2017 Cadillac XT5 Complaints

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 07/01/2026

I purchased the car on XXX. The car has been returned to the service department within the first 3 days. Sold to me without getting fully inspected. Service department did put new brakes and rotors on and I was told (no paperwork given to me) an oil change was done. On XXX in traffic on a dangerous highway, the car cut off. The car was not able to be jumped with AAA, was towed to [XXX]/GMC Service department. I was told by the Asst Svc Manager, on XXX the Tech told him My car was the starter. The part would have to be ordered and would not be ready to the following week. On July 7th I received a call from the SVC Mgr that the engine blew. I had to pull teeth to get the Mgr to pay for the engine of $8500 and yet he wants me to pay $1500.00. With having a car less than 21 days regardless if I went over the 3k miles and as -is, there was a 90 day warranty when everything should be covered. He has now rescinded because I reported this to BBB, Atty Gen office, NHTSA. This car was never inspected. I requested the On-star reports, Inspection reports for the last year and the Tech's findings and nothing has been provided except one. I requested several times the service report and the General Manager/owner is so upset, he submitted nothing.I have felt intimidation throughout this entire process. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/01/2026

My passenger side, dashboard bowls up in the heat and doesn’t seat properly. My fear for safety is that if I’m in an accident that airbag will not come out due to the dash bubbling because of the defect.. It seems to be an only problem with the platinum editions of the Cadillac XT5’s. There’s no warning lamps and it has not been inspected.

STEERING,ENGINE — Filed 12/03/2025

I had P0128 Code with a warning message " Steering assist is reduced, drive with care". My local mechanic told I need a new thermostat. I have replaced my thermostat and it cost me 700 dollars out of pocket.

SEAT BELTS — Filed 04/15/2026

2017 cadillac XT5 Platinum. Seatbelt CHIME does not activate if the seatbelt is off while driving. Dealer says it is working as it is supposed to in this model year.!!!! Please note that at the dealer we test drove for 3/4 of a mile, and the CHIME went off only after driving 4 blocks and making a right hand turn. It went off again seconds later and 1/2 mile later as we entered the parking lot, as we hit a bump into the parking lot, the chime went off again. My point is that the CHIME should go off at the beginning of the drive to remind the driver that the belt is off, not at the end of a 3/4 mile drive. Their answer is that they tested the seatbelt and no codes were detected. Since the CHIME did go off sometime during the drive, then there is no problem!!!! They CLAIM they tested another 2017 XT5 and it was the same!!! It worked for 8 years, but in the last 2 months, it started to fail with on the driver side. The passenger side later also started to fail, sometimes it will activate if no seatbelt was used, other times it did not. Today June 11, 2026 I tested the car and no chime was active. I also tested the rear seat and buckled & unbuckled while driving - NO CHIME. I tried bouncing up and down on rear seat, and the CHIME went off! So the CHIME works but the car is not sensing when the seatbelt is unbuckled. I have grand children that ride in the rear using a car seat, if one of the seatbelts was unbuckled while driving, the CHIME would warm me that they took the belt off. We drove the car for 5 miles home and bucked and unbuckled the and passenger and the driver side belts at different times, and the CHIME did not go off. The light in the front panel does flash when the seatbelt is unbuckled!. Prior to the belt CHIME giving us problems, the same week the seatbelt on driver side tighten so hard while driving, that my wife got scared & even was afraid it would break her clavicle! We could not reproduce, but reported to dealer.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/01/2026

I had to replace the thermostat which is a well known, documented defect/issue for this vehicle/Cadillac. I would like reimbursement from Cadillac.

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 02/25/2026

While driving down the freeway at approx. 65 miles per hour, I heard a very loud sound like an explosion, or a huge balloon exploding, and then heard crackling of glass. It was very scary and dangerous. I had to slow down immediately, and was able to get off the freeway. I pulled into a gas station, and tried to figure out where it came from. I realized that my sunroof was either hit with something or just simply exploded. There was a hole in the center, and the glass was cracked throughout the front sunroof. I could hear the glass pieces moving around on the sunroof shade that was thankfully closed. I bought duct tape and covered the hole and all of the cracks so I could drive it home. I took side streets and drove slowly home.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 02/09/2026

I purchased this used car in the end of July 2025. Within the last month the service transmission light came on. Within a 24-hour period, the message changed to, "service transmission unable to shift Soon". Also alarm bells go off when I first start the car and sometimes during driving. The car feels like it drives correctly and smoothly with no shifting issues. Sometimes when that second message and check engine light icon being comes on, there seems to be a third message that is trying to pop up behind it but it does not. It seems like there is a glitch in the system. This was very concerning and scary for me. My research shows me that this has been a chronic problem for my make and model and year of car. I've also heard it can be even time to check and or change the transmission fluid. That needs to be a different message all together without causing alarm that the transmission itself is not functioning properly. I have not driven this for 10 days because many repair shops in dealerships are telling me not to risk it and of course want me to bring this in for a diagnosis. It is costly and hard to discern and trust who to go to for the correct information. The dealership should be responsible for a recall and replacing this sensor or modular so people do not have a cause for alarm if it is something as simple as needing to change the transmission fluid. There is also no dipstick on this vehicle so no local fluid fill station can check this. Many people have complained and are at a loss. I see there is a bulletin on this subject but no recall. Please take action and turn this situation into a recall once and for all to help. The little folks like me stay more safe and better informed about the health and longevity of our vehicles. Thank you for your time in reading this.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 03/20/2025

I have a 2017 Cadillac xt5 which the transmission is kicking and has a shattering issue car was just over the warranty and was told I have to pay for a replacement car had 70k miles and was told from a mechanic that there was a recall on these cars when I checked my vin the car is not under recall but is presenting the same issue as the ones under recall.. I took it to amoco replace fluid and car still has issue. Iam trying to see my options on how to go about it..

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 09/17/2025

9/17/25 I purchased 2017 Cadillac Xt5 platinum from a dealership. It came with a dash mat which was concealing cosmetic damage to vinyl around air bag on passenger side, and was unglued throughout entire dashboard. I didn't have a vehicle inspection before buying car, nothing reported on Carfax. And I asked dealership why they used Velcro and dashmat to conceal damage. No response.

ENGINE — Filed 10/27/2025

Catalytic Converter on my 2017 XT5 had weld crack Oct 2025. Causing loud noise and exhaust to enter cabin of vehicle. This was the second convertor to do this. In 2023 I had to have the other catalytic convertor on this same vehicle changed out by the Sewell Cadillac dealership for the same problem. That time I only had 50,000 miles on the car so the dealership did it for free (after I found that they had to cover up to 80,000 and they acted like they didn't know that and had quoted me $2000). This time in 2025 I had 80,805 miles so I had to pay $1010 to have it replaced by an outside repair shop. The technician says since we had to have them both replaced and the car is only 8 years old, it is probably a design flaw. He told me to report it. I see another complaint for the same thing and I see they did a recall on some from California vehicles for something with the catalytic convertor and a recall on some in 2022 and 2023 vehicles for an issue with the catalytic convertor. I expected better from GM and Cadillac. I wonder how many other Cadillac XT5 owners have had this problem but haven't known to report it. You should contact the Cadillac dealerships and see how many they have changed out.