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2014 Cadillac ATS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2014 Cadillac ATS are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 41%).
Does the 2014 Cadillac ATS have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 43 of 95 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Cadillac ATS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under power train (30). For comparison, the 2013 scores 57% and the 2015 scores 30%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. 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 2014 compares with other Cadillac ATS years
Of the 5 Cadillac ATS years with enough complaints to score, the 2014 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (45%). The worst is the 2013 (57%), the best the 2017 (27%). By volume, the 2014 drew 104 complaints (43 drivetrain), against 160 for the 2013 and 29 for the 2015.
Cadillac ATS years to avoid and best years →
2013 ATS problems · 2014 · 2015 ATS problems · 2016 ATS problems · 2017 ATS problems
The rest of the picture on the 2014 Cadillac ATS
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2014 Cadillac ATS said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- 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 43 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2014 Cadillac ATS transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Cadillac ATS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 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 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
Risk: If the transmission shift cable detaches while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure the cable is properly seated at the transmission and shifter brackets, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early August 2014.…
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 2014 Cadillac ATS? 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2014 Cadillac ATS
Does the 2014 Cadillac ATS have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 43 of 95 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Cadillac ATS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Cadillac ATS?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2014 Cadillac ATS is power train: 30 of 104 complaints (29%) name it, followed by electrical system (18) and engine (14). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2014 Cadillac ATS reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 45% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Cadillac ATS years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. 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 2014 Cadillac ATS?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Cadillac ATS involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 14V338000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Cadillac ATS years are better?
Among the Cadillac ATS years we track, the 2017 (27%) and the 2015 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (45%). 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-ats
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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.