Cadillac has been ranked last among all major automotive brands in Consumer Reports’ 2019 Auto Reliability Survey.
This annual Consumer Reports survey ranks brands using data acquired via Consumer Reports members. This year, the company gathered data on 420,000 different vehicles spanning the 2000 to 2019 model years, with members able to report vehicle problems across 17 “trouble areas” such as engine, transmissions and in-car electronics. Consumer Reports then uses this data to calculate a “reliability rating” for every major mainstream brand and vehicle. It also calculates predicted reliability for 2020 model year vehicles using data for that model’s overall reliability for the past three years. If the model has been redesigned for 2020, data from the brand’s reliability history and models that the new vehicle shares components with is used to make a prediction.
Cadillac was ranked 30th (or last) in the survey, behind Fiat Chrysler’s Alfa Romeo luxury brand and Honda’s Acura luxury brand. This is a stark contrast to Toyota’s Lexus luxury brand, which topped the survey overall. Porsche, along with Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, also performed well, coming in fourth and fifth overall. Compared to these front-running brands, other luxury brands performed only average, with Lincoln 15th, BMW 17th, Mercedes-Benz 21st and Volvo 24th.
While Consumer Reports did not provide precise insights into what kind of problems plagued Cadillac models, the company did note that major redesigns have a clear negative affect on vehicle reliability. “In general, we found that it can take automakers two to three years—or even longer—to address problems in newly redesigned models,” Consumer reports said.
Cadillac has been rolling out all-new and redesigned models in recent years, which may have had an impact on its ranking. Additionally, because new luxury cars are packed with technology, they may be more prone to experiencing problems related to in-car technology and safety technology than a mainstream car with less content. Lexus managed to break the mould and come out on top, along with Porsche and Genesis, but other luxury brands struggled in the survey.
Cadillac has not yet released a statement addressing its poor performance in the 2019 Consumer Auto Reliability survey.
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Douglas Hunt
Got rid of Cadillac xts with 42000 miles leaking magnetic shocks…again CUE system failure $1050.00 not covered repeat Cadillac customer no longer smarten up GM..
Lawrence Avila
Yes, my shocks leaked about that time too. And the CUE system, while mine has worked ok, is still the worst ever operationally! I do some of my best swearing whenever I try to use the navigation system.
Lawrence Avila
To be fair, the brake system is the best ever. I’ve got over 84k miles on my XTS and have yet to service the brakes!
CC
I owned three CTS models: 2006, 2010 and 2015. I have never had a single problem with any of the three models. The regular oil changes were covered by Cadillac. In other words, I spent zero dollars on maintaining my cars in 13 years.
HP
I have had the same experience with my five previous Cadillacs..including 3 CTS’s….currently a 2015. No significant defects and negligible repairs.
Arthur A Arcuri
Have owned a 2009 CTS, 2012 CTS and a 2011 SRX and never had any real issues with any of these cars. I tend to discount the accuracy of consumer reports when it comes to American cars either they are biased or their fact finding is flawed.
Craig Sharpe
I bought my 2014 Cadillac SRX used. When the CUE system died, the dealership only charged me $50.00 to replace it. Though my SRX is only a base model with no bells & whistles, I’m happy with it.
Craig Sharpe
I’ve been subscribing to Consumer Reports for several years. CR always bashes American cars. I don’t agree with their ratings on a lot of products. Some products that I like, they give bad reviews. The same goes for other products.
Ducky Root
I wa# a CR member for 36 years. Got tired of their Toyota love, so got rid of them. I’ve owned 3 Cadillacs. Never one problem with any of the 3. Our Camry spent more time in the shop than on the road. I’m done withToyota!!!
george
I dont understand how they can call a report from vehicles from 2000-2019 an annual report. Am i missing something? it seems like there could be a lot of variance in vehicles which have been released over a span of two decades.
Don
I would like to know if there is a aftermarket CD Changer
that I could install in my 2019 CTS V Sport. I love this automobile except for the lack of a CD Player.
Chuck Carter
I have a 18 Nobel xts its needed a front end work all the sensors have failed it only has 22000 miles on it next time it will be a lexus
Ron Buchan
This is not a surprise to me. I have owned a 2006, 2008, 2012 & currently a 2016 and Consumers have never to my recollection ever rated the crsssover as a Recommended Buy. Never seen a good rating. It never seems to bother GM and I wonder WHY’. It does bother me.
Xjug
No one ever accused Lexus or Porsche of being run by bean counters but GM, absolutely. I’ve read a few responses on GM Authority that poo-poo this as CRs “opinion” but it’s not. While I’m not a big fan of CR they’ve done “some” research and this is the result. GM should be fortifying this brand with everything they’ve got but they’re simply not and not giving luxury buyers a reason to switch/conquest. While Cadillac sold more cars recently that “ought” to happen when you go from 4 products to 6, but what would it have been if the vehicles were really break through high value and gorgeous? Genesis is going to find out because that’s what they’re delivering (not fully gorgeous but nicely styled)
GMs reputation is not great and imo certainly not improving. I predict a Chinese company takes GM in the next 20 years and turns it into the powerhouse it ought to be.
Frank Ricciardi
I bought my first Cadillac in 1980, a brand new Coupe DeVille and have bought or leased 16 more since, including a 1988 Allante. I currently have a 2017 CTS 3.6 Luxury Sedan and a 2017 XT5 Platinum Edition. I have loved and enjoyed every one of my Cadillacs and intend to lease a few more before I die. I will be be replacing my CTS with a CT5 early next year and my XT5 with another XT5 in September. I believe Cadillacs are an excellent value. Problems are few and far between.
Raymond Ramirez
Consumer Reports only use information from their subscribers, and most luxury drivers never read or subscribe to it. That is why it is “import heavy” because they get many positive reviews from cheap import owners (pun intended). I am a GM owner since 1975 and none of my vehicles (up to 26 years of ownership) have given me problems.
HANS LIEBSCHER
I have the same experience, no problems with any of my vehicles.
RJ
Yes but it is not based on number of reviews, it is the percentage of positive or negative reviews. I think it is more of a “bandwagon” love fest that toyota fan boys/girls “like” to positively respond because there is this foreign car fan mentality and false assumption that American cars are crap.
Paul
Well this news certainly sucks. Thing is though that most of this is spotty hit and miss types of issues where some have no issues and others are plagued with the.
Craig
I agree. I’ve had some great GM cars (Especially those from the late 1980’s and a 2000 Chevy minivan), and I’ve had some lemons from the late 60’s and 70’s and a Chevy Citation, which was nightmare. I’ve only had my 2014 SRX for three years. I had the CUE system replaced by the dealership, and they only charged me $50.00. Hopefully I won’t have any major issues with this car before I sell it.
Ernest R Cassell
How does Cadillac expect to compete with other luxury brands by finishing dead last? Time for a new CEO? GM will soon find itself uncompetitive.
ANTHONY N PANZICA SR
I just picked up my Cadillac CT6V 2019 on Nov 25 2019
It is the nicest and fastest car I have ever driven
I have #33 out of 500 total made for 2019
The color black raven in this case looks great
I now have 4 Cadillac’s
I have a pearl white 2002 Escalade that has 237,000 thousand miles
I have a black raven 2002 Escalade that has 330,000 miles
I have a black raven 2004 DHS with $195,000