CadillacXT62021Overview/cadillac/xt6/2021/base/

2021 Cadillac XT6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 XT6.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 is the second model year in a 20202025 run and calls for 6.0 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 engine oil. It has accumulated 18 owner complaints and two recalls, with Back Over Prevention reported as the top complaint area. That 18-complaint tally sits below the 2020 peak of 36 and above the 2025 low of 8, placing the 2021 XT6 in the middle of the model's early reliability history rather than at either extreme.

Model year202520242023202220212020

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · 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 Only use AGM VRLA Battery vented to the outside of the vehicle. 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12693541. 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 Only use AGM VRLA Battery vented to the outside of the vehicle. 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size235/55R20 102HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8, Optional: 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12693541 alt 12727115
Engine air filter23321606
Spark plug12646780 alt 55504354
Battery88866098 alt 88864542
Front wiper blades84580859 alt 84586337
Serpentine belt12649097 alt 55488926
Cabin air filter84987523 alt 13508023

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length198.8 in
Overall width77.2 in
Overall height68.9 in
Wheelbase112.6 in
Curb weight4689 lb
Track (front / rear)66.5 / 66.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the XT6 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.4–7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2020 Sport
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Sport 3.6L V66.40 sec15.10 sec310 hpAWD
2020Sport 3.6L V66.80 sec15.20 sec310 hpAWD
2020Sport 3.6L V67.20 sec15.60 sec310 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil, Clutch Oil: Pentosin CHF-11S in the differential, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3 - 6.3 QTS
Brake FluidDot 3
Brake Fluid Capacity1.0 pt
Differential Gear OilClutch Oil: Pentosin CHF-11S
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0.37 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity13.6 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · Synthetic · 0W-30

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)6.25 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)6.25 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 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)18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)6.6 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug8.83 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.028-.031 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.035 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

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

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 53.0; Rear: 30.0
ABS Sensor Torque6.2
Minimum Pad Thickness0.078 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.063; Rear: .827
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.102; Rear: .866
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
137.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 28°37 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
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M6 Bolts 11-18 Hand Tighten, Step 222 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 70°15 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°22 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-73.7 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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) · 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 75,000 miHood Hinge (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.

In 2021 the XT6 recorded 18 complaints, 2 recalls and 1 investigation, a notable drop from the 36 complaints, 4 recalls and 1 investigation seen in 2020. Complaint numbers continued to decline in the following years, falling to 14 in 2022, 13 in 2023, 14 in 2024 and reaching a low of 8 in 2025, while recalls fluctuated but generally trended lower after 2022. Investigations were present only in 2020 and 2021, with none reported from 2022 onward. The leading complaint areas for 2021 were Back Over Prevention (4 reports), Unknown or Other (3), Fuel/Propulsion System (2) and Power Train/Electrical System (1), with zero crash‑ or fire‑related complaints. Given the downward trend in complaints and recalls after 2020 and the lack of safety‑critical crash or fire issues, the 2021 model year sits at an improved point in the generation’s reliability arc, making it a reasonable choice for a used purchase.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
810
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
18
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 18 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Back Over Prevention4
Unknown Or Other3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Power Train,Electrical System1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Electrical System1
Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Steering,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V422000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 03/06/2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel supply lines may be improperly attached and seated. Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace fuel supply lines as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer…

22V709000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: CameraReported 22/09/2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped… Remedy: Dealers will replace the coaxial cables, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 810 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT5855K2026-07-06Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates that a vehicle may be encountered with the…
PIT5966F2026-06-23Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still…
PIC6423A2026-05-11Unknown Or OtherPi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection…
PIC6551B2026-05-11Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless…
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…

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 XT6. 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 2021 XT6 take?

6.0 qt of 5W-30. ACDelco Dexos 1 Synthetic recommened. Temperatures below -20°F 0W-30 can be used., per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 XT6 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.