Used Car Checklists

2020 Cadillac XT4: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, suspension, and brakes. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

Cadillac XT42020
Owner complaints
17
Recalls
5
Crashes reported
0
Reliability
Good
68/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Run the VIN before you go

A history report shows accidents, title brands, odometer readings, and open recalls for this 2020 Cadillac XT4. Ask the seller for the VIN; it is also on the dash at the base of the windshield.

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Reported on other XT4 years with the same design

These years share the 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.

2021 XT4

12 owner complaints
  • Fuel system 4
  • Electrical 3

Worth adding to your 2020 checks

  • Ask for service records showing any fuel pump control module replacement, and ask whether the stalling came back afterward.
  • Have a dealer scan for stored code P203F and run the VIN for open recalls before you buy.
  • Start the car several times from cold and listen for clicking or cranking without a start.
Open the 2021 checklist

2019 XT4

20 owner complaints
  • Transmission 6
  • Engine 4
  • Exterior lights 4

Worth adding to your 2020 checks

  • Have a mechanic check for oil seepage at the camshaft carrier and the passenger-side intake manifold.
  • Ask for service records showing camshaft carrier reseal, intake gasket, or timing chain tensioner work.
  • Start the engine cold and listen for chain slap or rattle before oil pressure builds.
Open the 2019 checklist

2023 XT4

12 owner complaints
  • Transmission 4
  • Automatic emergency braking 2
  • Electrical 2

Worth adding to your 2020 checks

  • Cruise steadily at highway speed and confirm the transmission shifts into 9th gear without paddle or manual-mode input.
  • Slow to a stop several times in city traffic and feel for jerks or clunks in the lower gears.
  • Ask for service records showing transmission reprogramming or repeat visits for shifting complaints.
Open the 2023 checklist

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Cadillac XT4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

  • Electrical2No crashes

    Rear and 360-degree camera views drop out intermittently. The failure returns months after a dealer repair and even after a camera replacement paid out of pocket. A dead camera means no rear view while backing up. A separate report describes a dead battery at 33K miles that left the car unable to start and cost $425 to replace at the dealer. There are only 2 complaints here, so these are isolated reports rather than a broad trend.

  • Suspension2No crashes

    ABS and stability control faults appear while driving, and one report describes nearly losing control. A second problem involves a popping noise with brake screeching and no warning lights. The dealer traced it to a failed rear passenger-side shock absorber at 25,000 miles. The noise returned after the repair, and on a later visit the dealer could not reproduce it. Only 2 complaints are filed under this heading.

  • Brakes2No crashes

    The brakes can fail to slow the car as expected, with several warning lights on the dash. In the same report, an independent shop found oil leaking from the brake master cylinder, and the car also shook while driving and sometimes would not restart. The other complaint involves no failure at all. It describes waiting for a brake recall repair because the part was not yet available, with the car held at the dealer and a rental provided.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints XT4 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Electrical
Rear camera/360 camera works intermittently. Vehicle has been recalled for this exact problem and was taken to dealership for correction. Camera became inoperative again and a camera replacement was paid for out of pocket around early 2025. 6 months later, the issue has started again and camera is inoperative when reversing.

Filed with NHTSA, September 2025

How the 2020 compares with other XT4 years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2020 ranks third for owner complaints among 7 XT4 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2020 Average of other years
  • Electrical23
  • Suspension20
  • Brakes21

Where the 2020 fits in the XT4's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2020 is the second model year of the XT4's first generation (2019 on).

Cadillac updated the XT4 for 2024, so a 2020 does not have those changes.

What changed for 2024 (not on a 2020)

  • Restyled front end
  • Updated interior with a 33-inch curved LED touchscreen display
  • Optional 13-speaker AKG stereo system
  • Upgrade of Wi-Fi hotspot to 5G

Recalls to confirm (5)

Recall repairs are free at any Cadillac dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

  1. 22V868000Backup cameraNov 2022

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac XT4 vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The video processing module (VPM) may lose communication with the rearview camera, causing a loss of the rearview camera image.

    Risk: Failure of the rearview camera image to display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the VPM software or replace the VPM, as necessary, free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety defect was mailed January 17, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222373320. .

  2. 21V649000Seat beltsAug 2021

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

    Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: 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 is N212333380.

  3. 21V115000Wheels and tiresFeb 2021

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

    Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

  4. 20V668000TransmissionOct 2020

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

    Risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

  5. 20V588000BrakesSep 2020

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system.

    Risk: If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.

Also looking at these instead of a XT4?

Cars shoppers compare with the Cadillac XT4, with their own 2020 checklists.