Most common 2018 Cadillac XT5 problems
Share of the 66 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac XT5 complaints by model year
Best XT5 years: 2019, 2020, 2025. Years to avoid: 2023. Compare all years →
What 2018 Cadillac XT5 owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. While attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle required several attempts before restarting. After the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Driving down the road and my 2018 Cadillac XT5 started on fire for no reason and no engine lights came on. I loss all driving control power steering in the matter of seconds and was trapped in the car waiting for cars to clear so I can run out. The car is with my insurance company the car is now a total loss and I don't think they will investigate. I called GM to make a complaint. The fireman said he had just put a fire out on the same car a week ago. I found out that we have 2 more cars in the Macomb county MI area that caught on fire in the last 3 months same type of car.
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac XT5. The vehicle was recently purchased, and while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 5 MPH with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified and sent a mobile mechanic to the residence to diagnose the vehicle; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and it was diagnosed that the emission starter module had failed. The dealer reprogrammed the emission starter module. The contact stated that a week after the repairs were performed, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered, and the failure persisted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a traffic light, the Stabilitrak warning light was illuminated for a short time and turned off when depressing on the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that on 11/19/2012, while his wife was driving 45 mph, the reduced steering capacity, pull over immediately and other multiple unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn however, the driver was able to continue driving to her residence. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Steering
The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary at a traffic light, the Stabilitrak warning light was illuminated for a short time and turned off when depressing on the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that on 11/19/2012, while his wife was driving 45 mph, the reduced steering capacity, pull over immediately and other multiple unknown warning lights were illuminated. The driver stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn however, the driver was able to continue driving to her residence. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the battery to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
A/C stopped working. Steering assist is reduced warning light came on. Was told it was a thermostat/ sensor. Had the sensor replaced for a cost of approximately $230.00. Short while later, A/C stopped working again. Suddenly the Steering wheel malfunctioned while driving on the interstate. Ran off the the road into median and heard a loud "Pop" sound as I tried to gain control of the vehicle. Hit an embankment and almost crossed over median into oncoming traffic. All airbags deployed. My passenger and I suffered injuries including broken bones, fractured ribs, severe back and shoulder pain, bleeding forearm, bruises and swelling. We were transported to a nearby ER by ambulance. The Vehicle was totaled.
2018 Cadillac XT5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Cadillac XT5 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the XT5 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Cadillac XT5?
The engine & cooling — 15 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (14) and steering (12).
How many recalls does the 2018 Cadillac XT5 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2018 Cadillac XT5. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac XT5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2020 and 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023. See the full Cadillac XT5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Cadillac XT5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 32,000 miles; 77% 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.