THE CAR HAS 37250 MILES ON IT. 6 MONTHS AGO, IT STARTED SHIFTING ROUGHLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. WE TOOK IT TO WALDORF CADILLAC/GM IN WALDORF, MD. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WOULD TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS: FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION, RE-PROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACE THE VALVE, AND ULTIMATELY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE ACTIONS EXCEPT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION…
2017 cadillac CTS powertrain problems
moderate 8 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Rear differential failed on a vehicle with 60,000 miles and required a $4,200 repair. The manufacturer warranty covers up to 70,000 miles, but the age of the vehicle voided the warranty. Five Year manufacturer warranty and the vehicle is 7 years old, but within the mileage. Without the repair the vehicle is worthless, whereas it is worth @$14,000 {Kelly Blue Book}. Checked online and it is not…
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 start jerking nonstop. I took it to the dealer and as per a service bulletin, they flushed the transmission fluid and replaced the transmission fluid. This was only a temporary fi…
The rear differential has failed in my vehicle, and I was told by the dealer it is a safety hazzard & could lock up, leave me stranded or cause an accident. (this is the same safety issue as thousands of other vehicles most from 2014 & 2015 that IS on a recall).
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 continued to get louder. We took the car to 4 different places where they all stated the rear differential is the problem. I never had a service engine light come on. We found out t…
The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and making a turn, the rear of the vehicle was dragging. Additionally, the contact stated that the rear tires were bowed out. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear differential was leaking and needed to be resealed. The mechanic ordered new seals and pins from t…
CAR HAS LOCKED IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR TWO DIFFERENT TIMES, BOTH AFTER LONG DRIVES (2+ HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST TO STOP MOVEMENT. THE FIRST TIME WAS A STOP LIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, THE SECOND TIME WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALMOST HIT THE HOUSE. GOOD BRAKES ARE THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME. BOTH TIMES, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO 1ST WITH A LOUD BANG. TRANSMISS…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2017 cadillac CTS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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