United States · NHTSA recalls & complaints
Cadillac VIN decoder
Cadillac is General Motors' luxury brand. Its 2026 range combines gasoline SUVs such as the Escalade and XT5, two sedans (the CT4 and CT5) and five electric models: the Optiq, Lyriq, Vistiq, Escalade IQ and the hand-built Celestiq, which GM assembles in Detroit.
Enter all 17 characters to see the build details NHTSA holds and the recalls for that model year.
- 33 model pages
- 197 recall campaigns
- 13,808 owner complaints
- model years 1995–2027
- 11 WMI codes in vPIC
- origin: United States
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Region | North America |
| NHTSA recall and complaint data | Yes, model years 1995–2027 |
| WMI codes in NHTSA vPIC | 11 |
| Model pages | 33 |
| Other model names in NHTSA data | 8 |
| Vehicle recall campaigns | 197 |
| Owner complaints | 13,808 |
| Complaints reporting a crash | 887 (6.4%) |
| Complaints reporting a fire | 277 (2.0%) |
| Complaints reporting an injury | 669 (4.8%) |
| Complaints reporting a death | 27 (0.2%) |
| Data updated | September 25, 2026 |
GM's VIN standard for model year 2026 shows how widely production is spread. The Escalade comes from Arlington, Texas; the XT5, Lyriq and Vistiq from Spring Hill, Tennessee; the Escalade IQ from Factory Zero in Detroit; the Optiq from Ramos Arizpe, Mexico; and the CT4 and CT5 from Lansing Grand River in Michigan. GM has said Lansing Grand River will retool for new products in December 2026, so the plant mix will keep changing. GM's VIN standards also cover incomplete Cadillacs built for hearse and limousine conversions, which carry their own WMI.
Every Cadillac from model year 1981 onward carries a 17-character VIN in the fixed format NHTSA has required since then. For Cadillacs built for North America, NHTSA's vPIC database usually decodes the body, engine, restraints and plant in detail. Cadillac follows the same GM VIN rules as Chevrolet, Buick and GMC.
NHTSA’s files hold 197 vehicle recall campaigns and 13,808 owner complaints for Cadillac vehicles from model years 1995 to 2027, summarised here on 33 model pages. The SRX has the most complaints (3,262), followed by the CTS (2,217) and the Deville (2,023). Of those complaints, 887 report a crash, 277 a fire, 669 at least one injury and 27 at least one death; the figures count complaints, not people.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 11 WMIs to Cadillac; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G6 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Passenger Car | – |
| 1GE | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 1GY | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| 2G6 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Canada | Passenger Car | – |
| 2GE | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Canada | Incomplete Vehicle | – |
| 3GG | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Mexico | Truck | – |
| 3GY | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Mexico | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | – |
| LRB | SHANGHAI GENERAL MOTORS CORP LTD. | China | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) | Buick |
| LRE | SHANGHAI GENERAL MOTORS CORP LTD. | China | Passenger Car | – |
| LSG | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Passenger Car | – |
Show the other 1 WMIHide the rest
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type | Also decoded as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W06 | ADAM OPEL AG | Germany | Passenger Car | Opel |
Some codes are shared across a manufacturer’s brands; the last column names the other brands in our catalog that vPIC links to the same code. See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Each model page lists NHTSA’s recall campaigns and owner complaints for that model name, by model year and component. Models are sorted by complaints; the data covers model years 1995–2027.
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRX | 2004–2019 | 24 | 3,262 |
| CTS | 2003–2019 | 27 | 2,217 |
| Deville | 1995–2005 | 17 | 2,023 |
| Escalade | 1999–2026 | 52 | 1,696 |
| Seville | 1995–2004 | 11 | 590 |
| Escalade ESV | 2003–2026 | 42 | 528 |
| DTS | 2004–2011 | 6 | 527 |
| Catera | 1997–2003 | – | 468 |
| STS | 1998–2011 | 7 | 430 |
| ATS | 2013–2019 | 11 | 380 |
| XT5 | 2017–2026 | 15 | 301 |
| XTS | 2013–2019 | 10 | 225 |
| Eldorado | 1995–2002 | 6 | 170 |
| Lyriq | 2023–2026 | 12 | 163 |
| XT4 | 2019–2025 | 8 | 106 |
| XT6 | 2020–2025 | 12 | 105 |
| CT5 | 2020–2026 | 6 | 104 |
| Escalade EXT | 2002–2013 | 16 | 92 |
| XLR | 2004–2009 | 4 | 80 |
| CT6 | 2016–2020 | 8 | 65 |
| Fleetwood | 1995–1998 | 5 | 39 |
| CT4 | 2020–2026 | 5 | 34 |
| CTS-V | 2004–2015 | 2 | 27 |
| SLS | 1999–2004 | 1 | 27 |
| Vistiq | 2026–2027 | 4 | 23 |
| ELR | 2014–2016 | 2 | 21 |
| Escalade NA | 2021 | 4 | 17 |
| Optiq | 2025–2026 | 2 | 16 |
| CT6 Plug-In Hybrid | 2017–2018 | 2 | 12 |
| Escalade IQ | 2025–2026 | 2 | 6 |
Show 3 more Cadillac modelsHide the other models
| Model | Model years | Recall campaigns | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limousine | 1995–2001 | 2 | 4 |
| Escalade IQL | 2026 | 2 | 3 |
| Hearse | 2000–2007 | 3 | – |
– means NHTSA has no records of that kind under the model name.
Other Cadillac models in NHTSA data
NHTSA also lists these Cadillac model names, but with no recall campaign and fewer than 25 complaints each, so they have no page of their own: Allante, ATS-V, Brougham, Escalade EXT 1500, Escalade Hybrid, K Series, Truck, V-Series.
Which WMI codes appear on Cadillac VINs?
Cadillac's WMI tells you the country of assembly and the vehicle type. In GM's 2026 standard, the third character 6 marks a Cadillac passenger car, Y a Cadillac MPV and E an incomplete Cadillac. GM's 2010 standard describes the incomplete 1GE vehicles as limousine, hearse and stretch livery chassis.
| WMI | Manufacturer (NHTSA vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1G6 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Passenger car |
| 2G6 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Canada | Passenger car |
| 1GY | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | MPV (SUV) |
| 3GY | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | Mexico | MPV (SUV) |
| 1GE | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | United States | Incomplete vehicle |
How are Cadillac sedan and SUV VINs laid out differently?
GM uses two layouts in its Part 565 VIN standard. Cadillac sedans (CT4, CT5, Celestiq) use the passenger-car layout: position 4 is the vehicle line, 5 the series, 6 the body style, 7 the restraint system and 8 the engine. Cadillac SUVs use the MPV and truck layout: position 4 combines GVWR, brake system and body style, 5 is the chassis, 6 the series, 7 the restraint system and 8 the engine. In both, position 9 is the check digit and 10 the model year.
Which plant codes do 2026 Cadillacs use?
| Model | WMI | Position 11 | Assembly plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| CT4 | 1G6 | 0 | Lansing Grand River, Michigan |
| CT5 | 1G6 | 0 or A | Lansing Grand River, or Artisan Center, Warren, Michigan |
| Celestiq | 1G6 | U | Artisan Center, Michigan |
| Escalade | 1GY | R | Arlington, Texas |
| XT5, Lyriq, Vistiq | 1GY | Z | Spring Hill, Tennessee |
| Escalade IQ | 1GY | U | Factory Zero, Detroit, Michigan |
| Optiq | 3GY | S | Ramos Arizpe, Mexico |
The same letter can point to different plants. In 2026, U means the Artisan Center on the Celestiq sedan but Factory Zero on the Escalade IQ, because GM assigns plant codes separately for passenger cars and for trucks and MPVs.
Why do some Cadillac VINs start with 3?
A Cadillac VIN beginning with 3 was built in Mexico. In GM's 2026 standard the Optiq carries WMI 3GY and plant code S for Ramos Arizpe. Cadillacs starting with 1 were built in the United States.
What does 1GE mean on a Cadillac VIN?
1GE is the WMI for incomplete Cadillac vehicles. GM's VIN standard for 2010 lists it for limousine, hearse and stretch livery chassis, which another company finishes after GM ships them.
Can I check Cadillac recalls with this decoder?
Yes, at the model level. The decoder shows recalls NHTSA has issued for your Cadillac's make, model and model year, using NHTSA's public data for US-market vehicles. For the open-recall status of one specific VIN, use NHTSA's VIN search or a Cadillac dealer. See recalls.
Will the VIN show a Cadillac's accident or title history?
No. The VIN encodes factory data such as plant, model year, body and engine. Accident, title and ownership records sit with state agencies and licensed history providers, which this site does not access.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, then other North American brands, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Chevrolet (172) United States · 751 recall campaigns
- Buick (20) United States · 170 recall campaigns
- GMC (102) United States · 434 recall campaigns
- Chrysler (37) United States · 208 recall campaigns
- Dodge (58) United States · 436 recall campaigns
- Ford (161) United States · 1,229 recall campaigns
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files and NHTSA vPIC, updated September 25, 2026.