YearToAvoid

2017 Cadillac ATS Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2017 Cadillac ATS has a complaint index of 33, ranking 5th out of 7 model years, and earns a Good verdict. Its top issue is steering (38% of complaints), tied to two recalls for electric power steering failure.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
33/100
#5 of 7 ATS years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
32
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24.5
21 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2017 Cadillac ATS problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering12 (38%)
  2. Electrical System7 (22%)
  3. Other6 (19%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (16%)
  5. Brakes3 (9%)
  6. Engine3 (9%)
  7. Airbags2 (6%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Power steering assist can fail suddenly, making some owners hesitant to keep driving the car.
  • Several owners reported waiting for recall repair parts that dealers said were unavailable for the steering gear replacement.
  • Brakes have shaken, made loud noises, or failed to stop the car during parking, in one case leading to a collision.
  • Transmission shudders during light acceleration, especially around 50 mph, with hard shifts and jarring sensations.
  • Vehicles have stalled at intersections with the transmission stuck in first gear and unable to accelerate past 20 mph.
  • Electrical warning indicators and gauges have flickered on and off without a clear cause.
2017 Cadillac ATS complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2018May 2019Sep 2019Apr 2022Jan 2024Jun 2025May 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2018 to May 2026; peak Mar 2019 (3).

2017 Cadillac ATS recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V175000Mar 20, 2025Steering934 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.

  2. NHTSA 19V086000Feb 7, 2019Steering26,772 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

    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.

2017 Cadillac ATS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,075
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other ATS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Caution5029423
2016Caution6732324.5
2017Good3332224.5
2018Best1721224
2019No verdict02023.5

All Cadillac ATS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Cadillac ATS reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 ATS has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 5th out of 7 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other ATS years.
Does the 2017 Cadillac ATS have a steering recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls (campaigns 19V086000 and 25V175000) covering electric power steering assist failure in the 2017 ATS.
What is the most common problem on the 2017 Cadillac ATS?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 38% of complaints (12 of 32), with a median mileage at failure of 36,323.5 miles.
How does the 2017 ATS compare to other years?
The 2017 ATS (complaint index 33) has fewer reported problems than the 2013 (100) and 2014 (83) model years but more than the 2018 ATS, which has a complaint index of 17 and is rated Best.
Were there crashes linked to 2017 ATS complaints?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash reported among the 32 complaints for the 2017 ATS, tied to the brakes problem area.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.