NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 10 complaints against the 2023 Cadillac CT5. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2023 Cadillac CT5 complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2023 Cadillac CT5 has generated 40 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2023 Cadillac CT5 has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Cadillac pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2023 Cadillac CT5 have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 20 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “The valve body in the ten speed transmission failed while driving. The transmission did a rough shift and a message popped up on the display saying that power has been reduced along with the check engine light illuminating. The transmission reduced usable gears to prevent damage. I was a hazard on the road way due to not being able to get up to the posted speed limit. The car is at Harvey Cadillac (the dealership I purchased the car from) and I have been told GM is going to replace the transmission under warranty.” (NHTSA Complaint #11684787)
The 2023 Cadillac CT5 has generated 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Driver Door continue to not open. You must remove key cover off handle and manually open door with key or roll down all windows with Keyfob to reach in to open doors” (NHTSA Complaint #11709101)
Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2023 Cadillac CT5 has 4 NHTSA complaints on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “The lane departure didn’t work as expected to avoid a crash. I was hurt and bruised due to the air bags never deployed after hit on right wheel number flew off causing my to go into 5 guard rails . The whole front end was destroyed into pieces “no airbags” I’m lucky to be alive. It was inspected by police and my insurance company consider it total loss.nothing before or after the impact” (NHTSA Complaint #11676071)
Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2023 Cadillac CT5 include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 4 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owned a 2023 Cadillac CT5. The contact stated that while exiting the highway on the far right lane on a 2-lane exit at 45 MPH, a message appeared on the instrument panel that read “Steering assistance reduced, drive with care” and “Service Power Steering”. The contact stated that he was driving the vehicle while his son was seated in the passenger seat when the crash occurred. The contact attempted to veer into the left lane when the steering wheel seized causing the contact to crash into the rear bumper of the vehicle in front. There was no property damage. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not towed. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that he and his son did not suffer injuries and that the other vehicle involved did have two individuals who reported injuries, the injuries sustained were unknown and whether they received medical attention was unknown. The contact drove his vehicle to his residence, and from there the vehicle was towed to a local autobody shop where the vehicle was not diagnosed, however, it was inspected, and the contact was advised that the vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned that before the crash, the transmission failed and was replaced by the dealer where a buyback negotiation was pending. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,480.” (NHTSA Complaint #11640854)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2023 Cadillac CT5 include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 4 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Entire electrical and safety systems, every light on dashboard was lit up, all kinds of safety warning light were on! Because manufacturer uses plant-based materials to wrap wiring, it caused an infestation of rodents that had a snack on my wiring! I could have been in real safety danger had I been on the highway!” (NHTSA Complaint #11593927)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2023 Cadillac CT5 by the NHTSA or Cadillac. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 custo
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 Cadillac CT5:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Cadillac to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Cadillac must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 Cadillac CT5 qualifies as a lemon under California law, Cadillac may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Cadillac a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Cadillac dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Cadillac pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Cadillac a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Cadillac is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 Cadillac Ct5 has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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