2017 Cadillac ATS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
27,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 32 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 12 | 37.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 21.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 12 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention:Display Function | 1 |
Steering: 12; Electrical System: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Power Train: 5; Engine: 3; Air Bags: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Back Over Prevention:Display Function: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2018: 2; 2019: 12; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 6; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11184166 · 2019-03-04 (March 4, 2019)
I HAVE A 2017 CADILLAC ATS AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING HAS STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE WITH DRIVING AS A 69 YEAR OLD I NOW HAVE BECOME HESITANT TO DRIVE THE CAR NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY BUT OTHERS IF THE STEERING FAILS AND I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I BELIEVE GM NEEDS TO BUY THE CAR BACK BEFORE SOMEBODY IS KILLED OR INJURED A RECALL ON A 2017 SHOULD NOT HAPPEN
Owner-reported narrative. 22,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184674 · 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V086000 (STEERING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUTONATION CADILLAC PORT RICHEY (9921 US-19, PORT RICHEY, FL 34668, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11184674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11242834 · 2019-08-09 (August 9, 2019)
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS ON LIGHT ACCELERATION (WORST AT AROUND 50 MPH) GENERAL ACCELERATION FEELS SIMILAR TO AN ENGINE MISFIRE WITH INTERMITTENT DROPS IN POWER. SOME TIMES TRANSMISSION CAN SHIFT HARD AND HAVE A BANG, JARRING FEELING.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11242834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252803 · 2019-09-02 (September 2, 2019)
AT MAJOR INTERSECTION WAS AT A STOP RED LIGHT. BEGAN ACCELERATING VEHICLE STALLED AND THE LIGHT ENGINE TURNED ON, TRANSMISSION STUCK AT FIRST GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 20MPH. THIS HAPPENED AS I TRIED PASSING A VEHICLE IN FRONT TO LATER MAKE A TURN. THE CAR HAS HAD THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES. REPORTED TO CADILLAC THEY ASKED THAT I REPORT AS A LEMON MEANWHILE THIS IS A LEASE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089664 · 2018-04-23 (April 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LES STANFORD CHEVROLET, 21711 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI 48124). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192031 · 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
ON 3/17/2019 I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION STATING A RECALL FOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, AND THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THOUGH AS THE DOCUMENTATION I HAVE PROVIDED STATES THE FOLLOWING: "A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING SLOW SPEEDS OR AROUND CURVES CAN EASILY CAUSE A CRASH".
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11192031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064482 · 2018-01-23 (January 23, 2018)
UPON BRAKING CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE BUT EVENTUALY STOPS. ABOUT 8 DAYS LATER WHILE PARKING THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE RESULTING IN A COLLISION.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,414 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11464773 · 2022-05-16 (May 16, 2022)
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was very stiff and hard to depress causing the braking distance to be extended. The contact drove off the roadway to avoid a collision and activated the parking brake and shifted to park(P) causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. During the failure the “Service Brake Assist" message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer w…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,098 miles reported. Look up ODI 11464773 at NHTSA ↗