2018 Cadillac ATS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ATS years
- Fewer complaints than other years 6th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Cadillac ATS. That ranks 6th out of 7 ATS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (7 complaints, 32%), typically at around 84,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 22owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Cadillac ATS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 7 | 32% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 14% | 25,764 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 14% | 24,271 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 9% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 9% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 5% | 59,800 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Cadillac ATS recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle has suffered a severe mechanical failure of the rear differential assembly, rendering it completely undrivable. This mechanical failure is a direct result of a known manufacturer defect documented in General Motors Technical Service Bulletin PIP5898/PIP5898B, regarding misoriented…
Both side mirrors failed. Internal components corroded, one almost fell off when driving, the other later became completely detached. Failed parts that could have caused a major safety issue if they were to fail during operation.
The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic determined that the F-module, Part Number: 86815664, used to control the engine Auto START/STOP…
Rear differential. This part will be available after removal. This put me at risk of potentially locking up while driving. According to the dealership, Faulkner Cadillac, "found rear differential bearings damaged, causing noise in the rear end. The Rear Differential will need replaced." There were…
My vehicle recently started experiencing an issue where the power steering would randomly cut out while I was driving. If I pulled over and shut the car off and then turned it back on the power steering would come back. But sometimes I would have to do this multiple times in a single drive just to…
Other Cadillac ATS years
See all Cadillac ATS problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Cadillac ATS?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, steering problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Cadillac ATS?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Cadillac ATS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ATS model years, the 2018 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.