Cadillac CT4 A2XX
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The Cadillac CT4 (from 2020) is Cadillac's compact sport sedan on the Alpha 2 platform — successor to the ATS and America's answer to the BMW 3 Series. What the CT4 has over its German rivals: more power per dollar, rear-wheel drive as standard, and with the Blackwing, one of the last manual performance sedans ever built.
The base engine: The LSY 2.0L turbo (170 kW / 237 hp) is the volume engine — adequate but unrefined. Vibrations and engine noise are clearly noticeable, and it feels rougher than comparable BMW/Mercedes four-cylinders. Known issue: valve lash adjuster ticking from manufacturing debris (GM Bulletin PIP6101A, 16–17 hours labor). Carbon buildup on intake valves around 100,000 miles (direct injection).
The hidden gem: The L3B 2.7L turbo (231 kW / 314 hp) in the CT4-V delivers serious power from an engine originally developed for trucks. Early builds (2020–2022) had head gasket issues around 30,000 miles — largely resolved in later production. High-pressure fuel pump and oil consumption from piston rings as maintenance points.
The legend: The LF4 3.6L twin-turbo V6 (352 kW / 472 hp) in the CT4-V Blackwing is the star. Hand-assembled, virtually indestructible at stock power. Limits only appear above 525 RWHP on tuned builds (oil cooling, rod bearings). Production ending June 2026 makes the Blackwing a collector's item — especially with the Tremec manual.
The 10-speed transmission: The 10L80 automatic has a critical recall (25V148000, ~90,000 vehicles, model years 2020–2021). The control valve is made from excessively soft metal and wears prematurely — harsh shifts up to momentary front wheel lockup. GM's fix caps the transmission to 5 gears via software. Check recall status on every 2020/2021 model.
Whole car: Parasitic battery drain (2020–2022, bulletin PIT5817A). Infotainment screen can go black or freeze. On the Blackwing: 2nd gear on the Tremec manual occasionally notchy (synchro rings) — test specifically during the test drive. Build quality on Blackwings varies (wiring harness shorts, turbo squealing, paint orange peel).
Test-drive checklist: 10-speed: does it shift cleanly through all gears? LSY: ticking at warm idle? Blackwing manual: test 2nd gear cold and warm. Infotainment: does the screen boot on startup? Check battery charge after sitting.
Market 2026: CT4 base from $25,000, CT4-V from $32,000, Blackwing from $55,000 (manual premium significant). Insider pick: CT4-V Blackwing manual, model year 2023+, under 30,000 miles — the LF4 is bulletproof, the manual transmission drives residual value, and production ends soon.
472 PS
CT4-V Blackwing · Benzin
Last manual V6 sedan
Legendary!314–329 PS
2.7L Turbo I4 Benzin
5 weaknesses
Good ChoiceEngine Overview
The Cadillac CT4 A2XX is available with 3 engine variants — from 231 to 479 hp.
2.0L turbo four with TriPower variable valve lift and cylinder deactivation. 228 hp, 258 lb-ft from 1,500 rpm. Adequate power for the compact SUV class, though not thrilling in the luxury context. Dexos1 oil with short change intervals (max 5,000 miles) is mandatory. Active thermal management with electronic coolant valves — these fail first. Intake valve carbon buildup from 60k miles due to direct injection only. Thrust bearing wear rare but catastrophic when it occurs.
- !! Thrust bearing wear — crank walk (LSY) from 80,000 km
Rare but catastrophic: crankshaft thrust bearing wears, crank walks axially. Engine replacement required. $7,000-$11,000.
Symptoms: Metallic clicking at idle, clutch engagement inconsistent, oil pressure fluctuates - !! Thermal management valve failure (LSY) from 50,000 km
Active coolant circuit valves fail under 50,000 miles. Codes P00B7 and P2681 in fault memory. Can cause overheating if ignored.
Symptoms: Check engine P00B7/P2681, temp rises sporadically, cooling fan runs constantly - !! High-pressure fuel pump failure (LSY) from 120,000 km
The HPFP can fail past 120k miles. Extended crank times, rough idle, P0087/P0089 codes.
Symptoms: Long crank time, rough idle, power loss under load
+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
2.7L turbo four, aluminum block, direct injection only — GM's modern answer to high torque demands. 314-329 hp depending on variant. Feels like a small V8 until the revs climb and the four-cylinder character shows. Head gasket failures on 2019-2022 early production under 25k miles, warranty-covered. Post-2022 units significantly more reliable. Turbo bearings sensitive to oil quality — Dexos-spec oil only.
- !! Head Gasket on Early Models (2019-2022) from 30,000 km
Head gasket fails on early L3B under 25k miles. Covered under warranty.
Symptoms: White smoke, overheating, milky oil - !! Turbo Bearing Wear from 80,000 km
Poor oil quality or extended intervals destroy turbo bearings.
Symptoms: Turbo lag, whine, blue smoke, power loss - !! Injector failure (ECM update available 2019-2022) from 80,000 km
Fuel injectors wear or fail — incorrect ECM programming (2019-2022) causes wrong injection quantity. Service Update N242450631 available as free fix.
Symptoms: Rough idle, misfires, poor fuel economy, check engine light
+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.6L twin-turbo V6, 472 hp, hand-assembled with titanium rods (manual only — automatics get steel). Stock internals handle the rated power all day. Spark plugs need dielectric grease on the coil boots or carbon tracking causes misfires under load. Mitsubishi TD04L6 turbos are good for ~640 whp before hitting airflow limits. Oil temps stay civilized on the street but climb past 250°F at track pace — switch to 5W-50 for track days. Beyond 525 RWHP the oil cooling system becomes the bottleneck.
- ! Spark plug carbon tracking from 25,000 km
Carbon deposits bridge the spark plug insulator, causing misfires under boost. Dielectric grease on coil boot connectors and correct torque (8-14 ft-lbs) prevent recurrence.
Symptoms: Misfire under wide-open throttle, check engine light with cylinder-specific codes, rough running at high RPM - ! Turbo squeal on acceleration from 20,000 km
Left-side Mitsubishi TD04L6 turbo develops a squeak or squelch noise on acceleration once the engine is warm. Warranty turbo replacement documented.
Symptoms: Audible squeak or squelching sound during acceleration, more pronounced once engine reaches operating temperature
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Recall: Curtain Airbag (2020-2022) Curtain airbags may not deploy correctly in a crash — mounting points defective. Recall with free rework. | Low | |
| Recall: 10-Speed Control Valve (2020-2021) Control valve body in 10-speed transmission can select wrong gear — recall for 2020-2021 models. | Low |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 17 weaknesses have been documented for the Cadillac CT4 A2XX (2020–2025) — 11 engine-related and 6 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Other, Electronics, Gearbox. Considered reliable: L3B (2.7L Turbo I4), LF4 (3.6L Twin-Turbo V6).
CT4 (LSY, 2020–2025) — Be Careful: Thrust bearing wear — crank walk (LSY), Thermal management valve failure (LSY), High-pressure fuel pump failure (LSY). Power: 228 PS.
What to watch out for with the Cadillac CT4? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Cadillac CT4 A2XX have? +
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee