CadillacCTS2019Overview/cadillac/cts/2019/base/

2019 Cadillac CTS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 CTS.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2019 Cadillac CTS is a passenger car utilizing 5.0 quarts of GM Dexos 1 Oil or an equivalent viscosity. This model year is characterized by zero recalls and 10 total owner complaints, with the power train listed as the top complaint area. Within the model's history from 2003 to 2019, the 2019 iteration reflects a significant improvement in stability compared to the 2003 model, which saw a peak of 321 complaints.

Model year201920182017201620132012201120102009

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil typeUse GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalentOEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI start Stop: 94R AGM VRLA battery is required. Battery is vented to the outside of the vehicle. · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI start Stop: 94R AGM VRLA battery is required. Battery is vented to the outside of the vehicle. · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245/45RF17 95VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742 alt 25206377
Engine air filter20857930 alt 22844634
Spark plug12662396 alt 12642722
Battery88864542
Front wiper blades84017838 alt 84017839
Serpentine belt12643219 alt 12664598
Thermostat12582472 alt 12630780
Cabin air filter13508023

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length195.7 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase114.6 in
Curb weight3777 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the CTS of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.4–7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.40 sec — 2014 Vsport Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2017V-Sport Premium Luxury Sedan 3.6L Twin-Turbo V64.50 sec12.90 sec420 hpRWD
2017Premium Luxury 3.6 Sedan 3.6L V65.70 sec14.20 sec335 hpRWD
2016V-Sport Premium Sedan 3.6L Twin-Turbo V64.70 sec13.10 sec420 hpRWD
2016Premium 2.0T Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-45.80 sec14.50 sec272 hpAWD
2014Vsport Sedan 3.6L Twin-Turbo V64.40 sec12.90 sec420 hpRWD
2014Vsport Sedan 3.6L Twin-Turbo V64.40 sec12.80 sec420 hpRWD
2014Vsport Sedan 3.6L Twin-Turbo V64.50 sec13.00 sec420 hpRWD
2014Vsport Sedan 3.6L Twin-Turbo V64.60 sec13.10 sec420 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidUse Dexron HP
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-7.4
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine Coolant Capacity9.3
Engine Coolant Capacity13.8
Engine Coolant Capacity10.6

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse New Cylinder Head Bolts.
Engine Flywheel Bolts49 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts43 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub185.0 Do not re-use old hub nut. ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub185.0 Do not re-use old hub nut. ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.035 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50.0-94.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50.0-94.0

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 24.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 27.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.787 in; Rear: 0.787 in
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 110°.18 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 18 ft. lbs., Step 4: 110°.22 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 85°.15 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 150 degrees.74 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts

159.0 ft. lbs.59 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3With internal hex style bolts40 degrees
4Except internal hex style bolts60 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2190 degrees190 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts

1M11 bolts22 ft. lbs
2M11 bolts150 degrees
3M8 bolts11 ft. lbs
4M8 bolts75 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts

1M11 bolts44 ft. lbs
2M11 bolts185 degrees
3M8 bolts11 ft. lbs
4M8 bolts75 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 190°.22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M11 Bolts22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M11 Bolts44 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
159 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90°, Step 3: With Internal Hex Style Bolts: Turn 40°, Step 4: Except Internal Hex Style Bolt: Turn 60°.59 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22 ft. lbs., Step 3: 40°.15 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 80°.22 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°.22 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45°.11 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
18.8 ft. lbs.8.8 ft. lbs
28.8
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Lower Bolts7.4 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miWindshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2019 Cadillac CTS represents the lowest complaint year on record with only 10 complaints filed—matching the near-historic low of 8 in 2018—and notably, the only year in the entire dataset with zero recalls. This sits at the tail end of a consistent downward trend from 144 complaints in 2014 and 47 in 2015, indicating that by 2019 the third-generation CTS had largely resolved its earlier teething issues. The absence of any crash or fire complaints further underscores this model's stability in its final production year. With 827 TSBs still on file (down from 1,085 in 2018), the manufacturer continued addressing minor software and specification updates, but no safety-related issues triggered formal recalls. This makes the 2019 model year one of the most reliable iterations of the CTS generation, offering the benefit of proven reliability without the uncertainty of a brand-new redesign.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
827
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
10
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train2
Unknown Or Other2
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Power Train,Engine1
Steering1
Unknown Or Other,Back Over Prevention1
Electrical System,Seats,Engine1
Suspension,Wheels,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 827 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6425D2026-03-02Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…
PIT6425C2026-01-16Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific CTS. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2019 CTS take?

5.0 qt of Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 CTS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.