Which is more reliable, Cadillac or Ford?
Ford leads on our inspections: 58/100 average condition vs 54/100 for Cadillac, from 632 real pre-purchase inspections.
Ford leads on our inspections: 58/100 average condition vs 54/100 for Cadillac, from 632 real pre-purchase inspections. The average car we check scores 61/100.
Head to head
| Cadillac | Ford | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 66 | 566 |
| Average condition | 54/100 | 58/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 36% | 51% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~75k mi | ~127k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 70% | 70% |
| Structural repair found | 5% | 4% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 23% | 24% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Cadillac▬ Ford▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ Cadillac▬ Ford▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; a band under 20 cars follows the nearby bands, so a run above the all-cars line stays above it, and a band of 20 or more uses the rate we measured; where a band has too few cars, the line follows the trend between the bands on either side; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
56%
Oil leaks · Engine
53%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
42%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
35%
Dirty or low engine oil · Engine
23%
Oil leaks · Engine
57%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
38%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
30%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
30%
Oil leaks · Drivetrain
20%
Trajectory by generation
Cadillac
Not enough Cadillacs at the 5–10 year checkpoint yet to draw a generation trend.
Ford
▲ Newer Fords are holding up better
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
FAQ
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What are the most common problems with used Cadillacs and Fords?
On Cadillacs we flag fuel trim out of range (56%), oil leaks (53%), active error codes (42%). On Fords: oil leaks (57%), tires condition & wear (38%), fuel trim out of range (30%).
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How many Cadillac and Ford vehicles have you inspected?
66 Cadillacs and 566 Fords — 632 real pre-purchase inspections. Updated Oct 27, 2026.
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How long do Cadillacs and Fords stay in good shape?
In our data, the average Cadillac dips below “decent” around ~75k mi; Ford around ~127k mi. Individual cars vary — get the one you’re buying inspected.
Buying a used Cadillac or Ford? Get a pre-purchase inspection before you pay.
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Based on 632 inspections · updated Oct 27, 2026
