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2017 Cadillac XT5 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
47 of 114 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Cadillac XT5 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 10 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Cadillac XT5 have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 47 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Cadillac XT5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under power train (26). For comparison, the 2018 scores 36%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. 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
47
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
124
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
6 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN26 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER26 · 21%
ENGINE24 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES16 · 13%
STEERING15 · 12%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
41%
47 of 124
2018
36%
23 of 66
2019
22%
6 of 32
2020
too few complaints
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

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

How the 2017 compares with other Cadillac XT5 years

Of the 3 Cadillac XT5 years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the worst on engine and transmission share (41%). The best is the 2019 (22%). By volume, the 2017 drew 124 complaints (47 drivetrain), against 66 for the 2018.

Cadillac XT5 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Cadillac XT5

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2017 Cadillac XT5 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12/23/2019CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CADILLAC XT5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SHUT OFF YET AGAIN. AFTER THE SECOND RESTART, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S WIFE ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES T…

One of 47 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2017 Cadillac XT5 engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Cadillac XT5, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper16V802000 · Nov 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2017 Cadillac XT5 vehicles manufactured April 16, 2016, to May 9, 2016, and 2017 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 19, 2016, to April 22,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Cadillac XT5? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2017 Cadillac XT5

Does the 2017 Cadillac XT5 have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 47 of 114 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Cadillac XT5 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Cadillac XT5?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Cadillac XT5 is power train: 26 of 124 complaints (21%) name it, followed by engine (24) and electrical system (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2017 Cadillac XT5 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 41% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 3 Cadillac XT5 years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Cadillac XT5?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Cadillac XT5, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Cadillac XT5 years are better?

Among the Cadillac XT5 years we track, the 2019 (22%) and the 2018 (36%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/cadillac-xt5

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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.