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 2021 Cadillac XT4. 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 2021 Cadillac XT4 complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2021 Cadillac XT4 has generated 20 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2021 Cadillac XT4 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.
Fuel and propulsion system defects can cause stalling, fuel leaks, or power loss — all substantial impairments of use and safety. The 2021 Cadillac XT4 has generated 6 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. Owner reports include: “UNKNOWN…”
The 2021 Cadillac XT4 has generated 2 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: “Driving down the highway yesterday, I believe that the sunroof on my Cadillac XT4 exploded. It was a hot day and I heard a loud bang. My sunroof shattered and no rocks or other external debris to be found.” (NHTSA Complaint #11664882)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2021 Cadillac XT4 have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 2 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT4. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stopped, and was shifted into park but failed to restart. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump control module and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 34,536.” (NHTSA Complaint #11658240)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2021 Cadillac XT4 have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 2 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT4. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the signal turned green; however, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated before responding as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle lunged into motion. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a recurring failure. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the cam shaft and transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11608767)
The 2021 Cadillac XT4 has generated 2 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: “The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT4. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing and exiting the residential driveway, the back over prevention sensor activated. The contact stated the back over prevention warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there were no obstacles behind the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the vehicle was retrieved and shortly after exiting the dealer’s lot, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer where the failure was unable to be duplicated. The contact also stated that the vehicle was taken to Auto Zone and the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was then taken back to the original dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11570554)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Cadillac XT4 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: SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM’s number for this recall
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 2021 Cadillac XT4:
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 2021 Cadillac XT4 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 2021 Cadillac Xt4 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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