Most common 2015 Cadillac ATS problems
Share of the 30 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac ATS complaints by model year
Best ATS years: 2015, 2016, 2017. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014. Compare all years →
2015 Cadillac ATS recalls (4)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
What 2015 Cadillac ATS owners say
Steering
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact decelerated and pulled into the driveway of a business. However, the contact was able to park on the side of the driveway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering gear motor bolts were fractured. Additionally, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the failure was associated with GM Campaign Number: N202301950 (Loss of Power Assist, Steering-Gear Motor Bolts Broken). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall as the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 49,500.
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, there was a clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact activated the parking brake, and the vehicle was able to stop. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the brake pedal assembly and the rod bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed be being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V203000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 87,000.
Electrical system
I bought my car from a dealership. Owned it for 2yrs 2mo. 107k miles First issue came up after 3-4 months. Faulty power steering. Took it to service at a dealership they said I would need my wire harness assembly replaced as well as a steering gear. Problem still persists. Also one of the mechanics there showed me that the previous owner glued harness connector components together which is why I started seeing issues that weren't there before. Now today three new warning/service lights: abs, brake warning and traction control lights. I think it is the battery but I haven't tested it. Someone online with the same issue said he had to replace the electronic brake control module. So this issue has not been diagnosed. As a result of the traction control malfunctioning suddenly I spun out on the highway in slippery conditions but did not collide with anything. …
The CUE SYSTEM not totally working, and panel plastic is all spider web looking. I view this as a very bad problem( it won't go to settings), no radio, can't set the clock Not sure on all the problems as I can't get to it to find out.
Transmission & drivetrain
My rear differential completely stopped on the freeway, not moving and saying over 100 mph and my car was barely rolling I am extremely lucky that I did not get rear ended because I was very close to that happening, a few cars had swerved to not crash. Luckily I was able to push my car to the exit and get off of the freeway to wait for the flatbed to pick me up. It is available to be inspected it's just parked until I can get it fixed, the part is $1800 and I have not been able to afford it. I had a mechanic come and look at it and I was told what part it is. There was absolutely no warning lights for this issue.
At 38,000 miles, rear differential leak discovered. Dealership repaired leak. At 42,000 dear differential leak discovered. Prognosis: rear differential failure. Dealership replaced rear differential, shocks. Cost repairs paid by me (cadillac rejected paying repairs).
2015 Cadillac ATS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 32 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Cadillac ATS a good car?
Based on 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 ATS rates better than average: 61% fewer complaints than a typical year of the ATS at the same age. It is one of the best ATS years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Cadillac ATS?
The steering — 6 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (6) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2015 Cadillac ATS have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2015 Cadillac ATS, the most recent from May 21, 2026 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac ATS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2016 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013 and 2014. See the full Cadillac ATS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2015 Cadillac ATS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.