Home · 2019 Cadillac XT4 · Complaints

What 20 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Cadillac XT4

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (20)Crash / fire / injury (1)Engine (10)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Lights (4)Electrical system (3)Fuel system (2)Brakes (1)Speed control (1)Suspension (1)

6 of 20 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Jul 3, 2026Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

I took my suv in for diagnostics to a certified GM dealership at least twice while still under warranty. The check engine light was on, the car was behaving abnormally as well as making unusual concerning noises. The dealership sent me away saying no codes showed up and they couldn’t find a problem.The light would come on and off sporadically. I took screen shots of my dashboard every time the light came on. Within months of my warranty expiring xI was traveling to IL 1.5 hours from home on I-90 during heavy traffic. Suddenly the dashboard provided extensive messages ex: engine overheating, idle engine, etc and I could not get the rpm’s over 68, then 65; then 60; then 58 etc. I pulled over to let the engine cool on the side of a four lane bumper to bumper interstate environment alone. I had to have the car towed back from Elgin on my dime and took it into the same dealership where this time I spent 1700 on what I recall being told “engine coolant repair” as they claim small leak. Less than a month later the check engine light came back on so I took it back to the dealership. My Cadillac app was registering the same alertmas before the fix : engine coolant system. Dealership said it was a blown head gasket (something about cyl 1) sep from what they worked on for the 1700 and ate wanting over 3700 for this repair. My car was I believe months out of manufacturer warranty though I complained multiple times of concerns and because it is a “separate” issue from May repair and no year warranty from them either . 7 day wait for replacement part alone. I had car towed directly from dealership it was at to a mom n pop auto repair center in town awaiting full diagnostics, preserving “evidence” I learned online my particular suv (2019 Cadillac xt4 premium luxury) is known to have engine and other issues that don’t register codes and likely over 90% chance related to misdiagnosis or a band aid repair. *i have screenshots of dash, “my caddy”app alerts, etc*

NHTSA ODI 11748115

Nov 18, 2024Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

In September, my vehicle would not start. I had it boosted and it started right up. The very same afternoon , it would not start and had it boosted. Drove it for 2 days without issue and on day 3 it would not start and boosting was unsuccessful. The vehicle could not be put in neutral and needed to be towed. The car spent several weeks at the dealer and I was told it was the battery which I replaced the key FOBS needed to be reprogrammed and then the wiring harness was chewed up. After several weeks at the show and over $1,000 later the car was returned. A month or so later , the car wouldn’t start, could not get boosted and had to be towed back to the dealership. After 2.5 weeks , I was told it was corrosion on the wiring harness. I’m concerned that these issues will persist and I could end up stalling in the middle of the highway, Vehicle only has 31,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11625976

Nov 15, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

Toward the end of October 2024, my truck's check engine light came on. I took the vehicle to the dealership to have the oil changed. Two days later, the engine said, "Engine power reduced," so I took it to a repair shop, and they diagnosed the timing chain. I took it to another repair shop for a second opinion, and they also diagnosed the timing chain.

NHTSA ODI 11625489

Nov 21, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

The throttle and accelerator pedal is very HOT- highly sensitive, resulting in jerky lunging upon start off in 1st gear from a dead or 1 mph stop. The vehicle has been into the dealer 2 times for this issue with the same repair comments, vehicle meets all factory specs and all XT 4 react this way- well that's not safe. If that's the case, then this is a design defect which is unsafe as the accelerator pedal reacts to quickly with a non-smooth action and lunging which could cause a rear end collision. Other car evaluators have also indicated the XT6 has a jerky accelerator, just like what I am reporting. It may be the TPS -Throttle Position sensor in combination with the APS-Accelerator Position sensor. Sometimes it is so violent it throws occupants backward into the seats. Dealer says within spec. GM needs to solve this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11556357

Jan 9, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Mil lamp illuminated, lost power and transmission would not shift while underway in traffic

NHTSA ODI 11500769

Jan 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR SHUTTERING/BUCKING DURING ACCELERATION FROM STOP AND AT STEADY HIGHWAY SPEED. TACHOMETER SHOWED APPROX THREE HUNDRED RPM FLUCTUATION AT STEADY SPEED. DEALER STATED CAR HAS LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION FROM TRANS COOLER CAUSING FIALURE OF TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11170274

Working with the data? Download all 20 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 12, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 Cadillac XT4 verdict →