2018 Cadillac XT5 Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

2018 Cadillac XT5

Every automaker has jumped on the bandwagon of creating SUVs for today’s consumer. One such model that stands out is the 2018 Cadillac XT5. The company is known for making luxury models and the newest lineup is said to be “undeniable.” Research shows that customers wish this SUV could be returned because of a defective powertrain, poorly built structure and malfunctioning engine.

Click on other model year to view more problems:  2017  2019

Problems with the Transmission

The main part of the powertrain is the transmission. To use this vital system correctly, the vehicle must have a properly-functioning gear shift, but that’s not what’s found with the 2018 Cadillac XT5.

Just look at this Edmunds review. “Having the Cadillac name I was expecting a quality vehicle. What I found was disappointing. During my first drive I found that the hidden shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel will shift the transmission with it set to “Drive” or “Manual”. I accidentally touched the down shift side on the freeway suddenly finding myself in a much lower gear than I needed with traffic behind me making emergency moves to miss the suddenly slowing Cadillac. That was just he first of many issues. Next was the cruise control. If you gently touch the cruise + side you accelerate 1 mile an hour per touch, like every other cruise control I’ve used. But with this one hit a bump as you press the button or push a little too hard it adds 5 miles an hour. With traffic around me traveling at 77+ mph and me at 76 I pushed the button to match the flow of traffic. I pushed it too hard and found myself doing 81 mph. A felony in Virginia. The next safety issue is with the windows that are another pressure sensitive issue. With a light touch the windows go up or down as you hold the button down. Press down with more pressure and the windows open completely. Not an issue my Lincoln does the same, but if you press or pull the switch up too far it also goes completely up by itself. This is a hazard for children whose fingers could be severed by the window. God forbid their head got caught in it.”

Sadly, the company doesn’t seem thrilled to discuss powertrain concerns. Of the many service bulletins, there is very little said about the transmission or the gear shifter. It appears that if the company makes no statement at all, then nothing can be denied, making this “undeniable.”

Problems with the Vehicle Structure

Cadillac vehicles are supposed to be built of the utmost quality. Otherwise, it’s nothing better than a Chevy. Again, this is one area that the automaker failed miserably with.

Another Edmunds reviewer states, “There is limited protection of the undercarriage components. A cheap little plastic vent tube to the fuel tank is exposed under the vehicle and subject to damage. THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED to replace the little plastic tube exposed to the bottom of the vehicle. There was no known event that caused this damage – it appears rolling over anything like a twig can cause the brittle plastic tube to snap. It has never been off road. I am on my first $750 repair to replace this tube. I could see that this could easily happen on a recurring basis.”

While this exact problem wasn’t discussed in the manufacturer communications, it seems odd that another instance came to light, which shows the unprofessionalism of the assembly process. Service Bulletin #TSB ID: 17NA271 states that technicians might need to clean off the back of the rotors and rims because there is a risk of wheel clicking from the way it was manufactured. Is the XT5 attempting to click its heels and go home like Dorothy? Who knows?

Problems with the Engine

Finally, it makes sense to look at the engine in the 2018 Cadillac XT5. After all, this vital component is what gives the SUV power.

One peek at another Edmunds review shows that this system isn’t much better. “The Cadillac XT5 has a start stop feature that cannot be turned off.   My car is 3 months old and has turned itself off and back on once and totally died while I was exiting a freeway.   I’m really unhappy with my new car.”

Furthermore, Service Bulletin #PIE0457 talks about how some vehicles are suffering from a no-start condition, trouble with repeated stalling or smoke coming from near the battery area. Does this sound like a model that’s hailed as “undeniable?” At this point, it makes much more sense that owners would want to deny this model entirely and hope for a return through the lemon laws.

Your Lemon Law Legal Rights

Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work aid your lemon at no cost to you. The law makes Cadillac pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.

About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

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