CadillacXTS2013Overview/cadillac/xts/2013/base/

2013 Cadillac XTS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 XTS.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

Equipped with an Automatic (S6) transmission, the 2013 Cadillac XTS passenger car returns EPA estimates of 17/27/21 mpg and requires 7.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil. Ownership records show this model year accumulated 103 total owner complaints across 5 recalls, with the suspension identified as the top complaint area. Positioned at the beginning of the 2013-2019 model complaint history, the 2013 variant represents the peak of reported issues, distinguishing it from the lowest count of 5 complaints recorded in 2019.

Model year2019201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque110 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/27/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. 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 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter22753242
Spark plug12681660
Battery88866309 alt 88866116
Front wiper blades84574892 alt 84621343
Serpentine belt12636137 alt 12645921
Thermostat12681132
Cabin air filter13356914

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase111.8 in
Curb weight4184 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 27 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume104 cu ft
Cargo volume18 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

6.6–7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2013 Premium
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2013Premium 3.6L V66.60 sec15.20 sec304 hpFWD
2013Platinum 3.6L V66.90 sec15.40 sec304 hpFWD
2013Platinum 3.6L V66.90 sec15.30 sec304 hpAWD
2013Platinum 3.6L V67.20 sec15.70 sec304 hpAWD
2014Vsport Premium 3.6L Twin-Turbo V65.20 sec13.60 sec410 hpAWD
2014Vsport Premium 3.6L Twin-Turbo V65.30 sec13.70 sec410 hpAWD
2018V-Sport Platinum 3.6L Twin-Turbo V65.20 sec13.60 sec410 hpAWD
2018V-Sport Platinum 3.6L Twin-Turbo V65.20 sec13.60 sec410 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 7.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 110 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2-6.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts110 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-109
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature194-225 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-100
Injector Primary Resistance1.9-2.3 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression140

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Torque Caliper to Bracket46 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.18 in / 0.787 in / 0.905 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install a new nut and tighten to 111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install a new nut and tighten to 111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install a new nut and tighten to 111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 15074 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133

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 Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · 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 2013 Cadillac XTS represents the launch year of this generation and shows the highest complaint volume in the dataset at 103 complaints, coupled with the most recalls at 5 and the greatest number of TSBs at 2,094. This contrasts sharply with subsequent years: complaints dropped to 49 in 2014, then to just 14 in 2015, indicating a rapid improvement in reliability after the introductory model year. The top complaint areas for 2013 were suspension (20) and electrical system (19) issues, though crash complaints remained at zero and fire complaints were minimal at 2. By 2016, recalls dropped to zero and complaints stabilized in the low 20s, suggesting the manufacturer addressed early-year defects through updates. Given that the 2013 model carries the highest recall count and complaint frequency within this generation, buyers should budget for potential suspension and electrical work, and verify that all five recalls have been completed before purchase—this target year is the least refined of the series and presents more risk than later models.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
2094
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
103
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 2 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 103 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension20
Electrical System19
Unknown Or Other9
Wheels5
Electrical System,Engine4
Engine3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Electrical System,Exterior Lighting2
Exterior Lighting2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V518000Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-InactiveReported 28/08/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured April 11, 2013, to June 27, 2013, and 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured May 13, 2013, to November 5, 2013… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers are to reprogram the SDM to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac…

14V116000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 17/03/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, through March 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, a cavity plug on the brake booster pump connector… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealant to the connector cavity plugs, re-route the vacuum pump vent hose and replace the front body wiring harnesses as needed, free…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 2094 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 XTS. 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 2013 XTS take?

7.0 qt of 5W-30 ONLY USE ENGINE OIL MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION., per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 XTS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the XTS get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 27 highway / 21 combined mpg.