Model year guide

2021 Cadillac CT5

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2021 Cadillac CT5 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

2021 Cadillac CT5 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2021 Cadillac CT5 at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints19
Combined22–26 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2021 Cadillac CT5 recalls 4

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #25V148000 · manufacturer #N242480630 · 06/03/2025

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.

Fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.

Exterior Lighting:lighting Control Module:software NHTSA Campaign #22V903000 · manufacturer #N222386380 · 08/12/2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety S…

Fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac custom…

Air Bags:side/window:curtain NHTSA Campaign #21V611000 · manufacturer #N212342780 · 05/08/2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.

Air Bags:srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/light NHTSA Campaign #21V421000 · manufacturer #N212338110 · 10/06/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

Fix: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 7 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2021 Cadillac CT5 common problems

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

2021 Cadillac CT5 MPG & running costs

Combined22–26 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway30 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,450
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic (S10)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Engine start-stopYes
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2021 Cadillac CT5 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,250
Fuel only$17,250
Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2021 Cadillac CT5 trims & engines on record

Trims
V-Series
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl

2021 Cadillac CT5 vehicles on record

Other Cadillac CT5 model years

2021 Cadillac CT5 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Cadillac CT5 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Cadillac CT5. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Cadillac CT5?

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, structure, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Cadillac CT5 get?

The 2021 Cadillac CT5 has U.S. EPA estimates of 22–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.