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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2016 Cadillac ATS is associated with 35 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 7 reports (20% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 8 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5l 4-cyl, 2l 4-cyl, and 3.6l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 19 to 26 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 35 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Powertrain (7 / 20%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 3 crash / 1 fire / 4 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 19–26 MPG across 8 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
ATS 2.5L 4-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 22 MPG 32 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
ATS 2L 4-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 22 MPG 31 MPG 25 MPG — $3,050 / yr
ATS 3.6L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 20 MPG 29 MPG 24 MPG — $2,550 / yr
ATS 2L 4-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 20 MPG 28 MPG 23 MPG — $3,300 / yr
ATS-V 3.6L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 17 MPG 23 MPG 19 MPG — $4,000 / yr
ATS-V 3.6L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 16 MPG 24 MPG 19 MPG — $4,000 / yr
ATS AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 22 MPG 30 MPG 25 MPG — $3,050 / yr
ATS AWD 3.6L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 19 MPG 27 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
2DR AWD —
4 DR AWD 10.100000000000001%
2DR RWD —
4 DR RWD 10.100000000000001%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Cadillac ATS models.
View complete 2016 Cadillac ATS crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Summary of 35 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
35
Crash Reports
3
Fire Reports
1
Complaints w/ Injury
4
Total Injuries
5

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 7 complaints
Air Bags 5 complaints (1 crash)
Steering 3 complaints (1 crash)
Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 2 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2016 Cadillac ATS problems & component breakdown (18 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #26V329000 Active Recall
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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 #15V558000 Active Recall
Affected Component: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #15V463000 Active Recall
Affected Component: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Defect Summary: 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."

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
View all 2016 Cadillac ATS recalls & campaign history (3 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Cadillac ATS

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Cadillac ATS

How many safety recalls does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have?

The 2016 Cadillac ATS is associated with 3 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 3 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

NHTSA records list 35 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Cadillac ATS. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Powertrain, appearing in 7 filings (20% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2016 Cadillac ATS defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Cadillac ATS?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Cadillac ATS earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Cadillac ATS get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Cadillac ATS range from 19 to 26 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.