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2016 Cadillac ATS

Gas
Compact Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 3
Complaints3 crash · 5 injured reported 32
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 26 mpg
2019201820172016

The 2016 Cadillac ATS is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the ATS, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 32 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Cadillac ATS — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Cadillac ATS · Photo: Autoviva · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
ATSGasRWD2.5L 4-cyl223226$2,600
ATSGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223125$3,300
ATS AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223025$3,300
ATSGasRWD3.6L 6-cyl202924$2,800
ATSGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202823$3,550
ATS AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl192722$3,050

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36818, 36733, 36563, 36735, 36734, 36889.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
ATS, ATS AWD6 / 10Bin 4All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2.5 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainRWD/Rear-Wheel Drive

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Luxury, Standard). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length183.1–184.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.9–72.8 in
Height53.5–53.9 in
Wheelbase109.1–109.4 in
Track, front59.8–61.0 in
Track, rear60.6–61.8 in
Curb weight3,314–3,693 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear50/50 to 51/49

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 7 configurations: 2-door Coupe 2.0L AWD, 2-door Coupe 2.0L RWD, 2-door Coupe 3.6L AWD, 2-door Coupe 3.6L RWD, 4-door Sedan Base RWD, 4-door Sedan Turbo/3.6L V6 AWD …. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Cadillac ATS is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Air Bags

N262555870
5,014 vehicles built Apr 27, 2015 – Jun 29, 2016
Problem 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. Risk An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Fix 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. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V329000 reported May 21, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Visibility

15299
96,145 vehicles 98% reported repaired built Feb 17, 2015 – Sep 2, 2015
Problem 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. Risk If the coil antenna generates excessive heat, there is an increased risk of a fire. Fix 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. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15299.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 15V558000 reported Sep 3, 2015 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Visibility

15568
63,665 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Feb 23, 2015 – Jun 25, 2015
Problem 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. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems." Risk Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury. Fix 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. GM's number for this recall is 15568. Note this recall supersedes 15V-106.
NHTSA campaign 15V463000 reported Jul 24, 2015 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific ATS

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Cadillac publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Cadillac ATS, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Cadillac ATS

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this ATS →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
32complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Power Train 10
Electrical System 6
Air Bags 5
Engine 4
Wheels 4
Steering 4

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

When driving at around 40-50mph you can feel that the car has a shudder vibration. Took the car into Cadillac where they are informing me that it is the torque converter that needs replacement. No warning lights. If not fixed can lead to transmission failure
Power Train Jan 3, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11633794
The contact owned a 2016 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH and entering the expressway, she engaged the turn signal and verified that the road was cleared. The contact stated that while she was making the turn, an 18-wheeler truck suddenly hit the vehicle, causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle.
Air Bags at 61,000 miles Mar 28, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11579990
Transmission drags. When stopping the car jerks bad and sometimes proceeds to accelerate. When at a stop auto start has a hard jerk I reported this problem to Cadillac dealership when I first got the car. They claim they couldn't find an issue. The touch pad goes out frequently
Electrical System Mar 5, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11575697
Reporting a case for GM recall N182161890. I bought my vehicle in 2022. I was informed that my car had all the recalls completed on that vehicle. My vehicle had exactly what this recall was for happen to it on 10/20/23. After contacting Cadillac, they informed me that this recall was never completed on my vehicle.
Steering Nov 3, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11553393
My back glass on my 2016 Cadillac ATS shattered on 3-10-2023. It looks like it got hot from the defroster lines as it shattered every inch of the back glass and separated from the seals. I contacted Cadillac and they started Case #9-9552142107. I had the car inspected at my dealership on 3-11-23.
Visibility/Wiper Mar 13, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11511593
Drove my car on the highway and the brakes failed. I applied all of my force to get the car to stop. This is the second time the brakes failed while driving on the highway in less than 14 months. Had it repaired the first time. It had no brake assist and a cracked pcv valve. The vacuum pump and hose to booster was replaced.
Service Brakes at 87,853 miles Feb 23, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11397631

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Cadillac itself: 19 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 20 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every ATS model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 28k

miles, typically

Half the 16 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 17,000 and 39,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 16 on file: 2 under 10k, 4 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 3 30k–40k, 2 50k–60k, 1 60k–70k, 1 80k–90k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,526
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1524 service bulletins, 1 service campaign, 1 other

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP5700H Service bulletin
    2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT3271Q Service bulletin
    2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
  • PIP6104 Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
  • PIP4902V Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIP5700G Service bulletin
    2026-01-12 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0300
P0300 on Cadillac →
Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →16 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
P1070
P1070 on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment10 bulletins
P0016
P0016 on Cadillac →
The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Engine7 bulletins
P0018
P0018 on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine7 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on Cadillac →
Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
P050D
P050D on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine7 bulletins
P015B
P015B on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine6 bulletins
P1101
P1101 on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine6 bulletins
B101D
B101D on Cadillac →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Cadillac ATS failed the emissions check on 6.6% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 6.6%

failed emissions

409 initial inspections of 393 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 ATSEvery 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check6.6%4.2%409
Failed the safety inspection1.2%2.2%409
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.27%409
Miles driven a year7,90210,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer81,255103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2016 ATS

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Cadillac ATS, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V329000, covering Air Bags. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Cadillac ATS 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (68/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Cadillac ATS, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Transport Canada measured it at 183.1–184.3 in long, 70.9–72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 53.5–53.9 in tall, on a 109.1–109.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,314–3,693 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Cadillac ATS, most often about power train, electrical system, air bags. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 5 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Cadillac ATS is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. The certificate names the standard as Bin 4.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

The manufacturer has filed 1526 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Cadillac ATS, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Cadillac ATS do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Cadillac ATS failed the emissions check on 6.6% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints32NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins1526NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA8 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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