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2018 Cadillac XTS Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 20261 Critical Recalls
Ethan Miller

Complaint Summary

The 2018 Cadillac XTS has 7 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve unknown or other and service brakes.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

8.0/ 10

Based on 7 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 42.9%

SERVICE BRAKES

1 14.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 14.3%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 14.3%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 14.3%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, accounting for 42.9% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 5 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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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2018 Cadillac XTS

The 2018 Cadillac XTS has 7 owner complaints in this dataset. UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the most common complaint category, representing about 43% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2018 Cadillac XTS are UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3), SERVICE BRAKES (1), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 4 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 2018 Cadillac XTS?

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.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2017 XTS complaints2019 XTS complaints2016 XTS complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 5 of 5 systems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 Reports43% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

FOR THE SECOND TIME, I CAN'T GET INTO OR START MY CAR AFTER IT'S SAT UNUSED FOR A FEW DAYS. THE FIRST TIME, CADILLAC TOLD ME HOW TO OPEN THE CAR. THEN, I ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO JUMP START IT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

9/29/2018

CADILLAC USER EXPERIENCE (CUE) CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION AFTER RECALL UPDATES WERE INSTALLED. VEHICLE HAS HAD 4 ATTEMPTED REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE DEFECT PROBLEM STILL PERSIST AND PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AS VISIBILITY TO HAZARDS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ARE IMPAIRED AND IN SOME CASES REDUCED TO NONE. VUE CONTROLS MOST OF THE FEATURES ON THE VEHICLE. CUE BECOMES DISABLED AND BLACKS OUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE NORMAL REAR VISIBILITY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS THE SIDE MIRRORS PIVOTING DOWN. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE REAR VIEW CAMERA, THE PIVOTING ACTION REDUCES AND OCCASIONALLY OBSTRUCTS MOST VISIBILITY WHILE BACKING. RECENTLY A 4 YEAR GIRL WAS NEARLY STRUCT DURING THIS FAILURE. WITH THE MIRRORS DOWN AND NO REAR VIEW CAMERA, ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO VIEW TO THE REAR WAS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHICH IS AIMED TO HIGH TO SEE A SMALL CHILD BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT.. IN ADDITION TO THIS INCIDENT, ALL OF THE CONTROLS FOR THE VEHICLE ARE ADJUSTED OR CONTROLLED THROUGH THE CUE MODULE. IT'S ABSENCE OR MALFUNCTION REDUCES MOST OF THE SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES ARE INOPERABLE.

9/16/2019

1 more complaint is available in this category.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 CADILLAC XTS FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AHEAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS EVER DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A THIRD PARTY THAT HANDLES LIABILITY FOR ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *JS

6/19/2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

INFOTAINMENT CENTER MALFUNCTIONING. CLIMATE CONTROL, BACKUP CAMERA AND NEARLY EVERY CONVENIENCE AND SAFETY FEATURE DISABLED. CADILLAC HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX 5 TIMES AND NOW SAYS THAT IT CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. CADILLAC ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. SCREEN PIXELATES AND/OR GOES BLACK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR

5/16/2020

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

In November of 2022 I noticed that after I would fill my 2018 Cadillac with fuel that it was extremely difficult to start. This same issue I had over the previous 4 years with my 2012 Buick Lacrosse twice and each time it was a GM #12690512 Vapor canister Purge Valve each time at over $300.00 to correct the problem. I could leave the car running while fueling but that is not safe to do. I believe GM has a known issue with this item and is no longer using this part in their newer vehicles.

12/27/2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 Report14% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the brakes had been previously replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact self-diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear brakes were failing. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was inspected, and the contact was informed that there was no failure found with the rear brakes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V576000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 51,870.

6/3/2025

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2018 Cadillac XTS?

The most reported complaint category for the 2018 Cadillac XTS is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, with 3 owner reports. That is about 43% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Are complaints about the 2018 Cadillac XTS a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 4 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2018 Cadillac XTS?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2018 Cadillac XTS severe?

4 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Cadillac XTS: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
7
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

Start here

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