Vehicle Data Hub

2021 Cadillac XT5 problems

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Cadillac XT5. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. Next are engine (14%) and steering (14%).

At a glance

Complaints
29 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Electrical system 21% of complaints
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Electrical system 21%
  • Engine 14%
  • Steering 14%
  • Wipers, windshield & visibility 10%
  • Backover prevention 7%
  • Brakes 7%
  • Fuel system 7%
  • Lane departure 3%

What the data shows

None of these complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 100% of model years in our database.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Cadillac XT5 with enough data (29 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

My new car has a serious lag issue. The car is not responsive to the gas pedal. You have to press the gas a lot to get moving. Once moving a lot lag. If I press it fast. Completely non responsive. My car is slower than any other car I have driven. Although this is 310 HP. Feeels like 150 HP. And I get only 12-15 miles to the gallon. Regular driving in suburbs and highway.

August 2021

The power steering suddenly shut down while driving, making steering almost impossible. Luckly I was on a straight part of the road and close to my house. It would have been disastrous if it occurred at high speed. I understand there is a recall to replace software on some 2021 Cadillac vehicles but mine is not in the list. I think my vintage of vehicles needs to be added to the recall list

March 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the sunroof glass exploded without impact. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown object had fallen from the sky and impacted the glass. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. The VIN was not available.

Reported at 22,000 miles, February 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the infotainment screen was touched but went black and failed to respond. The vehicle was turned off and restarted at the next traffic light, and the infotainment screen was touched and remained black and failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was not provided.

Reported at 113,240 miles, February 2026

Other model years of the XT5

Best and worst years for the Cadillac XT5