YearToAvoid

2017 Cadillac CT6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#4 most-complained of 5 CT6 years

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

The 2017 Cadillac CT6 has a Complaint Index of 25, ranking 4th out of 5 model years — better than 2016, 2019, and 2020, but behind 2018. NHTSA lists 17 complaints and 1 recall, with transmission and powertrain issues making up 59% of complaints.

Complaints
17
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy

Top 2017 Cadillac CT6 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain10 (59%)
  2. Electrical System4 (24%)
  3. Engine3 (18%)
  4. Brakes2 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (12%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (6%)
  7. Fuel System1 (6%)
  8. Other1 (6%)
  9. Steering1 (6%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the 8-speed automatic transmission shudders, lags, and slips, sometimes with a humming noise, especially when merging or accelerating from low speed.
  • Some describe the vehicle jerking hard when auto stop disengages, feeling like a rear-end collision when moving off from a stop.
  • One owner reported the steering rack bound up and power assist failed, making the vehicle difficult to control and causing it to leave the roadway.
  • A sunroof reportedly shattered while driving at highway speed with no impact.
  • Brake complaints include a squealing noise that grew louder over time and side mirrors not tilting when reversing.
2017 Cadillac CT6 complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2020Feb 2021Jun 2021Oct 2022Jun 2024Mar 2025Nov 2025May 2026
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2020 to May 2026; peak Feb 2021 (3).

2017 Cadillac CT6 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V759000Sep 29, 2021Electrical System181 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Cadillac CT6 vehicles. The Park/Position lights may be excessively bright. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: The excessive brightness may affect the vision of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install right and left side in-line headlight jumper harnesses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N162016079.

2017 Cadillac CT6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,150
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 CT6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid10011321
2017Good2517123
2018Best09023
2019Caution5017421

All Cadillac CT6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

What problems does the 2017 Cadillac CT6 have?
NHTSA lists 17 complaints for the 2017 CT6, with transmission and powertrain issues accounting for 59% of them, followed by electrical system complaints at 24% and engine complaints at 18%.
Is the 2017 Cadillac CT6 a good year?
Yes, relative to other CT6 years. It has a Complaint Index of 25 and ranks 4th out of 5 years, earning a 'Good' verdict, though 2018 scores better with an index of 0.
Does the 2017 Cadillac CT6 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 21V759000) covers excessively bright Park/Position lights on 2016-2017 CT6 vehicles; the remedy is installing headlight jumper harnesses at no charge.
At what mileage do 2017 CT6 problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 10,000 miles, with transmission and engine complaints both showing a median of 6,000 miles.

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.