VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Cadillac ATS2013–2019
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Cadillac ATS
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Cadillac ATS Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 140 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
3 recalls · 86 complaints
15 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
3 recalls · 25 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
Cadillac ATS — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 99 | 83 | 93 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 2 | 16 | 1 | — | 74 | 77 | 75 | Good |
| 2017 | 2 | 21 | — | — | 69 | 70 | 69 | Good |
| 2016 | 2 | 28 | 2 | — | 61 | 63 | 62 | Good |
| 2015 | 3 | 25 | 3 | — | 59 | 56 | 58 | Good |
| 2014 | 3 | 86 | 15 | — | 48 | 50 | 49 | Avoid |
| 2013 | 4 | 140 | 2 | — | 49 | 45 | 48 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Cadillac ATS Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the ATS compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2019 (Buyer Score 93).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year ATS to buy?+
The 2019 Cadillac ATS scores highest on our Buyer Score (93/100) — combining a reliability score of 99/100 with a value score of 83/100. It has 0 recalls and 1 NHTSA complaint on record.
Which ATS years have the most problems?+
The 2013, 2014, 2015 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2013 ATS leads with 4 recalls and 140 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common ATS problems?+
The most frequently reported Cadillac ATS issues involve: POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.