Most common 2021 Cadillac XT6 problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac XT6 complaints by model year
Best XT6 years: 2022. Compare all years →
2021 Cadillac XT6 recalls (2)
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped improperly, causing the rearview camera to fail or function intermittently.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the coaxial cables, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel supply lines may be improperly attached and seated.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace fuel supply lines as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2021 Cadillac XT6:
Rear-View Camera Failure
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22-006) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera (RVC) in Model Year (MY) 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The complaints report that the screen for the RVC is black, sometimes with a red triangle and a circle with a line through it.
What 2021 Cadillac XT6 owners say
Driver assistance
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT6. The contact stated while in reverse, the back-over prevention camera image failed to display as intended on the screen. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the message "Park Assist Block" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a camera sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unidentified recall related to the failure; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT6.The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed his vehicle instead of other vehicles nearby. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V709000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT6. The contact stated that while sitting inside the vehicle, the vehicle felt unbalanced. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the H-pipe was leaning more to the right side. The H-pipe was not centered as intended. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that in the past, while the vehicle was serviced, no one had noticed that the H-pipe was off-center. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
I noticed a water sloshing sound behind the dash when first starting out for about a month. I didn't get any warning lights or notice anything leaking under the car but when I checked under the hood the coolant reservoir was empty. I made appointment at GM dealership and they found I had a leak along the side seam of my radiator. The car only has 61k miles! I found online that GM has noted a structural design issue in my XT6. The radiators were engineered with tight thermal break tabs. If they stay locked in place they trap immense physical stress during engine heat cycles and force leaks along the seams. This appears to be what happened. If it had occurred while we were on a trip and totally failed while on a highway, I can imagine the result could have been catastrophic. I have contacted GM.
Electrical system
On September 15,2026, my vehicle experienced a catastrophic los of power steering assist accompanied by severe heavy steering. Please review General Motors TSB 20-NA-215 & TSB 17-NA-158 both addressing this issue. My 2021 vehicle has a build date of September 19, 2020 which falls "directly" in the time frame covered by these bulletins. Essentially, General Motors KNEW of the problem! The only warning I got was a two second message flashing across the instrument panel stating "Power assist reduced, drive with caution" ... followed by "Service Power steering" Then severe loss of steering!! Again, General Motors KNEW of this problem! Ultimately, the Power steering Gear assembly was replaced at a cost of approximately $3800. I was almost KILLED in heavy traffic because of this failure !!!
The vehicle was previously recalled for an intermittent backup camera failure. Prior to me purchasing the vehicle, the recall was completed and documented as repaired. I went in to the Myrtle Beach Cadillac dealership for reoccurring issues with the camera failing exactly as disclosed in the recall. It will randomly cut to a black screen with a camera icon crossed out in red. It is a true safety issue that leaves my family as risk of a collision or injuring someone else.It cannot be recreated on request as it is happening intermittently. The dealership refused to inspect the safety recall repair for proper operation and only stated that the recall repair was completed.
2021 Cadillac XT6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Cadillac XT6 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the XT6 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Cadillac XT6?
The driver assistance — 6 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about warnings. Next are the engine & cooling (6) and electrical system (5).
How many recalls does the 2021 Cadillac XT6 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2021 Cadillac XT6, the most recent from September 22, 2022 (camera). 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 XT6?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022. See the full Cadillac XT6 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Cadillac XT6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 100% 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.