2021 Cadillac CT4: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
7 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 7 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 1.4
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Check engine light for P1467 on a 2021 CT4 V. This is for a "purge pump underspeed" issue. The issue is known on CT4 Cadillacs and has an active recall out: N242441120 Evaporative Emissions Purge Pump. This recall is only for the 2.0, LSY engines, but the much more uncommon 2.7, L3B engine in my car uses the same part # for the purge pump. It feels as though they are intentionally ignoring an equal emissions issue, …
There is a known issue with hesitation and hard shifting on my vehicle. According to the gm bulletin that was released I believe in may of 25 my year, make and model has a known issue where the transmission control valve may stick or wear causing jerking and shifting issues and could cause a possible crash. According to the bulletin by gm the fix is to replace the valve cover on the transmission. My vehicle is curren…
valve body failed and was supposedly repaired. I had the car 1 day and valve body failed again. My car has been in the shop since November 4, 2024 with no estimated time of repair because no parts are available. I was told they would replace the transmission. That has not happened yet. No parts available. My car has been disable for 6 months.
Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 21V611000 | Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain | General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. |
| 25V148000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up. |
| 22V903000 | Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control Module:Software | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. |
| 21V421000 | Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 25 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine3 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System2 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Vehicle Speed Control1 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Power Train1 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Suspension1 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
- Steering1 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Cadillac CT4 years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Cadillac CT4?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (3 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Cadillac CT4 a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 83/100, computed from 7 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Cadillac CT4's most common problem?
3 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Cadillac CT4 sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Cadillac CT4 cost to run per year?
About $4,496 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,480 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Cadillac CT4 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Cadillac CT4, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 05/08/2021. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Cadillac CT4 really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 7 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 7 NHTSA complaints on record (1.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (1.4/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality