YearToAvoid

2017 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

22/100

#8 most-complained of 10 CTS years

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

The 2017 Cadillac CTS ranks 8th of 10 model years with a complaint index of 22, making it one of the

Complaints
27
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2017 Cadillac CTS problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel seizes or becomes hard to turn while driving, sometimes tied to the electric power steering assist recall.
  • EPS warning light illuminates and power steering assist stops functioning properly at various speeds.
  • Transmission locks in 2nd or 3rd gear and won't downshift, most often after extended highway driving.
  • Rough shifting between 1st and 2nd gear develops, with dealers identifying it as a known transmission issue.
  • Wheels crack or lose air pressure, causing repeated flat tires within a short period.
  • CUE touchscreen spontaneously cracks in a spider-web pattern at low mileage.
2017 Cadillac CTS complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2018Aug 2019Jun 2022Oct 2023Oct 2024Sep 2025Aug 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2019 (4).

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)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good4447321
2016Good3331424
2017Best2227224
2018Best08224
2019Best1110023

All Cadillac CTS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Cadillac CTS reliable?
NHTSA lists 27 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2017 CTS, giving it a complaint index of 22, the second-lowest among the 10 model years with data, so it earns a Best verdict relative to other CTS years.
What are the biggest problem areas for the 2017 Cadillac CTS?
Transmission & Powertrain leads with 9 complaints (33% of the total), followed by Steering with 8 complaints (30%), based on NHTSA owner complaints.
Does the 2017 Cadillac CTS have a steering recall?
Yes. NHTSA recalls 25V175000 and 19V086000 both cover the electric power steering assist, which may fail on 2016-2018 CTS vehicles; dealers replace the power steering gear assembly free of charge.
At what mileage do 2017 CTS transmission problems occur?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 51,123.5 miles for Transmission & Powertrain issues in the 2017 CTS.
How does the 2017 CTS compare to other CTS model years?
The 2017 CTS ranks 8th worst of 10 years tracked, well ahead of 2014 (complaint index 100, Avoid) and 2011 (complaint index 89, Avoid), but slightly behind 2018 and 2019, which both carry Best verdicts.

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.