2014 Cadillac XTS Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the CUE touch screen freezing, going blank, cracking, or no longer responding to touch, which is the largest group in this sample. Rear air suspension drops or deflation while driving, along with sudden steering or engine power loss and brake failures or overheating, appear in smaller groups. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 700 to about 166,000 miles, so these complaints are not limited to low-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   CUE touch screen or display freezing or cracking

   • 12 complaints (24%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Owners describe the touch screen or display freezing, going blank, or no longer responding to touch, and some report cracked or spider-web screens. Some say the navigation, hands-free phone, and vent, defrost, or radio controls stop working with it. According to complaints, replacements were sometimes offered at a discount or at the owner's expense, and in some cases the new screen failed again. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 5,000 to about 122,000 miles, and some happen while driving, including at about 60 mph.

   What to check: Ask whether the screen has been checked for freezing and cracks, and whether any replacement or discount is recorded in the service history. On a test drive, check that the screen responds to touch, that navigation and phone functions work, and that the climate and defrost controls can be used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Cadillac cue touchsense touch screen is no longer functioning at any time, sitting still or while the vehicle is in motion. The screen is spider webbed (delamination of conductive layer of material behind the glass) and no longer allows me to set things like the collision avoidance, auto-braking and lane departure options as well as many other non-safety related features. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11062747, filed 2018-01, 50,000 miles

   “The Cue screen in my car is cracking for the 2nd time. I have contacted GM/Cadillac without a resolution. I see online that there have been two class action suits due to the fact the Company was/is aware of the flaw and have not issued a recall. In addition, they are replacing the Cue screen (at owner's expense) with the same flawed design. Thus subsequent issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #11472494, filed 2022-07
2. 2
   Suspension

   Rear air suspension drops or deflates while driving

   • 9 complaints (18%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe the rear air suspension dropping or deflating while driving, so the rear tires rub or sit on the wheel wells, and in some cases the car cannot be raised again. Some say the problem returned after a control module was replaced, and some describe it happening with no warning light. According to complaints, a replacement of the system was quoted at over $1,000, and some owners say the manufacturer has not acknowledged a common problem. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 25,000 to about 91,000 miles, and some describe the rear dropping during city driving and others at about 65 mph.

   What to check: Ask whether the rear air suspension, compressor, and control module have been checked, and whether any repairs are recorded in the service history. On a test drive, check that the rear of the car stays level after sitting overnight and that no suspension warnings appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After I got to work and parked my car I went back to get my coffee mug when it appeared that my car was lowered to the ground as if all the air went out of all of the tires. The air suspension I suppose. Also, my display screen has gone out twice since I bought the car six years ago.”

   NHTSA complaint #11338700, filed 2020-07, 91,123 miles

   “I was driving the vehicle on a city street in traffic at approximately 30 miles an hour and the rear air suspension deflated and the rear of my car was laying on top of my rear tires causing them to rub against the inside of the rear wheel well. As I tried to drive off the tires were grinding up against the inside of the wheel well. I let the car sit as I waited for a tow truck for approximately 40 minutes and when I restarted the car the rear suspension inflated it once again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11207884, filed 2019-05, 73,133 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Sudden steering or engine power loss while driving

   • 9 complaints (18%)
   • median 39,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe the steering becoming hard or seizing, or the engine cutting out and losing power while driving, sometimes in snow or in city traffic. In some complaints the electric power steering failed while the car was moving, with warning lights and a loss of speed. In some cases the dealer found no fault, and in others the steering returned to normal after the ignition was switched off and on. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 1,000 to about 84,000 miles, and some happen at low speed in snow or on city streets.

   Recall 14V409000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V409000 for the steering shaft and lower control arm fasteners has been completed, and whether any steering or power steering warnings are recorded. On a test drive, check that steering feels consistent through turns and at low speed, and that no steering or engine warning lights appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on interstate when engine quit running. Was able to get car to shoulder of the road. After a couple of minutes, car started and ran fine. After it started, I immediately contacted onstar; they ran a diagnosis on vehicle and said they found no problems. I later took car to dealer and reported this stall. Dealer said everything checked o.k.”

   NHTSA complaint #10702086, filed 2015-03, 1,000 miles

   “Takata inflattors: had been having difficulty with the steering in my Cadillac 2014 Cadillac XTS vsport for sometime back in 2017. It would become hard to steer at times when negotiating turns especially or when backing up and turning. Had reported to joe bullard Cadillac service department on several occasions and they inspected the vehicle by putting it on the computer to see if and thing showed up which nothing did on the many many occasions which I took the vehicle into the for this concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11155444, filed 2018-12, 37,500 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake failure, rotor overheating, and booster pump fire

   • 9 complaints (18%)
   • median 6,722 mi at 0.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe brakes that did not stop the car as expected, rear brakes locking up, and in some cases smoking or overheated rotors. Some complaints describe a fire in the engine compartment near the brake booster pump, and a 2014 recall covers corrosion of the brake booster pump connector. A complaint notes that a brake warning light had come on shortly before a rear brake lock-up. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 700 to about 166,000 miles, and the fire and smoking reports are described when the car was parked or after pulling into a parking lot.

   Recall 14V116000Recall 14V541000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 14V116000 for the brake booster pump connector and 14V541000 for the electronic parking brake have been completed, and check the service history for brake repairs. After a test drive, check the brakes for unusual heat, smell, or uneven pad wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 5:15am, 5/29/14, my XTS while parked in my residence driveway spontaneously caught fire. The fire emanated from the engine compartment and destroyed the entire front 1/2 of the vehicle. North farmingdale fd responded and extinguished the fire. No injuries were caused. The nassau county pd and nassau fire marshalls office also responded and after a visual and photo examination determined that the fire started in the area of the brake booster pump. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10616272, filed 2014-07, 700 miles

   “Short version: while driving approx. 55mph, rear brakes locked up. We pulled over into a parking lot and the brakes were smoking and a small fire appeared on each rear brake. A person who saw us pull into the parking lot ran over and put out the fire on each brake. Long version: approx. 2-weeks prior to the above incident, the brake warning light appeared on the dash board. I immediately pulled over and called the dealership and made an appointment. When I restarted the car, the light was no longer illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10627565, filed 2014-08, 12,000 miles

Buying note. For a used 2014 XTS, check whether the touch screen works fully on a test drive, and ask for records of any screen replacement, since some complaints describe repeated failures. Check that the rear air suspension keeps the car level after it has been parked, and confirm whether recalls 14V116000, 14V409000, and 14V541000 have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 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.