2021 CADILLAC CT5

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

4RecallsNHTSA Verified13ComplaintsNHTSA Data1InvestigationsNHTSA Data
Expert Verdict
⚠️Elevated Concerns

The 2021 Cadillac CT5 presents a moderate reliability profile, primarily affected by issues with the airbag system and exterior lighting. The average failure mileage of approximately 40,270 indicates a critical time frame for existing owners to remain vigilant regarding these defects.

Key Factor:Moderate airbag and lighting issues

πŸ“‹Why This Matters

For luxury sedans like the Cadillac CT5, a clean defect record is often expected due to their premium engineering pedigree. However, the presence of four recalls reflects specific safety concerns, particularly with airbag deployment and exterior lighting compliance. Such defects can significantly impact occupant safety and overall vehicle reliability during critical driving conditions.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
πŸ“Š

Expert Analysis

  • πŸ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Accident
  • βš–οΈ
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (1.5)
    πŸ“
    Summary: Year-over-year trends suggest that the Cadillac CT5's safety ratings may be at risk due to its recalls, particularly because they involve essential safety components like airbags and lighting systems. This places it below the expectations typically associated with Cadillac's reputation for high-quality engineering.
Critical Component: Accident

Safety & Reliability Score

62/100
Average

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-32
Complaint Impact-0.65
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 CADILLAC CT5

Model Year2021
MakeCADILLAC
ModelCT5
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more β†’
Jan21
NEWProduction
May21
RECALLRecall Issued
Aug21
ISSUEFirst Report
Oct21
RECALLRecall Issued
Aug22
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Jun25
RECALLRecall Issued

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

2 complaints (15% of total)
➑️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
βœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 13 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
2(15%)
🟑Medium
4(31%)
🟒Low
7(54%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

βš™οΈEngineering Insight

The peak failure range of 20k-40k miles signifies an important maintenance milestone for owners of the CT5. Issues may manifest around this mileage, making it essential for owners to monitor performance closely as they approach this threshold.

πŸ“Š Mileage data extracted from 3 of 13 complaints (23% coverage)
0-20k
0 reports (0%)
20k-40k
2 reports (67%)
40k-60k
1 reports (33%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

πŸ› οΈ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

AIR BAGSEXTERIOR LIGHTINGPOWER TRAIN

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Airbags

Issue: Potential improper deployment during crashes due to installation errors.

βœ…

Schedule an inspection at a certified dealer to confirm airbag functionality.

πŸ”

Inquire about recall repairs completed or pending before purchasing.

Campaigns:21V48321V492
2

Exterior Lighting

Issue: Daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when headlights are engaged, violating Federal safety standards.

βœ…

Have the vehicle's lighting control module checked for updates or repairs.

πŸ”

Check if any software updates have been addressed under recall campaigns before purchase.

Campaign:21V496
πŸ’‘Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your CADILLAC dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (4)

Campaign: 21V611000

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

Summary

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.

Consequence

Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC

Campaign: 21V421000

AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT

Summary

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

Consequence

The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. 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 N212338110.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC

Campaign: 22V903000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

Summary

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC

Campaign: 25V148000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.

Consequence

Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 CT5.

INV-2021-1000🟒 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding CT5 performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 39,490

Consumer Complaints

13 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 CT5.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Accident15%
Jerk8%
Fire8%
Leak8%
Smell8%
Odor8%
Crash/Accident8%
Stuck8%
Noise8%
Shatter8%
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 42 MPH – 66 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and shuddered while shifting gears. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,600.

✨ AI Insight

This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:

Recall #25V148000

*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.

Aug 19, 2025Under Review
Engine/Powertrain⚠️ High
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Car interior smelled like gas when the car is started. but seemed to clear while driving. Found that the Fuel hose between the pipe and the fuel intake was leaking when the car initially started. You could smell the odor when the hood was raised. This is the Pipe and Hose that you need the Fuel clamp removal tool for that is located in the rear center of the engine just in front of the firewall. The leak was about 3 inches from then end where it connected to the engine. Currently I have a temporary repair on it (Fuel coupling) where the hole was. Note, This car is out of warranty. It has been to the dealership (Step One Cadillac in Ft. Walton Beach, FL) for other recalls, but the dealership did not mention any issues.

Aug 12, 2025Under Review
Electrical⚠️ High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The exterior door handle latch release switch fails to open the door. This issue happened to all 4 exterior doors. The problem starts with intermittently, then progresses to complete failure. Once it fails, the entire door handle needs to be replaced. If all 4 doors fail, the only way to access the car is with the Emergency Key or if you activated the Remote Window Down. This only works if you have access to the key. If you left your keys in the car, the car would lock (even if running) then your only option is to fiddle with the switch in hopes of activating it or crawl through the trunk (if you're small enough). If an infant or a pet is in the car, then that could lead to problems. Also if you pass out and emergency responders came out, they would have to break the window or pry the door open to gain access, which could pose a life or death situation. This is a well documented issue with this car per the Cadillac Forums. I replaced both the front door handle assemblies to repair the main access to the car. The rear handles are still inoperable. During inspection of the Handle Electronic assembly, it appears that the switch isn't fully seated against the circuit card, which causes the solder connection on the circuit card to fail.

Aug 12, 2025Under Review
Body/InteriorπŸ”΅ Low
STRUCTURE

Beginning of 2025 my drivers side door handle would not open from the outside of the car only the inside . I took it to a certified Cadillac dealer which they had to replace the door handle . Now July 10, 2025 my front passenger side is doing the same thing and I will not have to take my car in to see if they can fix it or it this too will need to be replaced. This causes a hazard of emergency no one would be able to open the door from outside of the vehicle .

Aug 10, 2025Under Review
Safety SystemsπŸ”Ά Medium
AIR BAGS

My 2025 Cadillac CT5 was stationary at a red light behind a red truck when a black truck traveling in the opposite direction struck the truck head-on. The red truck was pushed backward into the front of my CT5 with enough force to cause major front-end damage. Despite this, no airbags deployed. I believe the airbag system failed to detect or respond to a valid crash condition and there is a larger safety concern that needs to be reviewed. Police report completed. Insurance has not inspected vehicles yet but it is available to be inspected.

Jul 26, 2025Under Review
ElectricalπŸ”΅ Low
STEERING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER

aste): The vehicle has a serious pulling issue while driving, which was not corrected with alignment and poses a safety risk. Additionally, the windshield was scratched by faulty wiper blades that impaired visibility β€” the dealer later reimbursed me. Lastly, the driver-side running light was not functioning, which creates a hazard and may violate federal lighting safety standards.

Jul 7, 2025Under Review
Body/InteriorπŸ”Ά Medium
STRUCTURE

Currently my passenger door and my rear driver side door do not open from the outside. I already had to have my driver side door handle replaced for the same issue, now three out of four of my handles have failed. If an accident were to occur no one would be able to access the passenger or the rear driver passenger from the outside because the doors do not open. Since I can not open the door from the outside I had to remove the child lock from the rear door so my child can exit the vehicle.

Feb 11, 2025Under Review
Engine/PowertrainπŸ”΅ Low
POWER TRAIN

Service transmission message showed up on dash. Dealer stated after performance test found P17A5 code for shift control. The dealer stated that the gear shift assembly needed to be replaced and if not, that the car could get stuck in gear which I feel is a safety risk. My vehicle only has 37,111 miles on it and I am pretty much the only driver.

✨ AI Insight

This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:

Recall #25V148000

*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.

Jan 15, 2025Under Review
ElectricalπŸ”΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driver Side door handle stops working. Because the door handle operates with a sensor and not a standard pull door handle something is being affected and it will not open door. Causing safety issue and not being able to enter car normally.

Dec 28, 2024Resolved
ElectricalπŸ”Ά Medium
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

When approaching a stopping vehicle the brake pedal became extremely hard to press and I could not brake enough to stop and had a collision. Come to find out that the ABS computer and the main ECU weren't communicating correctly which turned off the assisted braking, assisted steering and the AWD.

Aug 1, 2024Resolved

Frequently Asked Questions

'What should I know about the airbag recalls on the 2021 Cadillac CT5?'

'The recalls involve potential issues with side-curtain airbags that could affect deployment in a crash scenario. It's advisable for current owners to ensure that any necessary repairs have been completed and for prospective buyers to confirm these fixes were addressed.'

'How do exterior lighting problems affect my driving experience in the Cadillac CT5?'

'Exterior lighting malfunctions can severely compromise visibility on the road, especially at night or in adverse weather conditions. Owners should have their vehicles inspected as part of routine maintenance to ensure compliance with safety standards.'

πŸ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

➑️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🧭What This Means for You

Families with young passengers, pregnant drivers, or those with frequent highway commutes should prioritize this information.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

πŸ”‘

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Immediate Action: If any recalls are listed as 'incomplete', contact a certified CADILLAC service centerβ€”repairs are performed at no cost to you.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in CADILLAC's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
πŸ›’

If You're Buying Used

  • Obtain proof of recall completion for all 4 campaigns before purchase.
  • Account for potential service downtime when calculating your initial ownership budget.
βš–οΈ

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Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.