CadillacCT42020Overview/cadillac/ct4/2020/base/

2020 Cadillac CT4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 CT4.

The 2020 Cadillac CT4 is a model that employs a 0W‑20 API‑rated engine requiring 5.28 qt of oil. It records five total owner complaints, with service brakes as the most frequent issue and four recalls documented. Within the 2020‑2025 complaint history, the 2020 year sits near the lower end, peaking at seven complaints in 2021 before dropping to just two by 2025. Thus the 2020 model year shows a modest complaint volume compared with later years.

Model year2026202520242023202220212020

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.28 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 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 Battery is vented to the outside of the vehicle. AGM VRLA Battery is required. 94R · 800 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12727115. 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 Battery is vented to the outside of the vehicle. AGM VRLA Battery is required. 94R · 800 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire size225/45R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12727115
Engine air filter84498926
Spark plug55504354 alt 12688094
Battery88864542
Front wiper blades84574892 alt 84613732
Serpentine belt55488926 alt 12666589
Cabin air filter13356914 alt 13508023

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.4 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase109.4 in
Curb weight3578 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 61.8 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the CT4 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.7–5.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.70 sec — 2020 Premium Luxury 450T
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Premium Luxury 450T 2.7L Turbo I-44.70 sec13.40 sec309 hpAWD
2020Premium Luxury 450T 2.7L Turbo I-45.00 sec13.70 sec309 hpAWD
2020Premium Luxury 450T 2.7L Turbo I-45.10 sec13.50 sec309 hpRWD
2023Premium Luxury 350T 2.0L Turbo I-45.80 sec14.30 sec237 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.28 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, Synthetic · SAE 75W · SAE 75W · SAE 75W · SAE 75W in the differential, Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDexron® ULV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.1
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.4 qt
Brake FluidDot 4
Brake FluidDot 4
Brake Fluid Capacity.909 pt
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · SAE 75W · SAE 75W · SAE 75W · SAE 75W

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)6.25 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)6.25 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)6.25 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)6.6 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)11.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)6.6 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 37.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 37.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 37.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 37.0 ft-lbs
Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionFront: 22.0; Rear: 66.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug11.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug11.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.028–0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.025-.029 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca
Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-94
Engine Oil Pressure18.13
Engine Oil Pressure RPM19.58
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 111.0; Rear: 74.0
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 111.0; Rear: 74.0
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 7.0; Rear: 7.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.787; Rear: 0.787 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.063; Rear: 0.827
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.102; Rear: 0.866
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: 0.001; Rear: 0.001

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
126.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 40°-50°26 ft. lbs
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 15°-30°74 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 15°-30°74 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
137.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 28°37 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
143.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°43 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 75°18 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 110°18 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 140°111 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 11-1811 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 75°11 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 75°11 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
13.6 ft. lbs.3.6 ft. lbs
211.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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 Air Filter Element (inspect)
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 Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
Every 97,500 miTransfer 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 2020 Cadillac CT4 sits at the start of a downward trend in federal complaints, with 5 complaints that year compared to 7 in 2021 and 6 in 2022, before falling to 3 in 2023. Recall activity peaked at four in 2020 and 2021, then dropped to two in 2022 and one in 2023, indicating that issues were being addressed over time. Investigations remained steady at one in 2020 and 2021, then ceased altogether from 2022 onward, while Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) decreased from 882 in 2020 to 543 in 2023, showing a reduction in manufacturer‑issued fixes. The 2020 model’s top complaint areas—Service Brakes, Power Train/Engine/Fuel, Unknown/Other, and Engine—each appear only once, and there were no crash or fire complaints reported that year. Overall, the 2020 CT4 appears to be part of a generation where problems were being progressively resolved, making it a reasonably reliable option for a used purchase.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
882
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
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 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Service Brakes1
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Unknown Or Other1
Engine1
Air Bags1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V611000Air Bags:Side/Window:CurtainReported 05/08/2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment… Remedy: Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30…

20V588000Service BrakesReported 24/09/2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 882 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP61152026-05-20Unknown Or OtherThe document advise technicians after an engine repair involving removal of the camshaft…
PIT6215C2026-05-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to dealership technicians that if they…
PIT65112026-04-24Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates an issue with a replace or low FOB battery…
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…

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 CT4. 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 2020 CT4 take?

5.28 qt of 0W-20 API Meeting GM Dexos1 Gen 2 or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 CT4 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.