2014 Cadillac ATS: common problems and reliability
One of the worst ATS years.
One of the Cadillac ATS years to avoid. All ATS years
104 owner complaints, most about power train. 4 recalls.
Should I buy a 2014 ATS?The 2014 Cadillac ATS has 104 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and electrical system. Owners most often flag 2.0l turbo (ltg) engine failures: catastrophic piston and piston ring failures, often around 50,000-100,000 miles (80,000-160,000 km), leading to misfires and requiring engine replacement. linked to carbon buildup and potential bad piston castings in 2013-2015 models.
Safety record for the 2014 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other ATS years only. How we score it
Is 2014 a good year for the ATS?
Across the 7 ATS model years we track, complaint volume runs from 3 (2019) to 160 (2013). With 104 complaints, the 2014 ATS sits above the model's median of 33.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2014 ATS
visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system
Campaign 15V558000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS sedan vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to September 2, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the coil antenna module that powers the rear defogger system may generate excessive heat due to excessive cycling or continuous operation.
visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Campaign 15V463000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
seats
Campaign 14V446000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 14V338000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 23, 2012, to March 20, 2014, and 2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured June 10, 2013, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable may detach from either the bracket on the transmission shifter or the bracket on the transmission.
What owners say across generations
Mixed sentiment with a clear divide between driving dynamics and reliability.
- Very frequent2.0L Turbo (LTG) engine failures
Catastrophic piston and piston ring failures, often around 50,000-100,000 miles (80,000-160,000 km), leading to misfires and requiring engine replacement. Linked to carbon buildup and potential bad piston castings in 2013-2015 models.
Owner insights cover all generations of the ATS. See the full ATS owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used ATS listings typically run $10,180–$15,998 across 2013 to 2019 model years.
Other ATS model years
Compare every ATS year side by side to see how 2014 ranks against the rest.
Compare the ATS against its rivals
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