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2016 Cadillac ATS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Cadillac ATS are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).
Does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 15 of 30 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Cadillac ATS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%), and the largest group is filed under power train (11). For comparison, the 2015 scores 30% and the 2017 scores 27%. 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 2016 compares with other Cadillac ATS years
Of the 5 Cadillac ATS years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (50%). The worst is the 2013 (57%), the best the 2017 (27%). By volume, the 2016 drew 35 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 29 for the 2015 and 33 for the 2017.
Cadillac ATS years to avoid and best years →
2013 ATS problems · 2014 ATS problems · 2015 ATS problems · 2016 · 2017 ATS problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Cadillac ATS
- 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 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Cadillac ATS engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Cadillac ATS, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 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.
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Does the 2016 Cadillac ATS have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 15 of 30 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Cadillac ATS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (50%). 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 2016 Cadillac ATS?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Cadillac ATS is power train: 11 of 35 complaints (31%) name it, followed by electrical system (7) and air bags (5). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Cadillac ATS reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 50% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Cadillac ATS 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 2016 Cadillac ATS?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Cadillac ATS, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Cadillac ATS years are better?
Among the Cadillac ATS years we track, the 2017 (27%), the 2015 (30%) and the 2014 (45%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (50%). 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. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.