Is Cadillac reliable?
34% of the 64 Cadillacs we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, averaging 54/100 — they tend to be in noticeably worse shape than average.
#24 of 24
Longevity rank#1 Tesla holds up to ~197k~75k
Trouble-free mileageacross all body styles64
Cadillacs inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections54/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/100Based on 64 used Cadillacs we inspected, they tend to be in noticeably worse shape than average — average condition 54/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
56%
Oil leaks · Engine
55%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
44%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
34%
Dirty or low engine oil · Engine
23%
Share of inspected Cadillacs where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 14%
Good 20%
Mediocre 36%
Poor 30%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on Cadillacs.
70%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 75%
5%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
23%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%
Compare with another brand:
Cross-shopping? Cadillac vs BMW · Cadillac vs Lexus · Cadillac vs Mercedes
How long does a Cadillac last?
Across every Cadillac body style we've inspected — sedans, SUVs and anything else pooled together — the average one's condition dips below decent (a 55/100 score) around ~75k miles. It ranks Cadillac #24 of 24 brands we have enough data to rate; the longest-lasting, Tesla, holds up to ~197k. Shopping a Cadillac near that mileage? Expect more wear ahead — see which makes give the best odds at your budget.
Good cars by mileage
Good cars by age
Share of Cadillacs in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.
Cadillac models we've inspected
Escalade
17 cars · profile soon
CTS
12 cars · profile soon
Recently inspected:
2024 Cadillac Escalade · 2k mi — flagged: fuel trim out of range, engine control module. Inspected Sep 22.
2023 Cadillac Lyriq · 36k mi — flagged: drive motor control module, battery energy control module. Inspected Sep 19.
The bottom line
Cadillac shopping comes down to the engine and the odometer. Fuel trim is out of range on 56 percent of these cars and oil leaks are nearly as common, so start under the hood and with a scan before you talk money. They rank last for holding up, typically dropping below decent around 75,000 miles, so anything near that mileage is a walk unless an inspection is unusually clean. Use tired rubber to chip the price; walk if you find oil leaks or fuel-trim trouble.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems with a used Cadillac?
Across the Cadillacs we inspected, the items we flag most often are fuel trim out of range (56%), oil leaks (55%), active error codes (44%).
Thinking of buying a Cadillac? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 64 inspections · updated Oct 1, 2026
