2021 Cadillac XT5 Owner Complaints
Complaint Summary
The 2021 Cadillac XT5 has 17 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve steering and unknown or other.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 17 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
STEERING
3 17.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 17.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 11.8%
SERVICE BRAKES
2 11.8%
ENGINE
2 11.8%
Quick Insights
The top category is STEERING, accounting for 17.6% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 10 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2021 Cadillac XT5
The 2021 Cadillac XT5 has 17 owner complaints in this dataset. STEERING is the most common complaint category, representing about 18% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2021 Cadillac XT5 are STEERING (3), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 10 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2021 Cadillac XT5?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 10 of 10 systems
STEERING
3 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The power steering suddenly shut down while driving, making steering almost impossible. Luckly I was on a straight part of the road and close to my house. It would have been disastrous if it occurred at high speed. I understand there is a recall to replace software on some 2021 Cadillac vehicles but mine is not in the list. I think my vintage of vehicles needs to be added to the recall list
3/20/2022
Update - Original event was the power steering automation system failure which left the vehicle with no power steering system. When car rested over night the system operated properly. Took it to dealer today and they could not find any mechanical failures or wiring failures. A software update for the power steering module was available and they did the software update. Loss of power steering when driving is a very serious event, as the vehicle is almost impossible to steer. A woman or weak elderly person could not move the wheel at all, which could easily result in a serious accident if driven at high speed or on a windy road when the system failed. Since Cadillac had already developed the software update, why was that not made a recall. Why wait until it fails and results in an accident? Cadillac clearly knew that was a possibility. I think NHTSA should demand a recall to update all the 2021 XT5 vehicles.
3/22/2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The cameras just stopped working, when I went to put the car in reverse, blank screen comes on.
11/29/2024
Car exhaust was making vibration sound brought into dealership and the muffler is broke on the inside. Cadillac repair said itâs not a common occurrence and was not covered under any warranty. Stated it could have broke on the inside due to vibrations. The muffler shouldnât have just broke inside due to vibrations if the integrity of it has to of been compromised especially if the car isnât that old and thereâs no damage.
8/27/2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
My new car has a serious lag issue. The car is not responsive to the gas pedal. You have to press the gas a lot to get moving. Once moving a lot lag. If I press it fast. Completely non responsive. My car is slower than any other car I have driven. Although this is 310 HP. Feeels like 150 HP. And I get only 12-15 miles to the gallon. Regular driving in suburbs and highway.
8/25/2021
FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED TWICE. FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF 6 LANE HIGHWAY. SECOND TIME WAS NOT AS SERIOUS LOCATION. THIS PART FAILS WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AND VEHICLE CAN NOT BE PUT IN NETURAL TO BE PUSHED OR TOWED WITHOUT A LOT OF DIFFICULTY. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY CHANGE UP TO 15 OF THESE MODULES A MONTH. SAME PART FOR CADILLAC MODLES XT5,XT6 AND ESCALADE. AND STATED HE IS AWARE SOME VEHICLES HAVE BEEN DISABLED IN VERY SERIOUS CONDITIONS
1/16/2025
SERVICE BRAKES
2 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
At a red light in traffic, it suddenly shut off the engine, emergency brakes went on, multiple warning lights were on (Low Bat, Low fuel {full of fuel}, lower passenger window, etc..), totally immobilized itself by not being able to start the car or push it with the brakes on! 81 year old female driving and if the car did this at highway speed it could have been a catastrophe! It appeared everything else in the car was working but had 'self immobilized'!
7/14/2023
When braking â both at low speeds and when slowing from highway speeds (40+ mph) â vehicle feels like engine revs and is still pushing against the brakes. Requires very firm pedal pressure to hold car in place; if brake pressure is eased, vehicle surges forward until it finally settles after several seconds. Concern is intermittent but repeatable. I had a near collision on 10/3/2025 due to this issue. I have been in constant contact with the dealership on this, including the service manager, as well as Cadillac Care. The dealership has test driven the vehicle several times and has been unable to replicate the problem. However, I do have an audio recording of the engineâs idle speed at various points during one incident.
10/4/2025
ENGINE
2 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
At a red light in traffic, it suddenly shut off the engine, emergency brakes went on, multiple warning lights were on (Low Bat, Low fuel {full of fuel}, lower passenger window, etc..), totally immobilized itself by not being able to start the car or push it with the brakes on! 81 year old female driving and if the car did this at highway speed it could have been a catastrophe! It appeared everything else in the car was working but had 'self immobilized'!
7/14/2023
When braking â both at low speeds and when slowing from highway speeds (40+ mph) â vehicle feels like engine revs and is still pushing against the brakes. Requires very firm pedal pressure to hold car in place; if brake pressure is eased, vehicle surges forward until it finally settles after several seconds. Concern is intermittent but repeatable. I had a near collision on 10/3/2025 due to this issue. I have been in constant contact with the dealership on this, including the service manager, as well as Cadillac Care. The dealership has test driven the vehicle several times and has been unable to replicate the problem. However, I do have an audio recording of the engineâs idle speed at various points during one incident.
10/4/2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
My new car has a serious lag issue. The car is not responsive to the gas pedal. You have to press the gas a lot to get moving. Once moving a lot lag. If I press it fast. Completely non responsive. My car is slower than any other car I have driven. Although this is 310 HP. Feeels like 150 HP. And I get only 12-15 miles to the gallon. Regular driving in suburbs and highway.
8/25/2021
BACK OVER PREVENTION
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V709000 (Back Over Prevention) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
2/13/2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
At a red light in traffic, it suddenly shut off the engine, emergency brakes went on, multiple warning lights were on (Low Bat, Low fuel {full of fuel}, lower passenger window, etc..), totally immobilized itself by not being able to start the car or push it with the brakes on! 81 year old female driving and if the car did this at highway speed it could have been a catastrophe! It appeared everything else in the car was working but had 'self immobilized'!
7/14/2023
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the sunroof glass exploded without impact. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown object had fallen from the sky and impacted the glass. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. The VIN was not available.
2/4/2025
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
1 Report6% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle in front of her kicked up a rock off the roadway and cracked the windshield. The vehicle was taken to Safelite, and the windshield was repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
3/21/2025
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2021 Cadillac XT5?
Are complaints about the 2021 Cadillac XT5 a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2021 Cadillac XT5?
Are complaints about the 2021 Cadillac XT5 severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Cadillac XT5: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 17
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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