Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Cadillac SRX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights failed to properly illuminate the roadway, limiting the driver's vision while driving. The contact stated that the passenger's side headlight was inoperable, and the driver's side headlight was very dim. Due to the failure, the contact was forced to use the high-beam headlights while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there was a Class Action Lawsuit on similar vehicles for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH at night the contact noticed that the illumination from the headlights was very dim, making it difficult to see what was in front of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the headlights needed to be replaced. The headlights were not replaced due to the cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlight did not provide adequate illumination for safe driving. The high-beam headlight was used to provide adequate illumination to drive safely at night or in low-light driving conditions. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated there was nothing that could be done except replacing the headlamps. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed to produce adequate illumination to see the roadway while driving. The contact was unable to drive the vehicle at night. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving at night, the headlights were extremely dim, causing a visibility hazard. The contact stated that the illumination was inadequate for nighttime driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and she was informed that the repair would be an out of pocket expense. The contact stated that the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the illumination from the headlights was inadequate for safe nighttime driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the failure was related to how the headlights were manufactured and could not be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle at night, the low-beam headlights were extremely dim causing a visibility hazard to the driver. The headlight bulbs were replaced but the failure persisted. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the driver's side headlamp was brighter than the passenger's side headlamp. The vehicle was taken to the residence and inspected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The headlights failed to provide enough light to see the road at night. This, of course, is dangerous when driving on the highway or country roads as we are unable to maintain the speed required on the highway in order to safely navigate the turns in the road, which could also cause a disruption in the traffic flow, possibly causing an accident if other cars were not expecting a slower vehicle on the road. Not to mention not being able to see any wildlife in the road in enough time to react. The problem, to my knowledge, has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center prior to our purchase of the vehicle. We have discussed the issue with the dealer but the service manager is unable to comment on the matter or any type of solution. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. …
I purchased this vehicle on January 1, 2025. I drove it last night for the first time after dark. The headlights were so dim I could hardly see to drive. I had to use my brights except when a car was coming towards me, then I put them on dim and slowed way down. Leaving them on bright would have endangered other drivers and myself. I purchased the car with no warranty so now I either drive only during daylight hours or I pay out of pocket to have them fixed which I'm sure isn't cheap. I am going to go to the dealership that I purchased it from to see if they will help me at all, but since there was no warranty, I'm not expecting them to give me any assistance with this. When you look at the headlights during the daytime, which is when I bought the car there is no visible sign of an issue with them. …
Headlight complaints in other SRX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2013 Cadillac SRX?
NHTSA has 217 complaints about the lights of the 2013 Cadillac SRX, 55% of the model year's 393 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Cadillac SRX headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2013 Cadillac SRX, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Cadillac SRX headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.