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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2013 Cadillac CTS Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
18%of 73 total for the year
Median mileage
27,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2013 Cadillac CTS, 18% of the 73 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I purchased my vehicle in may 2016. In november 2016 I went to drive the vehicle but it would not go into gear. It was towed to lindsay Cadillac. I was told the draft shaft needed to be replaced. On january 18, 2019 after being parked for approximately 15 minutes upon starting and putting it into gear I heard a clicking noise. It was towed to capitol Cadillac where again I was told there was a problem with the drive shaft. I was further told that the bolts were sheared off. This is no coincidence that I had the same issue two years later and $841.00 later. …”

NHTSA complaint #11172061, filed 2019-01, 81,500 miles

“My 2013 CTS has had a number of prior issues but at this time, I started the car, got into traffic and the vehicle just stopped running. It everything quit. I had no power to steering, brakes, lights. I coasted partway into a parking space I=on the side of the road but did not have enough momentum to fully pull into the space as I was headed up a slight incline. I was stuck with my rear end in traffic and no ability to move. I turned off the car and restarted and it started up. This is not the first issue as about half dozen times the car has refused to engage when I have turned the key. …”

NHTSA complaint #10670303, filed 2015-01, 25,000 miles

“At 27k miles our 2013 CTS premium model developed a unique natural characteristic, the front wheels bind when turning. This natural characteristic is labeled as (stick/ slip) when making a right hand turn out onto a busy road I was almost broadsided by an oncoming dump truck and car. I pulled out onto the road and the car began to (stick and slip) hindering its forward movement. Had the left lane not been open for the oncoming traffic to swerve around me, I probably would not be writing this. The certified service tech at the dealership said the front wheels were binding. Gm engineers said,? …”

NHTSA complaint #10683742, filed 2015-02, 27,000 miles

“Solenoid that communicates with the transmission and the computer. (this was causing the the stability trac to kick on and sometimes shut the car off while driving or sitting still turning) they also discovered that the entire rear differential had to be replace. This is a 2013 CTS coupe 69000 miles when purchased. I contacted GM corporate office for assistance. (p0101 ,p0100, u0101, lost of communication to TCM.”

NHTSA complaint #10914894, filed 2016-10, 71,000 miles

“Unintended acceleration; vehicle accelerated backing out of driveway after placed in reverse without stepping on accelerator; brakes would not stop vehicle; vehicle collided into neighbor's truck which was parked across the street. The driver and passenger sustained neck and back injuries.”

NHTSA complaint #10504050, filed 2013-03, 8,346 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2019330%
2018338%
2017933%
2016929%
20152041%
20148458%
20131318%
201246%
20112222%
2010913%
20092817%
20082112%
20073315%
20064517%
20058230%
20045223%
2003258%

Other parts of the 2013 Cadillac CTS

Electrical system
26 complaints
Air bags
11 complaints
Steering
10 complaints
Brakes
7 complaints
Engine
7 complaints
Other or unknown
7 complaints
Suspension
7 complaints
Electronic stability control
5 complaints
Exterior lighting
5 complaints
Seats
3 complaints
Body and structure
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Cadillac CTS

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology