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2013 Cadillac SRX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Cadillac SRX. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 30% of relevant complaints.
Better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 221 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 13%).
Does the 2013 Cadillac SRX have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 51 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Cadillac SRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 17% and the 2014 scores 23%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Cadillac SRX years
Of the 7 Cadillac SRX years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (30%). The worst is the 2010 (43%), the best the 2016 (14%). By volume, the 2013 drew 393 complaints (51 drivetrain), against 416 for the 2012 and 390 for the 2014.
Cadillac SRX years to avoid and best years →
2010 SRX problems · 2011 SRX problems · 2012 SRX problems · 2013 · 2014 SRX problems · 2015 SRX problems · 2016 SRX problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Cadillac SRX
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Cadillac SRX said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 51 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Cadillac SRX transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Cadillac SRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured May 29, 2012, through June 26, 2013, and equipped with 3.6L engines. In the affected vehicles, in certain driving situations, there may be a three to four second lag in acceleration due to the transmission control module (TCM) programming.
Risk: A three to four second lag in acceleration may increase the risk of crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. General Motors'…
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick LaCrosse vehicles, manufactured between April 25, 2012, through March 6, 2013, and model year 2013 Cadillac SRX vehicles, manufactured between May 29, 2012, through February 18, 2013 for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission…
Risk: If engine braking is unexpectedly removed, it may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control module free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2013. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. Buick owners may call 1-866-694-6546.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Cadillac SRX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Cadillac SRX have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 51 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Cadillac SRX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Cadillac SRX?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Cadillac SRX is exterior lighting: 217 of 393 complaints (55%) name it, followed by electrical system (52) and power train (31). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 30% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Cadillac SRX reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 30% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Cadillac SRX years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Cadillac SRX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Cadillac SRX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 14V212000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 13V097000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Cadillac SRX years are better?
Among the Cadillac SRX years we track, the 2016 (14%), the 2012 (17%) and the 2015 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (30%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/cadillac-srx
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.