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Cadillac Power Steering Recalls and Increased Effort at Low Speeds
Loss of power steering assist is the shared problem across these Cadillac notices, with increased steering effort especially at lower speeds. CTS and ATS appear repeatedly. The February 2019 notice covers certain 2016–2018 CTS and 2017 ATS vehicles, while the March 2025 notice covers certain 2016–2018 CTS and 2017–2018 ATS vehicles. Both specify replacement of the power steering gear assembly. A separate June 2021 notice covers certain 2021 Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles, identifying a software issue that can remove assist at startup or while driving. That SUV recall uses a power steering module software update.
Warning signs to watch for
- 2021-06-17 Escalade steering recall — loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving, with increased steering effort particularly at lower speeds.
- 2025-03-20 CTS and ATS steering recall — greater steering effort, especially at low speeds.
- 2019-02-07 CTS and ATS steering recall — higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of these steering notices carries a stop-driving or park-outside instruction. The June 17, 2021 notice concerning power steering module software on certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles does not tell owners to stop driving. The March 20, 2025 notice covering certain 2016–2018 CTS and 2017–2018 ATS vehicles also does not tell owners to stop driving. The February 7, 2019 notice covering certain 2016–2018 CTS and 2017 ATS vehicles likewise does not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
For the June 2021 Escalade and Escalade ESV recall, the power steering module software is updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. For both the February 2019 and March 2025 CTS and ATS steering recalls, dealers replace the power steering gear assembly free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report steering problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under steering for the Cadillac models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Cadillac ATS | 3 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2025 | GM Cars: Electric Power Steering Assist May Fail | high |
| Jun 17, 2021 | GM SUVs: Software Issue May Cut Power Steering | high |
| Feb 7, 2019 | Cadillac CTS Electric Power Steering May Fail | medium |
Common questions
Which CTS and ATS model years appear in these steering recalls?
The February 2019 notice identifies certain 2016–2018 CTS and 2017 ATS vehicles. The March 2025 notice identifies certain 2016–2018 CTS and 2017–2018 ATS vehicles. Both describe possible failure of electric power steering assist and specify steering gear assembly replacement.
Can the Escalade steering recall be repaired over the air?
The June 2021 notice specifies a power steering module software update through OTA or a dealer, free of charge. It covers certain 2021 Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles whose software issue may cause assist loss at startup or while driving.
What steering change do these Cadillac notices describe?
These notices describe increased steering effort when power steering assist is lost, particularly at lower speeds. The June 2021 Escalade notice specifically says assist can be lost at startup or while driving. The notices do not tell owners to stop driving.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.