2016 Cadillac SRX Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Cadillac SRX most often write about headlights, particularly low beams that they say do not light the road well at night; most complaints describe this as something that develops gradually rather than suddenly. Reports of a cracked or delaminating CUE touch screen, rear suspension and tire wear after the toe-link recall repair, and air bags that did not deploy in crashes appear less often in the sample.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Dim low-beam headlights

   • 80 complaints (47%)
   • median 61,500 mi at 4.9 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 19 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe low beams that provide little illumination of the road at night, often saying they must use high beams to see and then dim them for oncoming traffic. Several report that replacing bulbs did not help and that dealers diagnosed the headlight assemblies as needing replacement. Others mention clouded lenses, condensation inside the housings, or corroded reflectors found during inspection. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly 7,000 to 124,000 miles, with many complaints filed between 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive the car at night before buying and look at how far the low beams reach on a dark road; also inspect the headlamp lenses for clouding, moisture, or a burned-looking reflector. Ask whether the assemblies have been replaced and at what cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There has been a gradual dimming of the low beam headlights on this vehicle since I purchased it. The headlights are so dim that at times they are of no value. This has created a serious situation, especially at night in the rain. It creates critical periods when I must use the bright lights in traffic just to see the roadway. This appears to be a contiuing issue with this model as I have read about similar defects and possible remeidies.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375811, filed 2020-11, 71,500 miles

   “The headlights are dim at night and almost translucent during the day. I understand that there is no recall at this time but the headlights are a safety issue. Not only it is a safety issue is a costly one at that which the owner has to foot the bill which is bad business and deceiving the Cadillac owners. This should be looked into because apperantly I am not the only one having this issue and GM should make good on this defect and show proper customer service to all owners.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323281, filed 2020-05, 28,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in crashes

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe front, rear, and side impacts in which none of the air bags deployed, with occupants reporting injuries from contacting the dash, steering wheel, or cabin surfaces. One report describes an air bag and brake warning lights coming on at startup and a driver-side air bag found to need replacement. In these reports vehicles were often inspected after the fact rather than diagnosed beforehand. Reported from about 20,000 to 138,000 miles, mostly in the course of crash reports.

   Recall 26V329000

   What to check: Check that the vehicle has had the driver-side air bag inflator recall (26V329000) completed, and confirm the air bag warning light goes out after the bulb check at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling at 55 MPH down the highway and a car pulled out in front of me while making a left turn against signal. I attempted to stop however due to the lack of time, short distance and rain slicked highway I was unable to stop striking her car on her mid passenger side with the front of my car. The airbag at no point deployed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11045758, filed 2017-11, 20,000 miles

   “I was the owner/operator of the SRX was t-boned on the passenger side, air bag triggered error message and did not deploy, seatbelt did not lock in place until after I hit the dash resulting in unharnessed contact in cabin causing over $200k in medical bills to date to right shoulder, head, neck and back.”

   NHTSA complaint #11292236, filed 2019-12, 22,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Cracked or delaminating CUE touch screen

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 64,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2021

   Complaints describe spider-web cracks appearing on the center touch screen, sometimes starting small and spreading over months, with the screen later failing to respond to touch. Owners say the dealer quoted a full console or screen replacement at their own expense. In some reports the screen or other center-stack controls stopped working for settings, navigation, or audio. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 80,000 miles, generally a few years into ownership.

   What to check: Check the touch screen for fine cracks, dead spots, or lag when pressing icons, and test each menu and the audio controls. Ask whether the screen or radio assembly has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My radio screen on my 2016 Cadillac SRX has spider web cracks on both the left side and the right side. It started small, about six months ago, and the cracks keep growing and spreading. The dealer wants to charge me $1,500.00 to replace the entire radio console, but it should be a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11361568, filed 2020-09, 80,000 miles

   “The cue screen delaminated and looks like spider webs. Unit no longer functions to touch. I had to have the screen replaced for $400.00 out of pocket. Gm won't cover this known problem. I finally gave up on GM and had it repaired myself on 7-30-2020.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342472, filed 2020-07, 99,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Rear suspension and rear tire wear after toe-link recall

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 35,500 mi at 6.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2024

   Several owners describe rear-end noises, shuddering on bumpy roads, a pull to one side, or premature and uneven rear tire wear, sometimes saying the alignment could not be brought into spec. Some connect these symptoms to the rear toe-link recall work, and in those reports dealers either found no problem or offered no assistance; one reported the recall part was not yet available. Reported between about 21,000 and 70,000 miles, often after the recall repair had been performed.

   Recall 21V473000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Ask whether the rear toe-link recall (21V473000) has been completed, then have a shop check rear tire wear and rear alignment. Look at the inner and outer edges of the rear tires for uneven wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that upon walking to the rear of the vehicle, he noticed that the rear tires were significantly bald and the tread belts were exposed. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the replacement of the rear adjustable toe links with a non-adjustable toe link under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension). The dealer was notified of the issue but provided no assistance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11476353, filed 2022-07, 32,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension). The contact stated he noticed that tread on both rear tires were worn. The contact replaced the tires however, while having the vehicle aligned the mechanic stated that the suspension installed was prematurely wearing down the tires. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11510060, filed 2023-03, 66,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission clunk and shifting problems

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe clunking noises from the transmission or driveline and, in a few early-life reports, harsh or missed shifts and a loss of reverse. One dealer told an owner the noise was a normal characteristic of the driveline gears; another vehicle was towed with internal transmission failure shortly after purchase. Reported from a few hundred miles on nearly new vehicles up to about 45,000 miles.

   What to check: During a test drive, listen for clunks on gentle acceleration and during low-speed gear changes, and check that reverse engages promptly. Ask whether the transmission has been serviced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchased the vehicle on april 9,2016, with 5 miles on it . We took the car out of town on april 11,2016. After approximately 400 miles, while in city traffic ,the engine began revving and the car jerked, and popped out of drive. I immediately called on star. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. Diagnosis the following day was extensive internal transmission failure. Evidently, a metal piece broke loose in the clutch plate and lodged in the valve body. Today is may 11, 2016 and we still do not have possession of the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10864484, filed 2016-05, 530 miles

   “Car in motion at 23mph tried to navigate a right hand curve in road, steering was normal and then all the sudden steering caught and wouldn't let me navigate the rest of the right hand turn. Brought car to a complete stop and tried to put car in motion by pressing gas, steering was perfectly fine. This is the second time this has happened in two short weeks”

   NHTSA complaint #11104471, filed 2018-06, 41,526 miles

Buying note. A night test drive is the most useful check on this model year, since headlight complaints dominate and replacement assemblies are costly; also confirm both open recalls have been completed and have rear tire wear and alignment checked in light of the suspension reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.