VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Cadillac CT420202026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏅 LUXURY
Cadillac CT4
20202026
A
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
1.3/yr · seg. median 1.6
Safety
Low
0 inj.
No open federal investigations
8
Recalls
35
Complaints
2023
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Top issue: ENGINEAvoid 2020
7
Years Analyzed
8
Total Recalls
35
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Cadillac CT4

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK3yr old
2023
Strong Buy · 85/100
Reliability86/100
Value window82/100
Recalls1
Complaints6
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
#2 PICK2yr old
2024
Strong Buy · 84/100
Reliability90/100
Value window72/100
Recalls0
Complaints6
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
#3 PICK1yr old
2025
Strong Buy · 79/100
Reliability90/100
Value window59/100
Recalls0
Complaints2
Top issue: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Cadillac CT4 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2020

3 recalls · 6 complaints

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES

#2 WORST
2021

3 recalls · 6 complaints

Top issue: ENGINE

#3 WORST
2022

1 recall · 9 complaints

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall.

Recently concluded investigations
PE21010 · air bags · closed Aug 2023Closed, no recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 15, 2026.

Cadillac CT4 — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600
90
44
74
Excellent
202502
90
59
79
Good
202406
90
72
84
Caution
202316
86
82
85
Caution
202219
82
89
84
Avoid
202136
77
92
82
Avoid
202036
77
91
82
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 CT4 Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

ENGINE
6
SERVICE BRAKES
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
POWER TRAIN
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
STEERING
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
AIR BAGS
1

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the CT4 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: 2023 (Buyer Score 85).

Best: 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year CT4 to buy?+

The 2023 Cadillac CT4 scores highest on our Buyer Score (85/100) — combining a reliability score of 86/100 with a value score of 82/100. It has 1 recall and 6 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which CT4 years have the most problems?+

The 2020, 2021, 2022 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2020 CT4 leads with 3 recalls and 6 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 CT4 problems?+

The most frequently reported Cadillac CT4 issues involve: ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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