2019 Cadillac XT5 Owner Complaints

My vehicle is receiving a notice "Steer Assist is Reduced Drive with Care". Per discussion with the dealership this is a result of a thermostat issue causing an issue with the grease temperature in the steering. Based on a bulletin to the dealerships from 2017 this is a known issue and continues to be a known issue for multiple GM vehicles. GM can not supply new thermostats to dealerships and they are just resetting the warning. Steering is a critical issue and GM is aware of an issue and is not recalling or repairing timely.

5/30/2023

While traveling home to Louisiana from a vacation, I noticed the engine temperature what stuck on Cold. We also were experiencing loss of power steering, and loss of AC in the car. We stopped at AutoZone in Destin, FL where they completed their FixFinder which reported the thermostat needed to be replaced, being it was stuck in the open position and wasn't properly gauging the engine temperature. Some of the engine fluids were extremely low due to overcompensation because of the thermometer issue. Seeing as we were traveling and not near our local mechanic or dealership, we called around to various auto shops to see who could fit us in same day. The only available shop, without having to spend an additional night in FL, was Pep Boys in Fort Walton, FL. They also let us know they did not have the thermostat compatible with my engine in stock, so that would need to be purchased at AutoZone if we wanted the car fixed same day; which is what I did. While we were at Pep Boys, there was another Cadillac xt5 there for repairs to their AC. It turned out, they were having the exact same issue I was having, but it hadn't escalated to the power steering yet. The mechanic googled the two issues and found there are known issues with the engine thermostat in this make/model, but there has never been a recall issued for it. Now Cadillac is refusing to reimburse me for the repairs because I was still within my Powertrain warranty (under 73k miles) but because we were in a hurry to get home from vacation to get back to work, we did not take the car to a GMC dealership, so the Powertrain warranty is apparently useless here. My extended warranty is also useless because the Powertrain warranty is still in effect.

10/24/2023

WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN WHEN I GET TO 40 TO 45 MPH YOU THINK YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO EXPLODE. IT IS ACTUALLY PAINFUL. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS I ALSO HAVE A SERVICE DOG THAT IS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES AND THEIR EARS ARE EVEN MORE SENSITIVE THAN OURS. I AM ALSO THE ONLY CARE TAKER FOR MY 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW WHO IS ALWAYS ASKING ME TO OPEN THE SUNROOF SO SHE CAN GET THE SUNSHINE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW! THE DEALERSHIP TESTED ALL THE NEW ONES ON THE LOT AND THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING. THIS WAS ALL DONE ON A CITY STREET I CAN'T IMAGINE IF I TRIED IT ON A FREEWAY.

2/26/2019

AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I THEN USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I MADE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ORDERED A TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP.

5/9/2019

AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I THEN USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I MADE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ORDERED A TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP.

5/9/2019

MY VEHICLE HAS SHOWN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, TCS OFF, AND TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO SHIFT SOON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES; AND AFTER CERTAIN TIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GO PAST 50-60 MPH.

9/18/2020

CHECKING FOR POTENTIAL AIRBAG RECALL TAKATA

6/22/2019

MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT APPROX 35 MPH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE STRIKING VEHICLE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES SO THE FULL FORCE OF THE VEHICLE HIT. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, LEAVING ME WITH A CONCUSSION AS MY HEAD STRUCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT ON A CITY STREET. THE STRIKING VEHICLE RAN THE OPPOSING LIGHT, CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.

3/12/2021

EXCESSIVE BRAKE SQUEAL WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY DURING INITIAL DRIVE OF THE DAY OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE. SQUEAL WILL GO AWAY AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE APPLICATIONS. DEALER STATES NORMAL OPERATION AND OFFERED NO FIX.

3/3/2019

TAKATA RECALL WHEN DRIFTING FORWARD LIGHTING TOUCHING BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE LIGHTING TOUCHING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. VERY EMBARRASSING!!! NEVER PURCHASED A CAR WITH BRAKE ISSUES LIKE THIS AND BEING TOLD THIS JUST HAPPENS WILL GO AWAY AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED. I WAS EVEN TOLD THAT CADILLACS ARE KNOWN FOR BRAKE ISSUES...SO FIX THE PROBLEM! THEY NEVER HEAR THE SQUEAKING NOISE BECAUSE THEY DON'T DRIVE THE VEHI CLE EVERYDAY. IT'S THEIR LOUD AND CLEAR. JUST BROUGHT READY TO TRADE IN FIR SOMETHING ELSE.

8/3/2019

WHEN DRIVING WHEN RAINING, THE PASSENGERS WIPER CLEANS THREE QUARTERS OF THE WINDSHIELD AND DEPOSITS THE WATER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT AND REMAINS THERE UNTIL THE DRIVERS WIPER COMES BACK TO REMOVE IT CAUSING AN EXTREME LOSS OF VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

1/3/2019

WE BOUGHT XT5 ON 12/04/18, ON 02/19/19, BROUGHT IN FOR TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 06/10/19, BROUGHT IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE. 06/16/19, ON THE WAY BACK FROM KNOXVILLE ON FREEWAY I-40, WHILE IT WAS RAINING HARD, ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. WIPERS WERE STANDING UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND STOP, NEVER MOVE BACK DOWN. WE WERE SURROUNDED WITH HIGH SPEED CARS AND TRUCKS, AND SEMIS, IN THE RAIN AND COULDN'T SEE THE FRONT WITH NO WIPERS, AND INSIDE THE CAR WAS PIT BLACK. WE MUST DRIVE FOR AROUND A MILE BEFORE GETTING TO A NEXT EXIT. GOT OFF EXIT, CALL ONSTAR FOR HELP, THEY SAID WAIT 90 MINUTES FOR TOW TRUCK AND WE MUST FIND OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO GET HOME, SINCE IT WAS SUNDAY, NO ONE WAS OPEN AT THAT TIME. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE SO WE WAITED OUT THE RAIN, AND DROVE SLOWLY BACK IN TOWN, WITH WIPERS STICKING UP IN FRONT OF DRIVER, TO MEET UP WITH SALES REP. TIM MARCUM FOR HELP, HE LOAN US A CAR TO GET HOME AND CAME THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY, TO SEE JAYSON TAYLOR, CADILLAC MANAGER. WE ASKED THEM TO BUY BACK THE CAR SINCE WE ARE SO SCARE NOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT TIME WITH THE CAR. THEY SUGGESTED US CALLING GM DIRECTLY. WE DID, AND JAYDA, SENIOR CASE MANAGER SAID SHE WOULD ONLY PAY FOR FIXING BUT NOT BUYING BACK, UNLESS SOMETHING MAJOR HAPPENED, LIKE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, BRAKES,.. WE TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS SERIOUS, WE WE WERE IN DANGER OF LOOSING OUR LIVES THERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT SERIOUS TO HER, WE SAID WHAT IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ON FREEWAY, FAST SPEEDING CARS AND TRUCKS, RAINING HARD, BUT INSTEAD OF NO LIGHTS AND NOW WIPERS, THIS TIME NO BRAKES OR SUDDEN STOP AND ENGINE NOT STARTING. WHAT WOULD HAPPENED? IN 6 MONTHS PERIOD, 2 INCIDENTS ALREADY, THE LATER IS MORE SERIOUS THAN THE FIRST, WE RATHER PREVENT PROBLEMS THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT, WHAT IF THE PROBLEMS GETTING BIGGER OR SOMEONE GET HURT

6/19/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 CADILLAC XT5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD NOISE SUDDENLY OCCURRED. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SECTION OF THE GLASS SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RITCHEY CADILLAC(932 N. NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.*PM* CONSUMER STATED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE LOSS.*JB

11/27/2019

The passenger interior side door at the bottom towards the back near the backseat, beginning driver seat caught fire. A small tiny hole began melting, and there was flames coming out of it. Within minutes. My entire car was engulfed in flames when the fire department came they said it seemed like it was fuses that began the Fire. I bought this car used from Carmax literally only two weeks ago and had only driven it. maybe 100 miles it’s a 2020. I don’t understand how this happened and I’m concerned about other Cadillacs of this model having the same issue.

3/3/2025

Service stability track light came on. Brought to Mechanic hooked up to computer. No code shown. Mechanic says car is fine. Keep it off for 15 minutes and the computer will reset. Driving on the highway Emergency brake came on by itself and stopped the vehicle all caution lights lit up on on the dashboard. Service engine light came on brought it back to the mechanic again no codes shown drove it for three days has been running fine and on the fourth day vehicle will not start.

1/14/2023

The passenger interior side door at the bottom towards the back near the backseat, beginning driver seat caught fire. A small tiny hole began melting, and there was flames coming out of it. Within minutes. My entire car was engulfed in flames when the fire department came they said it seemed like it was fuses that began the Fire. I bought this car used from Carmax literally only two weeks ago and had only driven it. maybe 100 miles it’s a 2020. I don’t understand how this happened and I’m concerned about other Cadillacs of this model having the same issue.

3/3/2025

The contact's wife owned a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while the wife was driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would vibrate upon depression without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however the failure was unable to be duplicated. The contact then stated that while his wife was driving at 55 MPH, the brakes failed to operate upon depression without warning. The contact wife stated that a loud, grinding sound emitted from the vehicle during the failure. To avoid crashing into another vehicle, the contact's wife intentionally drove into the highway's side guardrail. After the vehicle hit the guardrail, the vehicle spun into oncoming traffic before coasting into a ditch by the highway median. The air bags deployed upon impact as the front driver-side tire detached from the vehicle; the rear driver-side tire was left dangling off the vehicle. The contact's wife was taken to the hospital via an ambulance where she was kept overnight for observation. Several test were performed but no major injuries were discovered, the contact's wife was treated for soreness around the chest and a scratch to the left shoulder. A police report was filed. The guardrail was damaged as a result of the accident. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The vehicle was deemed a total loss as a result of the accident. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

10/3/2024

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 20 MPH, the brake warning light illuminated. A message "Steering Power Reduced" was displayed before the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The contact stated that one day prior to the failure, the low power steering fluid warning light was illuminated, and the brake fluid was refilled. The contact stated after picking their children from school, the failure occurred. The contact who is an independent mechanic, was able to replicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local Auto Zone where the brake fluid was refilled only days after the brake fluid had been refilled. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle remained at the dealer for further investigation. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,300.

12/5/2024

AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. A FEW SECONDS LATER SAW A FIRE/SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK. CONFIRMED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 WHO CONNECTED ME TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I THEN RAN TO THE GAS STATION AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I THEN USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I MADE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ORDERED A TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP.

5/9/2019

WE BOUGHT XT5 ON 12/04/18, ON 02/19/19, BROUGHT IN FOR TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 06/10/19, BROUGHT IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE. 06/16/19, ON THE WAY BACK FROM KNOXVILLE ON FREEWAY I-40, WHILE IT WAS RAINING HARD, ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. WIPERS WERE STANDING UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND STOP, NEVER MOVE BACK DOWN. WE WERE SURROUNDED WITH HIGH SPEED CARS AND TRUCKS, AND SEMIS, IN THE RAIN AND COULDN'T SEE THE FRONT WITH NO WIPERS, AND INSIDE THE CAR WAS PIT BLACK. WE MUST DRIVE FOR AROUND A MILE BEFORE GETTING TO A NEXT EXIT. GOT OFF EXIT, CALL ONSTAR FOR HELP, THEY SAID WAIT 90 MINUTES FOR TOW TRUCK AND WE MUST FIND OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO GET HOME, SINCE IT WAS SUNDAY, NO ONE WAS OPEN AT THAT TIME. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE SO WE WAITED OUT THE RAIN, AND DROVE SLOWLY BACK IN TOWN, WITH WIPERS STICKING UP IN FRONT OF DRIVER, TO MEET UP WITH SALES REP. TIM MARCUM FOR HELP, HE LOAN US A CAR TO GET HOME AND CAME THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY, TO SEE JAYSON TAYLOR, CADILLAC MANAGER. WE ASKED THEM TO BUY BACK THE CAR SINCE WE ARE SO SCARE NOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT TIME WITH THE CAR. THEY SUGGESTED US CALLING GM DIRECTLY. WE DID, AND JAYDA, SENIOR CASE MANAGER SAID SHE WOULD ONLY PAY FOR FIXING BUT NOT BUYING BACK, UNLESS SOMETHING MAJOR HAPPENED, LIKE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, BRAKES,.. WE TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS SERIOUS, WE WE WERE IN DANGER OF LOOSING OUR LIVES THERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT SERIOUS TO HER, WE SAID WHAT IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ON FREEWAY, FAST SPEEDING CARS AND TRUCKS, RAINING HARD, BUT INSTEAD OF NO LIGHTS AND NOW WIPERS, THIS TIME NO BRAKES OR SUDDEN STOP AND ENGINE NOT STARTING. WHAT WOULD HAPPENED? IN 6 MONTHS PERIOD, 2 INCIDENTS ALREADY, THE LATER IS MORE SERIOUS THAN THE FIRST, WE RATHER PREVENT PROBLEMS THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT, WHAT IF THE PROBLEMS GETTING BIGGER OR SOMEONE GET HURT

6/19/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 CADILLAC XT5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD NOISE SUDDENLY OCCURRED. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SECTION OF THE GLASS SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RITCHEY CADILLAC(932 N. NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.*PM* CONSUMER STATED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE LOSS.*JB

11/27/2019

MY VEHICLE HAS SHOWN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, TCS OFF, AND TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO SHIFT SOON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES; AND AFTER CERTAIN TIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GO PAST 50-60 MPH.

9/18/2020

MY VEHICLE HAS SHOWN THE SERVICE STABILITRAK, TCS OFF, AND TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO SHIFT SOON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES; AND AFTER CERTAIN TIMES THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GO PAST 50-60 MPH.

9/18/2020

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the Forward Collision-Avoidance System malfunctioned, which resulted in the contact having to manually brake to avoid an accident. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

2/15/2022

2019 CADILLAC XT 5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO STOP/START FEATURE ON VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN OFF OPTION FOR THE STOP/START FEATURE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE VEHICLE HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATED TO INCLUDE SUCH A FEATURE.

7/27/2022

Tech pulled seat cover and found the seat heater had gotten too hot and cooked the heater element, cushion, and seat cover.

1/10/2023

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in a parking lot. The contact then shifted the transmission into drive (D), and the engine revved loudly. The contact slightly depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The steering wheel inadvertently veered to the left. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle then drove on top of another vehicle that was parked in front. The contact stated that he was unable to control the vehicle until after the crash. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was unharmed, but his wife's hand was injured in the crash. Medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site, but it sustained damage, and the front driver’s side door was jammed. The vehicle was taken to a body shop. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

8/21/2025