CadillacELR2016Overview/cadillac/elr/2016/base/

2016 Cadillac ELR

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 ELR.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

As a passenger car equipped with an automatic transmission utilizing variable gear ratios, the 2016 Cadillac ELR relies on an engine requiring 3.7 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 viscosity oil for proper maintenance. Within the model's reliability history, this year sits as a remarkably stable point, recording zero recalls and only four total owner complaints—with the air bags being the top reported issue. For researchers, this minimal friction means the 2016 ELR represents a largely trouble-free iteration of the vehicle, unburdened by widespread mechanical or regulatory concerns.

Model year201620152014

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · verified
EPA efficiency31/33/32 MPGeEPA · verified
EPA electric range340 miEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI LN1 · 520 CCA battery, OE oil filter 55352643. 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 LN1 · 520 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245/40R20OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter55352643
Engine air filter20871244
Spark plug12681655
Battery88866188
Front wiper blades23184313 alt 23184314
Serpentine belt55569329
Thermostat55565619 alt 55561627
Cabin air filter13271190

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length185.8 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight4070 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.6 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 33 / 32 MPGe
Electric range340 mi
Charge time (240V)5.0 hr
Electric motor55 and 174kW 3-Phase AC
Energy use39.0 kWh/100mi
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

7.3–9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2014 Hybrid Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2014Hybrid Coupe 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16.5-kWh7.30 sec15.80 sec207 hpFWD
2014Hybrid Coupe 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16.5-kWh7.80 sec16.20 sec207 hpFWD
2014Hybrid Coupe 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16.5-kWh8.10 sec16.50 sec207 hpFWD
2014Hybrid Coupe 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16.5-kWh8.30 sec16.50 sec207 hpFWD
2014Hybrid Coupe (EV Mode) 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16.5-kWh9.00 sec17.00 sec207 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 10.3 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON(R)-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.0-7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity0.95-1.15
Engine Coolant Capacity7.7 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · SAE 5W · synthetic · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering FluidEPAS

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.3 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs71.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.10 lbs
Standard BCI Group NumberLN1
Standard BCI Cranking Performance520 cca

Service checks

Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 21; Rear: 21 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 111; Rear: 74 /; Front: 111; Rear: 74
ABS Sensor Torque7.3 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.078; Rear: 0.078 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementRear: .393 /; Front: 0.905; Rear: 0.393
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishRear: .402 /; Front: 0.913; Rear: 0.402
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs, Step 2: 4518 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 97,500 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) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Life Monitor (inspect)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · 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 2016 Cadillac ELR shows a dramatic improvement over the 2014 model year: complaints dropped from 17 to just 4, recalls fell from 2 to 0, and TSBs decreased from 1,632 to 1,049. The few complaints in 2016 are concentrated in the air bag system (three reports) and one combined air bag/seat issue, with no crash or fire incidents reported. This marks a clear trend of the model maturing and resolving early-production problems, as the 2014 year carried the bulk of issues. The 2016 falls at the tail end of the generation, where the federal record indicates the vehicle has been substantially refined. Based solely on the data provided, the 2016 Cadillac ELR is a strong buy for this generation, offering significantly lower risk of complaints and recalls than its predecessor.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1049
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Air Bags3
Air Bags,Seats1

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 1049 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…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

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 ELR. 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 2016 ELR take?

3.7 qt of 5W-30 meeting GM Dexos 1 specification or equivalent. Where temperatures fall below -20 degreesF, GM recommends using either an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an SAN 0W-30 oil., per the factory manual.

Does the 2016 ELR have open recalls?

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

What is the EPA range and efficiency of the ELR?

EPA figures are 31 city / 33 highway / 32 combined MPGe. EPA electric range is 340 miles.