2018 Cadillac Ats problems & reliability
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Cadillac Ats, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2018 Cadillac Ats vehicles were involved in 9 fatal crashes with 5 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 | 29% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 14% |
| Steering | 3 | 14% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 10% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 10% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 10% |
| Unknown OR Other | 2 | 10% |
| Engine | 1 | 5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% |
| Structure | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Both side mirrors failed. Internal components corroded, one almost fell off when driving, the other later became completely detached. Failed parts that could have caused a major safety issue if they were to fail during operation.”
Structure · filed May 12, 2026
“The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic determined that the F-module, Part Number: 86815664, used to control the engine Auto START/STOP, needed to be…”
Electrical System · filed Dec 22, 2025
“Rear differential. This part will be available after removal. This put me at risk of potentially locking up while driving. According to the dealership, Faulkner Cadillac, "found rear differential bearings damaged, causing noise in the rear end. The Rear Differential will need replaced." There were no warning lights…”
Power Train · filed Jul 11, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
1,054 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2018 Cadillac Ats. The 10 most recent:
PI to help diagnose A/C concern
PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 21, 2026
This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 1, 2026
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 9, 2026
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 9, 2026
This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
PIP5700G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2026
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 8, 2026
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 20, 2025
This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
PIP5700F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 30, 2025
This PI Addresses a possible solenoid wiring fault and how to inspect the build date to identify
PIP6088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 8, 2025
This PI advises dealers to inspect for a missing pump gasket if the vehicle exhibits no movement following a VB replacement
PIP6086 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 15, 2025
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2018 Cadillac Ats has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2018 Cadillac Ats?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.