Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Cadillac CTS, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 7 | 26% |
| Steering | 6 | 22% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 15% |
| Air bags | 1 | 4% |
| Power train | 1 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
| Air bags | 1 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
| Tires | 1 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The service power steering message was displayed. The fail
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The airbag warning light appeared 45 days ago. I immediately took my 2017 Cadillac to the dealer (Sewell Cadillac of Houston). The vehicle is covered under a Sewell Extended warranty until 2028. The dealer performed tro
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The power steering went out on the vehicle. I was not driving at the time. There was a recall on these vehicles pertaining to the EPS module.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The Cadillac CUE screen cracks and becomes unresponsive. When driving this is effecting anything related to system including navigation, radio, hvac, phone and all other functions creating a distraction to the driver tha
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I purchased this vehicle is certified preowned Cadillac and during the warranty time I had a transmission issue that was causing the transmission to jerk when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear and at highway speeds, it would
NHTSA complaint: Power train
OnStar is unable to communicate with my vehicle. When I bought the car 2 years ago, it connected fine. Not OnStar is unable to ping my car. Appears the. Module goes out on a lot of cars since I was told it is on back ord
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I began hearing a “hum” when driving my vehicle and dismissed it thinking it was the type of low profile, no flat tires. After a getting new tires, brakes, brake pads, and control arms, we still heard the “hum” and it co
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Unknown I have been driving my car for 2 years now. For about the last year the steering in has been handling horrible and I have checked all parts every think is in good condition. I have read online it's a common prob
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 Cadillac CTS. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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 Chevrol
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 71 | good |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 7 of them (26%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 79/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.