The 2017 ATS is a sharp-handling compact luxury sedan undermined by catastrophic 2.0T engine failures and chronic transmission cooler leaks. The turbocharged four-cylinder has proven to be a ticking time bomb, while the V6 is significantly more reliable.
2.0L Turbo Catastrophic Engine Failure (Piston/Bearing)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: sudden loss of power under load, metallic knocking from crankcase, oil consumption 1+ quart per 1,000 miles before failure, check engine light with misfire codes, complete engine seizure in worst cases
Fix: The 2.0T LTG engine suffers from piston ring land failures, spun rod bearings, and scored cylinder walls. Carbon buildup exacerbates weak piston design. Repair requires complete engine rebuild or replacement short block. 18-24 labor hours for R&R plus machining/parts. Many shops won't rebuild these—they swap in reman long blocks.
Estimated cost: $6,500-9,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Lines Leak
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid puddles under engine bay, burnt transmission fluid smell, low fluid warning on dash, transmission slipping or delayed engagement if leak progresses
Fix: The cooler lines running to the radiator corrode where they connect, or the cooler itself develops pinhole leaks. Often combined with the plastic quick-connects cracking. Requires cooler line set replacement, sometimes radiator if integrated cooler is damaged. 3-4 hours labor, must flush and refill transmission fluid.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Electric Power Steering Failures
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: intermittent steering assist loss with warning message, complete loss of power assist while driving, steering wheel feels extremely heavy suddenly, service power steering message on DIC
Fix: Subject to NHTSA recalls, but failures persist even after recall repairs. Control module or steering gear assembly fails. GM issued TSBs for software reflash first, but many require full steering rack replacement. 4-5 hours labor for rack R&R, must perform alignment after.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
CUE Infotainment System Freezing/Failure
Common · low severitySymptoms: touchscreen unresponsive or phantom touches, system reboots randomly while driving, backup camera black screen, navigation freezes, audio cuts out
Fix: The CUE system uses a capacitive touchscreen that delaminates and fails. Early fix attempts involved software updates, but hardware replacement is usually needed. Requires complete CUE module replacement and reprogramming. 2-3 hours labor. GM extended warranty coverage on some units, but 2017s are mostly out of coverage now.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Transmission Mount Failure
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk when shifting from park to drive, excessive vibration at idle, lurching sensation during acceleration, visible transmission sag if inspected on lift
Fix: The hydraulic transmission mount deteriorates, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. More common on 2.0T due to torque characteristics. Straightforward mount replacement. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $300-500
Direct Injection Carbon Buildup (2.0T)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: rough idle when cold, misfires under load, reduced fuel economy, hesitation on acceleration, check engine light with multiple misfire codes
Fix: Direct injection means no fuel washing over intake valves, causing severe carbon deposits. Requires walnut blasting service every 40-60k miles. Can mask or accelerate the piston ring failures. 4-6 hours labor to remove intake manifold, blast all four runners, reassemble.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Hard pass on the 2.0T unless you're getting it for parts-car money; V6 models are acceptable with thorough pre-purchase inspection and maintenance records, but Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3-series are more reliable luxury alternatives in this segment.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.