Cadillac brand vehicles ranked near the top in the recently published J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study or VDS, tied for fifth place with fellow GM brand Chevrolet with 169 problems per hundred units (PP100).
Notably, the VDS looks at the reliability of vehicles purchased new three years ago, meaning the focus is on 2022 model-year Cadillac units and those from other manufacturers.
Looking only at premium brands, Cadillac was in second place with its 169 PP100 rating, behind Lexus with a 140 PP100 rating and ahead of third-place Porsche with 186 problems per hundred vehicles. The study average for the whole U.S. auto market was 202 problems, meaning that Cadillac vehicles have far less problems than the typical vehicle in the study.
Turning to individual models, two of the GM premium brand’s vehicles achieved top rating in their segments. The Cadillac XT5 crossover was in the top three “Midsize Premium SUV” contenders as one of the most reliable. Meanwhile, the Cadillac XT6 took first place for dependability in the “Upper Midsize Premium SUV” category.
The brand performed much better in the 2025 VDS than it did in the 2024 study, when 2021 model-year vehicles were evaluated for reliability. In 2024, the industry average was 190 problems per 100 vehicles, while Cadillac had a whopping 196 PP100, putting it below average. This contrasts with 2023, when the industry average was 186 PP100 and Cadillac had a score of 173 problems, putting it above average though in twelfth place overall.
The study asked 34,175 owners of 2022 model-year vehicles about the problems experienced in nine different areas, including powertrain, seating, climate control, driving experience, driving assistance, features, exterior, infotainment and interior. Many reported problems related to software and electronic device integration.
Jason Norton, J.D. Power benchmarking director, noted that when it comes to the 2022 model-year vehicles looked at in the study, “supply chain issues, record-high vehicle prices, and personnel disruption in the wake of the pandemic were problematic” at the time of their production.
As a result, Norton says, “it’s important to remember that today’s three-year-old vehicles were built during a time when the industry was grappling with major disruptions,” which makes Cadillac’s good performance in the VDS even more impressive.
Comments
GMs divisions fared well in this survey because it was based on 2022 models and GM had few new ones that year. But since then, it has introed a lot and say goodbye to these scores.
Years ago the auto writers said that the Pontiac Grand Prix was a terrible choice. So I bought one.
15 years, 263K, and a haunted transmission later, I got rid of it with rust up to the door handles. Best car I’ve ever owned.
That 3800 series V6 was one of the best.
I think this is awesome. Especially seeing how this is post covid and the whole chip shortage debacle. New the 2021 Tahoe Escalade and yukons were all new products and they straightened everything up the following year. Big ups to GM especially seeing how all of their brands made it above average.
Well, the L87s NEED TO BE RECALLED!