YearToAvoid

2017 Cadillac CTS Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2017 Cadillac CTS has a complaint index of 14, the 13th-worst out of 15 model years, and earns a Best verdict. It has 27 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
14/100
#13 of 15 CTS years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
27
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
20 city / 29 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2017 Cadillac CTS problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain9 (33%)
  2. Steering8 (30%)
  3. Other4 (15%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (15%)
  5. Airbags2 (7%)
  6. Electrical System2 (7%)
  7. Engine2 (7%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (4%)

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

What owners report

  • Steering wheel seizes or becomes hard to turn without warning, sometimes tied to the electric power steering recall for which replacement parts were unavailable.
  • Transmission locks in 2nd or 3rd gear after extended highway driving and refuses to downshift, in one case nearly causing a crash.
  • Rough or jerky shifting between 1st and 2nd gear that dealers identified as a known transmission issue requiring a flush, reprogram, valve replacement, or full transmission swap.
  • Wheels crack or lose air pressure, leading to repeated flat tires within weeks in one case.
  • CUE touchscreen spontaneously cracks in a spider-web pattern even on low-mileage, garage-kept vehicles.
  • Rear differential leaks and rear tires bow outward during turns at higher mileage.
2017 Cadillac CTS complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2018Aug 2019Jun 2022Oct 2023Oct 2024Sep 2025Aug 2026
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2019 (3).

2017 Cadillac CTS 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 CTS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
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 CTS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good2947321
2016Best2131424
2017Best1427224
2018Best08224
2019Best710023

All Cadillac CTS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Cadillac CTS reliable?
Compared with other CTS model years, the 2017 ranks well: it has a complaint index of 14 and sits 13th-worst out of 15 years, earning a Best verdict from NHTSA complaint and recall data.
What problems does the 2017 Cadillac CTS have?
The top reported problem area is Transmission & Powertrain with 9 complaints (33% share), followed by Steering with 8 complaints (30%) and Suspension, Wheels & Tires with 4 complaints (15%).
Does the 2017 Cadillac CTS have a steering recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls covering the electric power steering assist, campaigns 19V086000 and 25V175000, both for the same failure where the EPS assist may fail.
What is the median mileage for transmission or steering failures on the 2017 CTS?
Owners in Transmission & Powertrain complaints reported a median mileage of 51,123.5 miles, while Steering complaints had a median of 45,000 miles.
How does the 2017 CTS compare to the worst CTS years?
The worst-rated year is 2009 with a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, far above the 2017's index of 14.

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.