Cadillac CT4 years to avoid

How we rated the best and worst Cadillac CT4 years

The 2020 and 2021 model years are the weakest in the CT4’s production run, with the 2020 drawing the single worst PainRank score from CarComplaints and both years tied at four recall campaigns each in NHTSA data.

Our ratings combine data from NHTSA complaints and recalls, CarComplaints PainRank (which scores a model year on repair cost and average mileage at failure, not raw complaint volume), Consumer Reports reliability data, and owner discussions at the Cadillac V-Series Forums. CarComplaints ranks the worst year by repair cost and mileage-at-failure, while NHTSA shows raw complaint volume - and these often point to different years. For the CT4, CarComplaints rates 2020 the worst on repair cost and early-mileage failures, while NHTSA complaint volume is highest for the 2022 model year (15 complaints), followed by 2021 (8 complaints) and 2023 (7 complaints). Our years to avoid methodology weights recall severity and repair cost at failure more heavily than raw complaint volume, which is why 2020 ranks as the worst CT4 year despite 2022 leading on raw NHTSA complaints.

Every Cadillac CT4 model year ranked

The CT4 has been in production since 2020, so every model year available to used-car shoppers today belongs to the same single generation.

Most common Cadillac CT4 problems

The single biggest documented failure across the CT4’s run is the 10-speed automatic transmission defect that can cause internal damage and sudden wheel lockup. Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas in NHTSA complaint data are engine, steering, and service brakes. Below are the five most serious recurring categories in order of severity.

1. 10-speed automatic transmission internal damage and wheel lockup

GM is recalling certain 2020-2021 CT4 models equipped with the 10-speed transmission because the transmission may become damaged internally and cause the front wheels to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver-facing symptom is a sudden loss of forward motion or a lurch, which can occur without warning at any speed.

NHTSA campaign 25V-148 (GM number N242480630) covers 2020-2021 CT4 vehicles along with other GM models equipped with the 10-speed automatic. Dealers install transmission control module monitoring software at no charge, with owner notification letters mailed beginning April 21, 2025. This is a software remedy, not a mechanical replacement, so confirm the flash has been applied to any 2020-2021 car you consider.

If the software update was never performed and the transmission sustains internal damage, a full rebuild or replacement on this platform can run into several thousand dollars. Ask for dealer paperwork proving the recall was completed before finalizing a purchase. A transmission fluid leak when parked is one early sign that the unit may already be stressed.

2. Roof-rail side-curtain airbag improper installation

NHTSA recall 21V-611 (GM number N212342780) covers certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles because the roof-rail side-curtain airbags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in improper deployment during a crash. Some airbags were partially twisted during factory installation at two attachment points, which can lead to insufficient, incorrect, or canceled deployment in a crash.

The recalled vehicles include 11,064 Cadillac CT4 sedans from the 2020-2022 model years. Dealers inspect both left and right roof-rail airbags and reinstall them as necessary, free of charge. This is a safety-critical fix - always verify it has been completed before buying any 2020-2022 CT4.

3. Electronic brake boost sensor contamination (2020)

GM recalled certain 2020 CT4 models because sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system. This can reduce power-assisted braking, requiring significantly more pedal effort to achieve normal stopping distances. A soft brake pedal is the main symptom owners notice.

This recall affects 2020 models and was among the reasons that year accumulated four NHTSA recall campaigns, more than any other CT4 year. Confirm the brake boost sensor fix is reflected in the vehicle’s service history on any 2020 CT4.

4. Daytime running light (DRL) software failure

GM is recalling certain 2020-2023 CT4 and CT5 vehicles because the daytime running lights may fail to deactivate when the headlights are on, causing noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 and creating glare that increases crash risk.

The remedy is a body control module software update performed by a dealer or, in eligible cases, through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is among the simplest recalls on the CT4 to verify - a dealer scan or OTA update confirmation takes minutes. If you see a 2020-2023 CT4 with persistently illuminated DRLs or a dashboard warning about exterior lighting, the software update may not have been applied.

5. Battery drain from phantom sound activation (2020)

CarComplaints rates 2020 as the worst CT4 model year overall, and the most-reported problem for that year is random sound activation killing the battery. The symptom is a dead or severely weakened battery after the car sits for a short period, often a few days, without being driven. The root cause is a phantom trigger of the audio system that draws power continuously.

Electrical failures including battery drain from phantom sound activation and body control unit issues may trigger warnings or immobilize key systems. Owners who experienced this on early 2020 builds often needed a software update or replacement of the body control module. If you are looking at a 2020 CT4, ask the seller whether it has ever had a recurring dead-battery issue.

Which Cadillac CT4 years should you avoid?

The Cadillac CT4 years to avoid are 2020 and 2021. CarComplaints rates the 2020 CT4 as the worst model year, ranking it on repair cost and average mileage when problems occur. On the NHTSA side, the years with the most recall activity are 2021 (4 recalls) and 2020 (4 recalls).

Worst Cadillac CT4 years: 2020, 2021

First-generation Cadillac CT4 (2020-2021)

Transmission lock-up may occur in 2020-2021 CT4 models with the 10-speed gearbox, caused by excessive wear of control valves, leading drivers to experience harsh shifts or momentary wheel lock-up. Combined with the airbag and brake boost sensor recalls, these two years carry the most unresolved safety risk if the recalls have not been performed.

The 2020 model collected the most NHTSA activity of any CT4 year, including a roof-rail airbag recall and an early brake-boost sensor issue. The 2021 adds the 10-speed transmission lockup recall (25V-148) to that list. Neither year should be purchased without documented confirmation that all four recall campaigns have been closed at a GM dealer.

What are the best Cadillac CT4 years to buy?

The best Cadillac CT4 years to buy are 2023 and 2024, both of which benefit from resolved recall history and low complaint counts compared to earlier cars.

Most reliable Cadillac CT4 years: 2023, 2024

2023 Cadillac CT4

The 2023 Cadillac CT4 has been recalled 1 time by NHTSA, and that single recall (the DRL software update) is remedied by a dealer software flash or an OTA update. The 2023 model year benefits from three years of refinement, avoided the transmission control valve problems that affected earlier models, and owners report fewer electrical issues and better material quality compared to 2020-2021 cars.

2024 Cadillac CT4

The 2024 CT4 carries over the improvements from 2023 with no active recalls reported for this model year. The 2023 and 2024 model years are where used-car buyers tend to land when looking for a CT4 to target. The 2024 is newer inventory, so used prices are higher, but the reliability picture is cleaner than any earlier year.

Cadillac CT4 submodel years to avoid

The CT4 family includes the CT4-V (mid-performance, 2.7L turbo-4) and the CT4-V Blackwing (top-tier, twin-turbo V6). Each is assessed on its own record below.

Cadillac CT4-V years to avoid

The CT4-V uses a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder L3B engine, which is a different and more powerful unit than the base model’s 2.0L LSY turbo-4. The CT4-V was offered from the 2020 model year through the end of production.

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder has the lowest complaint density across the CT4’s production run, which implies the L3B-powered CT4-V has a somewhat higher relative complaint rate - though the overall volumes for both are low. The CT4-V shares the same body and platform as the base car and falls under the same recall campaigns: the airbag recall (21V-611) covers all versions of the 2020-2022 CT4, the transmission lockup recall (25V-148) covers 2020-2021 CT4-V models equipped with the 10-speed automatic, and the DRL software recall covers 2020-2023 models regardless of trim. No CT4-V model year has accumulated enough complaint data on its own to identify a distinct “avoid” year beyond the same 2020-2021 window that applies to the broader CT4 range.

Buyer checks specific to the CT4-V:

• Confirm the 10-speed transmission recall (25V-148) is closed if buying a 2020-2021 CT4-V with the automatic
• Check coolant level and look for evidence of turbo coolant line weeping, a recurring owner-reported maintenance point on the L3B
• Ask for full service records showing oil changes at or before 5,000-mile intervals, which the L3B benefits from given its turbo heat soak

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing years to avoid

The CT4-V Blackwing uses the LF4 3.6TT twin-turbo V6 engine and is not affected by the LSY-specific issues that apply to base CT4 models. The Blackwing was introduced for 2022 and carried through the end of production, so it has a shorter history than the standard CT4.

Some CT4-V Blackwing models with the 10-speed automatic transmission (2022-2024) experience intermittent stalling and rough idle in stop-and-go traffic, with the engine dying at standstill and requiring restart. Reports indicate this occurring within the first 1,000 miles on new vehicles, suggesting a calibration issue; GM released preliminary engineering bulletin PIE0744 for the 10-speed automatic in Blackwing models. A dealer TCM reflash typically resolves the stall complaint - ask the dealer to confirm the latest ECM and TCM calibrations are installed.

No Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing model year has yet accumulated enough NHTSA complaint volume to flag a specific avoid year in isolation. The stalling concern is the most documented Blackwing-specific issue, it is addressed by a calibration update rather than a mechanical repair, and it spans the 2022-2024 Blackwing range rather than pointing to a single bad year. The shared recalls (airbag, DRL) apply to Blackwing cars by model year, same as every other CT4 trim.

Cadillac CT4 pre-purchase checklist

Run through these checks before finalizing a purchase on any used CT4.

• Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall checker at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm every open campaign - particularly 25V-148 (transmission) and 21V-611 (airbag) - has been closed at a GM dealer.
• On any 2020-2021 CT4, verify the 10-speed transmission recall (25V-148) has been completed. Ask for the dealer repair order showing the TCM software was flashed. This is a safety-critical fix that prevents potential wheel lockup.
• On any 2020-2022 CT4, confirm the roof-rail airbag recall (21V-611) is resolved. Dealer paperwork showing both curtain airbags were inspected and, if needed, reinstalled is what you want to see.
• On any 2020 CT4, ask about the brake boost sensor recall and battery drain history. A recurring dead battery or a brake pedal that feels unusually firm points to open or incompletely resolved campaigns.
• Check exterior lighting behavior. On a 2020-2023 CT4, verify the DRLs deactivate when headlights come on. If they stay lit simultaneously, the DRL software recall has not been applied.
• On any CT4-V Blackwing with the 10-speed automatic, ask the dealer to confirm PIE0744 calibration updates have been applied. If the car stalls at low-speed stops, the TCM reflash resolves it in most cases.
• Request full service records and confirm oil changes were performed at manufacturer-recommended intervals. The turbocharged engines in all CT4 variants benefit from fresh oil to protect turbo components.

Better alternatives to consider

If the CT4 years in your budget fall in the 2020-2021 avoid window, these same-class compact luxury sedans are worth cross-shopping:

• Cadillac ATS - the CT4’s direct predecessor, with a longer production run (2013-2019) and a clearer year-by-year reliability record for used shoppers on tighter budgets
• Cadillac CTS - a larger luxury sedan with a well-documented history; mid-generation years have strong owner satisfaction and a mature recall record
• Genesis G70 - a frequent CT4 cross-shop target with competitive pricing and strong J.D. Power dependability scores in its 2019-2021 years
• BMW 3 Series - the benchmark European compact luxury sedan; pre-2019 models with the B58 inline-six offer a mature reliability record at used-car prices similar to a clean CT4