What 119 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Cadillac XT5

This model Cadillac XT5 has early failures of engine cooling systems thermostats. The thermostat sticks open causing lower engine temperatures and higher emissions. The first sign you have an issue is a reduced power steering assist message on the instrument display. The engine control module stores a p0128 code as current. Continue driving the vehicle the ECM will shut off AC compressor engagement, so no AC. The next thing that happens is you lose temperature gauge. So you are now driving vehicle with reduced power steering assist, no AC and no way of knowing if the engine is overheating. This is a known issue with the refer to GM bulletin # 17-NA-158 posted May 2017. There has been a such a demand for this thermostat, that parts back orders are common. The volume of failures should be addressed as a recall including refunds to owners who have had to pay for this repair. The fact that a colder running engine typically runs richer based on ECM programming, causes higher emissions. GM hasn’t been helping people with this repair for out of warranty vehicles. Our 2017 XT5 failed at 38,000 miles. Cadillac only offered to pay 30% of the repair leaving a balance of $585.00! This was all because GM’s failed part.

NHTSA ODI 11618973

Our XT5 began getting 'Steering Assist Reduced' message about a year ago. It comes and goes , coming more often now. The problem is the thermostat and is a very common issue with numerous complaints here and on Cadillac forums (below). The problem is, when this issue occurs the AC stops working, and when that happens you have no windshield defrost, and that is a safety problem. Cadillac has TSB's describing this issue but refuses to cover it goodwill as we are slightly out of warranty. The repair is extensive, requiring 4.5 of time. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11616324

The thermostat has malfunctioned twice in 2 years. Driving vehicle and dash warning" STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE", also the temperature gauge was showing COLD and this was after driving for over 30 minutes. Contacted local dealer and was informed this is a KNOWN problem with the thermostat sticking open. My brakes are sticking often and my car often jumps hard when i put it in reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11608934

My car has been in and out of the dealership since [XXX] All the lights come on ( check engine, ABS ,the message reads park assistance off all the lights The car goes crazy and stops running. This happened 3 times on the highway almost got rear ended. It is very scary I can not take this chance anymore. The dealership keeps changing one module after another and keeps telling me it is fixed. However it is not The car is in the dealership ship as of 10 days ago again. I will not pick it and drive it. Either me or someone else gets killed. I also opened a case with GM. However they just keep doing nothing. This matter needs to be addressed asap There is a serious problem, before someone gets killed. My name is [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Can someone please get involved or I will go on TV or the newspaper if I have to. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11591974

At approximately [XXX] on [XXX] ,2024 I was at the intersection of [XXX] when my vehicle stopped running completely. All lights on the dash went out and the doors were locked which prevented me from exiting the vehicle. No systems would operate at all. All I could do was sit there. Fortunately, I had a cell phone with me. I called my local Cadillac Dealer for advice, they had very little. finally a lady there told me she would call a tow company they recommended, which she did and the tow company, Shawnee Auto Body did respond about 20-30 minutes later. In the meantime, a gentleman from a local tree company arrived on the scene and helped me, by placing an orange traffic cone behind the vehicle to keep oncoming vehicles from rearending me. after a few minutes the doors did finally allow me to exit the vehicle, which I was unable to do earlier due to the doors still being locked. Upon exiting the vehicle we raised the hood and discovered the negative battery cable was loose causing all power to vehicle systems to be lost. was the cause of the problem. The replacement Intrstate Brand Battery that i have in the vehicle negative post is smaller than the automobile cable that comes on the car and apparently when the man installed the replacement battery he failed to notify me he was unable to tighten the cable as it should have been which allowed it to become loose and vibrate off the post over a period of time. This is a major problem that needs immediate attention. What if the vehicle would have been on fire or something? I would have been trapped in the vehicle and unable to escape due to the doors remaining locked when power was lost. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11590736

ECM- engine system. Diagnostic code P26C8. Chassis Control Module Requested Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination. The DTC is an informational DTC. The DTC indicates an emission related DTC set in the Chassis Control Module. My service transmission message came on and would not let me go into reverse or drive. The next day the check engine light was on. This vehicle is only 34,650 miles and is a 2017. I bought it on Saturday and this happened on Wednesday!

NHTSA ODI 11590311

My car is it lifts up and down it goes up and down and it looks like it changes in model like it gets wider or something but underneath my feet when I'm driving there's something that feels like it's coming out towards my feet like an air and it blows and it burns it's even shocked me a few times and when I push the gas pedal and makes my foot hurt like this stinging really bad and underneath the steering wheel it looks like something either got pulled out or something's trying to get in I'm really scared and I need someone to look at my car my dad he makes up excuses and stuff it kind of feels like it's not the car that I purchased like it's been switched

NHTSA ODI 11564534

The thermostat is malfunctioning. Vehicle has less than 50,000 miles. Driving vehicle and dash warning" STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE", also the temperature gauge was showing COLD and this was after driving for over 30 minutes. Contacted local dealer and was informed this is a KNOWN problem with the thermostat sticking open. If this had been in the summer the A/C would not have worked. I was informed I could bring in the vehicle to have the codes cleared and the parts would have to be ordered. Due to backlog of parts, it was unknown when the parts would be available. In searching internet there are a significant number of owners who have experienced the same issue. In consulting the mechanic, I use, I was informed this is an issue with the motor in my vehicle. The same motor is in other GMC products, and he has 3 vehicles in his shop with the same issue waiting parts.

NHTSA ODI 11562984

Message Displayed on 2017 Cadillac XT-5 "Steering Assist is Reduced - Drive With Care". No check engine light, and no apparent loss of steering. Noted that Temperature Gauge and Air Conditioning ceased to work. Suspiciously, a 2019 Cadillac XT-5 that I also own, the identical displayed message came on, with identical same mechanical issue, and just learned that an acquaintance with a newer Chevy Blazer just experienced the identical issue also. All vehicles are equipped with OnStar. Coincidence, OR any possibility that GM or OnStar computers have been hacked into, as OnStar has ability to control various functions of vehicles. To correct the issue (possibly only temporary) was to remove the negative battery cable for a short time, and reattach.

NHTSA ODI 11562725

Message Powersteering Assist is reduced. This could cause steering problems and a potential collision. Cause is due to failure of thermostat design and insta llation. Believe an investigation is possibly warranted. GM issued a service bulletin making dealers aware of the faulty design in May 2017. But consumers were not advised of the danger.

NHTSA ODI 11557485

Thermostat gets stuck, gives a steering wheel assist alert. Ac not working and motor sounds like it is in overdrive. Engine temp stays cold.

NHTSA ODI 11549095

Vehicle completely shut off while crossing over a four lane highway to enter a shopping center. Safety could have been highly at risk to both passenger, on coming traffic side, and driver. Luckily the cars coming were far enough back that they were able to stop. I took my vehicle to the dealership where I bought the car brand new in 2018. They test drove the vehicle while hooked to a computer but could not find a problem. They tightened all connections to battery and other components and did updates to the computer on the vehicle. There was no warnings whatsoever that the vehicle was about to completely shut off. Previous to this incident I had been driving on 95S from Warrenton Vs to Clayton NC. I don't even like to think of what would have happened on 95 if my vehicle would have completely shut down. I am sure I probably would not be writing this report. Looking on the web this has happened to others with this same year and model of Cadillac.

NHTSA ODI 11537839

When you put the car in park, reverse, drive it jumps forward or back.

NHTSA ODI 11536329

When you put the car in gear it jumps. now leaking transmission fluid, and transmission needs to be replaced. This has been ongoing and I explained this numerous times in the past 4 years.

NHTSA ODI 11536330

THE 2017 CADILLAC XT5 HAS A DEFECTIVE THERMOSTAT, WHICH SENDS A FALSE SIGNAL THAT THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING. THEREFORE, YOU GET A "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE", WHICH YOUR STEERING TO BE HARD AND NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS IT SHOULD BE. GMC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT FAILED TO REMEDY IT, BUT ISSUED A BULLETIN #17-NA-158 IN MAY OF 2017. THIS PROBLEM IS SO WIDESPREAD THAT THE PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS ON "BACK ORDER" EVERYWHERE.

NHTSA ODI 11526717

While driving my Cadillac XT5 on the busy highway during the early afternoon, without warning the sunroof glass made a loud pop sound immediately followed by shattered glass. Glass fell all over the driver’s head and body impairing my vision and causing me to make sudden stop on the shoulder of the highway. There is problem with the sunroof breaking and shattering glass while driving. Insurance claim filed and private auto glass dealer made repairs in excess of $1300. Shards of glass still remain in the sunroof screen closure until taken to auto detailed for removal at an additional cost to me, the registered owner. I dive in fear that this may occur again without warning which could pose extreme danger or accident.

NHTSA ODI 11516749

While driving the vehicle started to accelerate in its own. There was nothing obstructing the pedal. I could press down on brake with some resistance, but as soon as brake was released the, the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle did not level out with speed but continued to accelerate over 80 mph. This lasted about 8/9 mins, being controlled by riding on the break. It did it again for about 2/3 mins about 15 mins after first occurance. I took the car straight to get it looked at and the mechanic said that they could not find anything wrong with car

NHTSA ODI 11506448

Since 6/2022 and again 7/2022, 10/25/22 1/31/23 Constantly stating service error codes for stabiltrak, antilock brakes, and brake assist not functioning and need service urgently. However when I take it to the dealership they find nothing wrong and further investigated at another Cadillac dealership they also state they found nothing. These errors continue to pop up intermittently and my Cadillac app reports them as needing service.

NHTSA ODI 11504710

The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle overheated and stalled. The power steering assist was reduced with the drive with care message displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact about the thermostat failure, engine, and DTC: P0128. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage 43,806.

NHTSA ODI 11486744

The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH with her granddaughter seated in the rear seat, the vehicle shut off inadvertently in the middle of the road. The message battery low was displayed. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed from the middle of the road to the side of the road. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the electrical system had failed. An unknown repair was completed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11486794

To recall department, I purchased the above car in Jan 2021 since that time I had to take this car in for repairs 3 times concerning steering brake problem and reducing speed and also the thermostat problem. In reviewing this the consumer reports I found out that this was one of the worst years of making the xt5 and a recall was done for 2017 but for the cars that was manufactory in 2016. if a car get on the dealers floor in 2017 most likely it was manufactured in 2016. so I want to know why my car hasn't been notify for a recall and I'm having to take this car to the shop on three or four occasions for the same problem. I would like to somebody to look into this situation and reimburse me for my out of pocket expensive. This should be a manufactory problem and GM should be doing the repairs for free. Please feel free to contact me for any additional questions or concerns. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11481644

The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure mostly occurred while in 4th gear or after a complete stop. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer but the dealer has been unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer advised the contact that they had never heard of such failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11478955

The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side brake line was fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger's side brake line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11470317

The vehicle's park brake system failed to actuate resulting in unsafe parking of vehicle on hills/slopes. The service park brake light activated on the dash. Vehicle was taken to dealership to investigate. They confirmed park brake system was not working. This vehicle has electronic actuators for the park brake function on each rear wheel. The dealership did not find any defective components but determined the vehicle software was the root cause. The software was reset and the system now performs as intended. I am very concerned that a software failure associated with a key parking brake safety system can occur with no known cause.

NHTSA ODI 11466090

The contact owns a 2017 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the engine made a grinding sound, and the vehicle accelerated while the foot was on the brake pedal. The contact did not recall any warning lights on the instrument panel. The contact also had an incident where he accidentally ran into the garage, and the air bags did not deploy; however, the front passenger side of the vehicle was damaged. The contact did not recall any warning lights on the instrument panel. The local dealer did not diagnose any failure; however, the vehicle was repaired. No injuries and medical reports were necessary. The contact stated the vehicle does not have an emergency brake. The dealer did not diagnose any failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000

NHTSA ODI 11459972