2017 CADILLAC ATS Complaints and Recall Information
The 2017 CADILLAC ATS has 7 complaints and 3 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues with the power steering system and transmission problems. Complaints include sudden loss of power steering assist causing difficult maneuverability and transmission shuddering combined with rough or hesitant gear shifts.
Common Issues
- Power steering failure. Vehicle jerks and loses power steering assist while driving, making steering difficult and triggering a service power steering message.
- Transmission problems. Transmission shudders at high speeds, hesitates to shift, or causes the vehicle to lurch forward, sometimes requiring harder braking to stop safely.
- Intermittent power steering loss. Steering wheel becomes hard to turn without warning lights, sometimes accompanied by frozen infotainment system screens.
- Airbag warning light activation. The airbag warning light illuminates when two phones are plugged into the center console USB ports and a phone is resting on the passenger seat, disabling the airbag system.
- Repeated transmission failures. Some vehicles require multiple transmission replacements before 50,000 miles with ongoing drivability issues.
Three recalls affect this model, mostly involving the electric power steering system. These recalls address risks related to loss of power steering assist and require component replacements.
Recalls
- Power steering gear assembly. NHTSA recall 25V175000 affects 934 vehicles. The electric power steering assist may fail, increasing steering effort and crash risk. Dealers replace the power steering gear assembly free of charge. Owner notifications began in April 2025.
- Electric power steering system. NHTSA recall 19V086000 covers 26,772 vehicles. Failure of the electric power steering assist can lead to higher steering effort and increased crash risk. GM notifies owners and dealers replace the power steering gear assembly at no cost. Recall started in June 2019.
Owners who face ongoing repairs, unresolved recall issues, or safety-related defects with this vehicle may want to review their rights under their state’s lemon law. Legal advice should be sought for specific cases involving repeated failures or potential safety hazards.
2017 CADILLAC ATS Summary
2017
Model Year
7
Total Complaints
2
Total Recalls
27706
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2017 CADILLAC ATS
934 vehicles affected
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.
2017 CADILLAC ATS
26772 vehicles affected
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.
Complaints
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2097587ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
In center console there is a dual USB port for either charging or data for CarPlay. When two phones are plugged in and charging, and one phone is in passengers hand, while vehicle is in motion or stopped, the airbag warning light will illuminate. When the phone is removed from passenger seat, airbag warning light turns off. This will happen any number of times and is very easy to reproduce issue. This problem is only occurring more often now that I have a passenger in the car. But it will happen if any phone is plugged in and sitting on the seat. It went to the dealer with this issue a couple years ago but they couldn’t get it to happen again because the phone wasn’t on the seat plugged in. If the airbag warning light is on, then the system will not function, therefore, if this happened right before an accident, the airbags may not deploy, putting all passengers at risk.
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2097586AIR BAGS
In center console there is a dual USB port for either charging or data for CarPlay. When two phones are plugged in and charging, and one phone is in passengers hand, while vehicle is in motion or stopped, the airbag warning light will illuminate. When the phone is removed from passenger seat, airbag warning light turns off. This will happen any number of times and is very easy to reproduce issue. This problem is only occurring more often now that I have a passenger in the car. But it will happen if any phone is plugged in and sitting on the seat. It went to the dealer with this issue a couple years ago but they couldn’t get it to happen again because the phone wasn’t on the seat plugged in. If the airbag warning light is on, then the system will not function, therefore, if this happened right before an accident, the airbags may not deploy, putting all passengers at risk.
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2095273POWER TRAIN
1. The transmission shudders at high speeds and at low speeds it either hesitates to shift gears or it lurches forward causing a rough shifting of gears. 2. I feel as though when I am braking and my car lurches forward, sometimes I have to brake even harder just to get the car to stop in time. This has caused me to almost hit pedestrians and/or other car. At high speeds, when the transmission shudders, I feel as though I have to slow down in order to stop the aggressive shaking, making others driving behind me have to slow down. 3. A former family mechanic has tried to resolve the transmission issue for me and he was unsuccessful in doing so. I have not taken it to a dealer or a big name mechanic. 4. The vehicle has not been inspected by insurance, police or the manufacturer. Only a family mechanic. 5. As far as I know, there was no prior indicating symptoms of the issue as I bought the car how it currently is. I was told upon purchase that the transmission has a shudder at high speeds and at hesitation of shifting gears at low speeds
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2088682STEERING
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing intermittent loss of power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to Auto Repair Garage, where a routine inspection was performed, and the contact was informed that no failure was found. The contact stated that the failure progressively increased. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the infotainment system screen was frozen. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (Steering). An appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2074690UNKNOWN OR OTHER
They have terrible transmission that barely make it to 50,000 miles before problems start happening. Parts are not cheap at all it’s General Motors 8 speed transmissions my 2017 caddilac ATS is on its 2nd transmission and it’s already driving terrible I fear I may be left stranded next time this happens. The car has a new transmission with only over 37 thousand miles on the transmission.
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2072112STEERING
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle became difficult to maneuver, with the service power steering message displayed. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned normally. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was unknown.
2017 CADILLAC ATS
ID: 2072111ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle became difficult to maneuver, with the service power steering message displayed. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned normally. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was unknown.