Most common 2017 Cadillac ATS problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac ATS complaints by model year
Best ATS years: 2015, 2016, 2017. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014. Compare all years →
2017 Cadillac ATS recalls (2)
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025.
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
What 2017 Cadillac ATS owners say
Steering
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing intermittent loss of power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to Auto Repair Garage, where a routine inspection was performed, and the contact was informed that no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure progressively increased. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the infotainment system screen was frozen. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (Steering). An appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. …
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle became difficult to maneuver, with the service power steering message displayed. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned normally. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system
My air bag light randomly appeared and has been on for at about year now the dealership wants me to pay a ridiculous amount of money for all of these safety hazards including to fix my "airbag sensor" when I have never used the airbags. I am the one and only owner of the car which I purchased directly from the Ed Morse bayview Cadillac dealership. Faulty airbags and or sensors are a huge safety hazard. I need to know my airbags are working correctly as well as the sensors not only for my safety but as well as my child. My car has recently been diagnosed with serious transmission problems which include a vibration at 50 mph shuddering erratically and frequently to the point it is scary to drive. the transmission going out could cause me to get into an accident or be stuck in the road and put into danger which is another safety hazard. …
In center console there is a dual USB port for either charging or data for CarPlay. When two phones are plugged in and charging, and one phone is in passengers hand, while vehicle is in motion or stopped, the airbag warning light will illuminate. When the phone is removed from passenger seat, airbag warning light turns off. This will happen any number of times and is very easy to reproduce issue. This problem is only occurring more often now that I have a passenger in the car. But it will happen if any phone is plugged in and sitting on the seat. It went to the dealer with this issue a couple years ago but they couldn't get it to happen again because the phone wasn't on the seat plugged in. If the airbag warning light is on, then the system will not function, therefore, if this happened right before an accident, the airbags may not deploy, putting all passengers at risk.
Transmission & drivetrain
1. The transmission shudders at high speeds and at low speeds it either hesitates to shift gears or it lurches forward causing a rough shifting of gears. 2. I feel as though when I am braking and my car lurches forward, sometimes I have to brake even harder just to get the car to stop in time. This has caused me to almost hit pedestrians and/or other car. At high speeds, when the transmission shudders, I feel as though I have to slow down in order to stop the aggressive shaking, making others driving behind me have to slow down. 3. A former family mechanic has tried to resolve the transmission issue for me and he was unsuccessful in doing so. I have not taken it to a dealer or a big name mechanic. 4. The vehicle has not been inspected by insurance, police or the manufacturer. Only a family mechanic. 5. …
Transmission causes car to shudder or shake/vibrate at lower speeds and lower rpm (auto shifting) It's been like this since it was purchased. If you perform manual shifting at 2500 RPM's or higher you don't experience the same shake/vibration. Ron Craft Cadillac says it's performing as expected.
2017 Cadillac ATS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Cadillac ATS a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 ATS rates better than average: 45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the ATS at the same age. It is one of the best ATS years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Cadillac ATS?
The steering — 13 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (6) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2017 Cadillac ATS have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2017 Cadillac ATS, the most recent from March 20, 2025 (electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac ATS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2016 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013 and 2014. See the full Cadillac ATS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Cadillac ATS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 75% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.