Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, automatic emergency braking, and electrical. The 7 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/7 checked
2023 Cadillac XT4: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
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.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Cadillac XT4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The 9-speed automatic often refuses to shift into 9th gear on its own. It engages only after a paddle-shifter upshift or a quick switch to manual mode and back, which hurts fuel economy. Dealer reprogramming has not fixed it, and a GM bulletin calls the behavior normal. Other reports describe jerky shifts in gears 1 to 3 while slowing, like a clutch popping, starting from new at under 5,000 miles. One report describes the car shutting off while driving and refusing to go into gear, with a battery warning. That means a sudden loss of power in traffic.
Phantom braking is the main complaint. The car brakes on its own at various speeds with no real hazard ahead, starting at around 3,000 miles, and dealers have not been able to reproduce it. On the freeway, the system has braked all the way to a stop when the car ahead only slowed. It would not let the driver keep going until the car had fully stopped. A sudden stop like that at highway speed creates a real risk of being rear-ended by traffic behind.
All sound from the infotainment system can cut out at startup even though the screen stays on. The turn-signal clicking goes silent at the same time, and the auto stop feature may stop working too. A manual system reboot brings everything back, but the fault has returned on separate days. In another report, the turn signal fails to cancel after a left turn. Losing turn-signal sounds and cancellation is flagged as a safety concern while driving.
Excerpts from complaints XT4 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The vehicle's transmission does not shift smoothly in the lower gears (1-3) when decelerating. It feels like a clutch is popping and the vehicle 'jerks' when this occurs. This began to occur immediately after purchase and continues to do so today. The vehicle was returned twice to the dealer for warranty service and they stated it was operating as designed. The vehicle currently has less than 5,000 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
Vehicle is equipped with a 9 speed automatic transmission that will not engage (even after dealer re-program/re-learn). Transmission must either be manually shifted to 9th gear by paddle shifter or shifted to manual mode and quickly back to auto for it to shift to 9th gear (fuel efficiency affected). Report twice to dealer with no concern for repair. Incident happens at every use of the vehicle (infrequent times it does work (shifts to 9th on its own)).
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Driving on freeway, vehicle in front slowed down and my vehicle detected vehicle in front slowing down only slowed, not stopping), so my vehicle immediately braked to a stop on the freeway. Concern vehicles behind me of rear end collision. Vehicle would not allow me to proceed until until my vehicle was at a complete stop. Very dangerous as this could cause injury or death by other drivers not able to react to sudden stop.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Started vehicle in morning and no sound from the infotainment system (even if radio screen is on). Noticed turn indicators sound no longer functioned as well as I believe auto stop function also became non-functional. Safety concern while driving. Had to reset by performing a system re-set/re-boot myself to make everything work again. This issue occurred 2 times in 2 seperate days.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks joint fourth 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.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the fifth model year of the XT4's first generation (2019 on).
Cadillac updated the XT4 for 2024, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2023)
Cars shoppers compare with the Cadillac XT4, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
