Showing the 2013 CTS V. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
14–21 mpgcombined; city 12–18, highway 18–27; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$15,470–$28,750U.S. average; Ohio $13,820–$27,080 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2013 CTS. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 CTS. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
26
3
0
1
Power train
13
1
0
2
Air bags
11
5
0
4
Steering
10
2
0
2
Engine
7
0
0
0
Suspension
7
0
0
0
Unknown or other
7
1
0
0
Service brakes
6
3
0
3
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
1
0
1
Exterior lighting
5
0
0
0
Seats
3
1
0
1
Structure
2
0
0
0
4 more parts
Vehicle speed control
2
2
0
1
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
1
0
2
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 CTS over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM’s number for this recall is 14515.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,657 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2013 CTS, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (697), electrical system (324), engine and engine cooling (186), engine (162), power train (134).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2013 CTS.
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
CTS All-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 27 / 21
CTS All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 26 / 19
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 19 / 16
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
12 / 18 / 14
CTS Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Automatic (S6)
Premium Gasoline
12 / 18 / 14
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data