FaultScore

Worst years for a Cadillac DTS

Owners have filed 729 complaints about the Cadillac DTS with NHTSA across model years 2004 to 2011. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2006 Cadillac DTS

356 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly lights.

Cleanest on record

2009 Cadillac DTS

46 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Cadillac DTS year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2011 C 19 4 0 66,082 Electrical System
2010 C 32 5 0 55,397 Electrical System
2009 B 46 1 1 48,000 Electrical System
2008 D 121 10 9 86,382 Electrical System
2007 D 137 10 6 58,000 Electrical System
2006 F 356 25 14 67,000 Lights
2005 C 10 0 0 41,935 Steering
2004 8 1 0 91,225 Electrical System

What breaks on a Cadillac DTS

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 180 24.7%

Worst in 2006

Lights 110 15.1%

Worst in 2006

Engine & Cooling 97 13.3%

Worst in 2006

Steering 59 8.1%

Worst in 2006

Brakes 34 4.7%

Worst in 2007

Airbags 33 4.5%

Worst in 2006

Seats 28 3.8%

Worst in 2006

Worst in 2008

Acceleration & Cruise Control 22 3.0%

Worst in 2006

Other & Unspecified 22 3.0%

Worst in 2007

Body & Structure 17 2.3%

Worst in 2007

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 17 2.3%

Worst in 2006

Transmission & Drivetrain 16 2.2%

Worst in 2007

Tires 15 2.1%

Worst in 2006

Exactly what failed on a Cadillac DTS

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Headlights 15 28.8%
Body 6 11.5%
Cruise Control 6 11.5%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 5 9.6%
Seat Heater/Cooler 4 7.7%
12V/24V/48V Battery 4 7.7%
Pressure Monitoring AND Regulating Systems 3 5.8%
Sidewall 3 5.8%
RIM 3 5.8%
Head Restraint 3 5.8%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Cadillac DTS, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Feb 2006 peak 28 Jul 2026

Cadillac DTS problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Cadillac DTS

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.