Vehicle wanders at highway speeds, very hard to keep on road. Very unsafe to drive on highway, therefore it is only used in city at low speeds. After 11 months it has less than 3,000 km on it. Dealer says they can't do anything about it, it is because of the electric steering. According to them, all these models behave in the same way and for me to monitor it. I have monitored it and if…
2014 Cadillac ATS steering problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2014 Cadillac ATS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Cadillac ATS in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Cadillac ATS steering system has multiple reported issues: intermittent power steering loss (especially when cold or backing), unpredictable wandering at highway speeds, and loss of turn signal audio feedback. Dealers often refuse to repair, claiming faults cannot be reproduced or are normal, despite some owners finding related GM recall bulletins that may not cover their specific VINs.
Owners of 2014 Cadillac ATS vehicles report five distinct steering-related complaints. Turn signal audio feedback—typically a click or chime—fails randomly, leaving drivers without confirmation that signals engaged. Owners state the turn signal indicator connects to the radio system, and when the radio faults (common on this model), signal feedback dies too.
Power steering assist drops unexpectedly, particularly when the vehicle is cold or during backing maneuvers. One owner describes losing assist mid-parking-lot backup and having to restart the engine while blocking traffic. This fault is intermittent and increasing in frequency.
Multiple owners report the vehicle drifts and wanders unpredictably at highway speeds, making it unsafe to drive above city speeds. One owner has accumulated only 3,000 km in 11 months due to this issue. Dealers refuse repair, stating the behavior is normal for the model. Power steering also locks up during low-speed turns under 20 mph.
Some owners discovered GM safety recall bulletins addressing similar steering failures, but their VINs fell outside the recall campaigns (including NHTSA 18V586000). Dealers consistently claim they cannot reproduce faults or that bulletins do not apply to specific VINs, refusing warranty repairs. One owner reports a "Power Steering Fault Drive with Care" message at 172,000 miles.
Same Cadillac ATS steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Turn signal audible feedback loss
Turn signals engage without audible click, chime, or indicator feedback. Narratives allege the turn signal indicator is connected to the radio system, and when radio faults occur (common on this model), turn signal indicators also fail. Failures are random.
When: Random; occurs when stationary and at surface/highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: No audible click or chime when turning signal is engaged; No feedback to driver confirming turn signal activation; Driver cannot verify turn signal has been triggered; Potential for driver distraction and loss of awareness
Intermittent electric power steering assist loss
Power steering assist fails intermittently, most commonly when the vehicle is cold and during backing maneuvers. Assist temporarily restores after vehicle restart. Frequency of failures is increasing. Dealer unable to reproduce the fault.
When: Cold starts; during backing out of driveways and parking spaces
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly loses assistance mid-maneuver; Most frequent during backing operations; Assist restores after engine restart; Particularly hazardous in crowded parking lots when restart blocks traffic; Increasing failure frequency over time
Vehicle wandering at highway speeds
Vehicle drifts and wanders unpredictably at highway speeds on level roads, making it difficult to maintain lane position. Owners report the condition is unsafe and progressively worsening. Dealer attributes the issue to the electric steering system design and claims all models behave the same way. Dealers refuse to repair, citing no defect.
When: Highway speeds; visible from early ownership (one owner reported 3,000 km in 11 months; another at 1,600 km since new February 2014)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts and wanders at highway speeds; Difficult to keep vehicle in straight line; Requires constant steering correction; Risk of crossing into adjacent traffic lanes; Condition worsens over time
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refuses repair; states condition is normal and all models behave the same; suggests owner monitor the vehicle
Power steering fault with loss of assist
Power steering fails without warning, displaying 'Power Steering Fault Drive with Care' message on instrument panel. Vehicle becomes difficult to maneuver. Owners report awareness of undisclosed recalls but their VINs were not included in recall campaigns such as NHTSA 18V586000, despite similar failure symptoms.
When: While driving at speeds as low as 35 mph; failures at various mileages (one at 172,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist without warning; Power Steering Fault Drive with Care message displayed; Vehicle becomes difficult to maneuver; No warning light illuminated in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Undisclosed recalls exist (NHTSA 18V586000) but not all affected VINs were included; some owners not able to access recall remedy
Power steering lockup at low speeds
Power steering locks up when attempting to turn at speeds under 20 mph. Occurs multiple times. Dealers claim inability to duplicate the fault and refuse repair. Owner found related safety recall bulletins from GM for the 2014 ATS but dealer states bulletin does not apply to owner's VIN.
When: Low speed maneuvers (under 20 mph); recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering locks up during turning attempts; Occurs at speeds under 20 mph; Recurring fault; Dealer unable to duplicate in shop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM safety recall bulletins exist for same issue on 2014 ATS, but dealer claims bulletin does not apply to owner's VIN
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Intermittent electric power steering assist failures. Failures seem to occur most often when the car is cold and backing out of drive way or parking spaces. Power steering will work for a very short period then fail leaving typically when in the middle of a backing maneuver when leaving my drive and entering traffic. Turning car off and restarting will reset the electric power steering…
The contact owns a 2014 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "Power Steering Fault Drive with Care" message was displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The contact researched and was became aware of an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Cadillac ats. The contact stated that there was a loss of power steering without warning. The dealer (camargo Cadillac, 9880 montgomery rd, cincinnati, oh 45242, 513-716-5963) indicated that a diagnostic appointment would need to be scheduled. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18v586000 (steering) although the failures were similar. The…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 Cadillac ATS?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2014 Cadillac ATS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 50,713 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Cadillac/ATS.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.