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2017 Cadillac ATS problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
27%
8 of 30 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Cadillac ATS. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 27% of relevant complaints.

Better than 77% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 3 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 24%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2017 Cadillac ATS have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 8 of 30 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Cadillac ATS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 50%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
8
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
33
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
1 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING12 · 36%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6 · 18%
POWER TRAIN5 · 15%
ENGINE3 · 9%
AIR BAGS2 · 6%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
57%
82 of 160
2014
45%
43 of 104
2015
30%
7 of 29
2016
50%
15 of 35
2017
27%
8 of 33
2018
too few complaints
2019
too few complaints
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN05/26/2026
Transmission fluid temperature sensor in the 8 speed automatic 8L90 transmission from GM is a known issue. Causes vehicle to shift/jerk erratically especially in stop and go traffic.
POWER TRAIN05/29/2025
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 al…
STEERING,ENGINE03/10/2025
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 sta…

Three of 8 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2017 Cadillac ATS (2)

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…
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 steeri…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2017 Cadillac ATS

Questions people ask about the 2017 Cadillac ATS

Does the 2017 Cadillac ATS have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 8 of 30 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Cadillac ATS concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Cadillac ATS?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Cadillac ATS. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Cadillac ATS years are better?

The 2017 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Cadillac ATS years we track (27%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2017 Cadillac ATS?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Cadillac ATS shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.