and die by their cooling system — coolant condition checks are not optional on those cars. Escalade shares its 6.2L V8 and 10-speed with GM's trucks and follows the same fluid schedule.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Campaign #14V518000 · Aug 28, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013. The affected vehicles may have left the factory with the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) set to "manufacturing mode."

Risk: In manufacturing mode, the vehicle's air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14532.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign #14V116000 · Mar 17, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, through March 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a cavity plug on the brake booster pump connector may dislodge allowing corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector.

Risk: The corrosion of the brake booster pump relay connector may cause a resistive short and melt the connector, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealant to the connector cavity plugs, re-route the vacuum pump vent hose and replace the front body wiring harnesses as needed, free of charge. The recall began on April 7, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's number for this recall is 14062.

PARKING BRAKE

Campaign #14V541000 · Sep 9, 2014

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged.

Risk: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14471.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Campaign #13V220000 · May 24, 2013

Issue: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Risk: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Campaign #12V525000 · Oct 31, 2012

Issue: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured from October 12, 2011, through August 30, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 202, "Head Restraints." The rear seat head restraints may not lock in the upright position after being folded forward. If the head restriant is at its lowest position and it falls forward, it will not meet the height required by the standard.

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the lowered head restraint may increase the occupant's risk of neck injury.

Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2012. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-458-8006.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2013 Cadillac Xts.

Reported to NHTSA

Rear air suspension leveling system failure

SUSPENSION

25 NHTSA complaints · 2015-06 → 2026-02

“REAR SUSPENSION FAILED DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT APPROX 60 MPH. REAR END OF VEHICLE WAS LOWERED TO THE POINT WHERE THE TIRE WAS RUBBING ON UNDERCARRIAGE. CAR WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND BOUNCING UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY. MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD STATED "SERVICE LEVELING SYSTEM"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10905186
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, MY REAR SUSPENSION LOST ALL AIR AND DROPPED FULLY CAUSING A VERY BUMPY RIDE AND UNSAFE HANDLING. VEHICLE SHOWED A LEVELING FAULT ON THE DASH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11099537
“THE SUSPENSION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING TOTALLY COLLAPSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO ONE FIRST GETTING INTO AND STARTING THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11402892

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CUE touchscreen and infotainment display failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

16 NHTSA complaints · 2012-07 → 2024-01

“2013 CADILLAC XTS CUE SYSTEM DISPLAY SCREEN HAS SPIDER CRACK THROUGH OUT THE SCREEN. IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO TOUCH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11328171
“THE CUE SYSTEM IN MY CAR DOES NOT WORK AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE SEPTEMBER, 2018. THIS AFFECTS THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, PHONE SYSTEM, CLIMATE CONTROLS (HEATING AND COOLING), RADIO AND WEATHER CHANNEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11219847
“THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN MY 2013 CADILLAC XTS IS INOPERATIVE. CADILLAC HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUES SINCE 2013. THE SCREEN CRACKS AND THE NAVIGATION AND HEATER CONTROLS DO NOT FUNCTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11140826

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Wheel rim bending and tire vibration

WHEELS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2014-12 → 2017-10

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR RIMS WERE BENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10825644
“RIMS ARE POOR DESIGN . ALL RIMS ARE BENT WITH NORMAL DRIVINGS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10734072
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS WITH VOGUE CUSTOM BUILT TIRES, SIZE: 245/40/20 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS CUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11033546

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear seat headrest fails to lock upright

SEATS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2016-10 → 2025-04

“Rear seat head restraint does not lock in upright position. I drive with read head restraint folded down for visibility”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11550616
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CADILLAC XTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V525000 (SEATS), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10919147
“My VIN is not associated with the recall, identified as NHTSA ID 12V525. It affected 12,626 2013 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured between October 12, 2011, and August 30, 2012”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11656856

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering or seal leak

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-03 → 2017-08

“WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH SUNROOF GLASS SUDDENLY EXPLODED OUT OF NOWHERE, GLASS SHATTERED AND SPREAD ALL THROUGHOUT MY CAR DROPPING ONTO MYSELF MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10990865
“SUNROOF SEAL HAS DETACHED FROM PRESS FITTING WITH SUNROOF AND LEAKS WATER WHILE DRIVING DURING RAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11012386
“THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10573402

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden engine stall and electrical power loss

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE

17 NHTSA complaints · 2014-07 → 2022-12

“IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE CAR RANDOMLY HAS A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AND LOSS OF POWER AND ELECTRICAL WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11122476
“CAR LOST ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, POWER BREAKS AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION EXCEPT FOR HAZARD LIGHTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES AND I HAVE TAKEN IT FOR TWO REPAIRS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10916496
“The contact owned a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated that they parked their vehicle and approximately 5-10 minutes afterward the vehicle caught fire”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499363

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 full synthetic on modern engines; Blackwing and supercharged V-Series run hotter and should not stretch the indicator. Northstar V8s: watch for consumption and leaks at the rear main and oil-pan perimeter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two. Staggered-fitment V-Series cars can't rotate front-to-rear; budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Brembo-equipped V-Series wear faster than the base cars; magnetic-ride models should also get a look at shock condition while it's on the lift.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM lists roughly 45,000 miles under severe service (which includes most city commuting) for the 6/8/10-speed automatics. Older 4T80-E units behind Northstars respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Turbo fours (ATS 2.0T, CT4, XT4): roughly every 60,000 miles. Naturally-aspirated V6s and V8s carry iridium plugs rated to 97,500–100,000 miles — check the manual for your engine.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at oil changes in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM recommends fluid replacement about every 45,000 miles or 3 years. Magnetic-ride and V-Series cars driven hard should err toward the 2-year mark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing. Supercharged V-Series engines have a second, dedicated blower belt — inspect both.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — sooner if the climate fan has lost its punch.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On Northstar V8s this is the schedule that decides the engine's fate — low or contaminated coolant is how head-gasket trouble starts. Check level and condition at every oil change on those cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped models and anything with Super Cruise use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, and expect shorter life from the electrical load these cars carry parked.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

30 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

0

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2013 Cadillac Xts reflects Cadillac's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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