Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2005 Cadillac DTS with NHTSA between 2009 and 2017.
The largest single group is the steering.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 5
Against the median year of the Cadillac DTS. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 85
50% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2005 Cadillac DTS
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
330.0%
Median failure at 29,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Median failure at 103,500 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
110.0%
Median failure at 54,871 miles
Lights
110.0%
Median failure at 25 miles
Suspension
110.0%
Median failure at 29,000 miles
Airbags
110.0%
Median failure at 93,000 miles
Electrical System
110.0%
Median failure at 200 miles
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
Median failure at 70,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
220.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
110.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
220.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
330.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
110.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2009peak 2Aug 2017
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 93,000 milesJacksonville, FL1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A SLIGHT MUSTY ODOR WAS PRESENT DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN UNKNOWN CADILLAC DEALER LOCATED IN STUART, FL, WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A LONG PROCESS. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC (LOCATED ON SOUTHSIDE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN AN AIR BAG DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE SET OFF THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/07/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #11016151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,500 milesMaynard, MA1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL GLASS SUNROOF OF 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS SPONTANEOUSLY "EXPLODED" AND SHATTERED. BROKEN GLASS RAINED DOWN INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OVER THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ON TO THE ROADWAY BEHIND WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT OVER A UNCROWDED HIGHWAY AT 62 - 63 MPH APPROXIMATELY AT 6:30 AM ON 6/2/17. SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. THE INTERIOR SUN SHADE WAS OPEN. EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60F. INTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 75F. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 103,500 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO SUNROOF OR INDICATIONS OF PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF CRACK LIKE WHEN ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD OR SOUND OF OBJECT HITTING THE CAR OR SUNROOF PRIOR TO THE "BANG!" AS THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND WERE NO TRUCKS IN AHEAD, OR CARS VERY NEARBY. IT WAS AN UTTERLY UNEVENTFUL AND NON-EXTREME DRIVE IN TERMS OF SPEED, TEMPERATURES, TRAFFIC VOLUME, OR OPERATION. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE REAR EDGE OF GLASS REMAINING IN THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE BENT UPWARD WHETHER FROM THE EXPLOSION OR THE AIR PRESSURE AFTER I HAVE NO IDEA. SUBMITTED AS A GLASS CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10993359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 93,000 milesJacksonville, FL1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A SLIGHT MUSTY ODOR WAS PRESENT DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN UNKNOWN CADILLAC DEALER LOCATED IN STUART, FL, WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A LONG PROCESS. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC (LOCATED ON SOUTHSIDE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN AN AIR BAG DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE SET OFF THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/07/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #11016151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,500 milesMaynard, MA1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL GLASS SUNROOF OF 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS SPONTANEOUSLY "EXPLODED" AND SHATTERED. BROKEN GLASS RAINED DOWN INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OVER THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ON TO THE ROADWAY BEHIND WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT OVER A UNCROWDED HIGHWAY AT 62 - 63 MPH APPROXIMATELY AT 6:30 AM ON 6/2/17. SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. THE INTERIOR SUN SHADE WAS OPEN. EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60F. INTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 75F. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 103,500 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO SUNROOF OR INDICATIONS OF PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF CRACK LIKE WHEN ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD OR SOUND OF OBJECT HITTING THE CAR OR SUNROOF PRIOR TO THE "BANG!" AS THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND WERE NO TRUCKS IN AHEAD, OR CARS VERY NEARBY. IT WAS AN UTTERLY UNEVENTFUL AND NON-EXTREME DRIVE IN TERMS OF SPEED, TEMPERATURES, TRAFFIC VOLUME, OR OPERATION. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE REAR EDGE OF GLASS REMAINING IN THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE BENT UPWARD WHETHER FROM THE EXPLOSION OR THE AIR PRESSURE AFTER I HAVE NO IDEA. SUBMITTED AS A GLASS CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10993359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25 milesBronx, NY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 2006 CADILLAC DTS GO OUT AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY CUT OUT AND I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SO I CAN DRIVE AT NIGHT. II PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER 2006 CADILLAC DTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALER KRISTAL AUTO MALL IN BROOKLYN, NY AND THEY FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY SAID WAS A FAULTY BALLAST. IT WAS FAULTY ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. AND NOW IN THE DTS I HAVE, IT IS FAULTY TOO. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE IN OTHER GM VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10790772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesPembine, WI
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN U8PDATED 8/21/2017
NHTSA complaint #10579217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200 milesPalatine, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DOTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13
NHTSA complaint #10549419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,600 milesHenderson, KY
STEERING
ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT INTERSECTION DURING RAIN STORM STEERING LOCKED FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS.
NHTSA complaint #10512548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,871 milesChesterfield, MO
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OVER TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,871 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,757. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN UPDATED 10/24/2012
NHTSA complaint #10475706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,000 milesAkron, OH
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY REPAIR FOR THE ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 01/04/12
NHTSA complaint #10427232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,000 milesAkron, OH
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY REPAIR FOR THE ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 01/04/12
NHTSA complaint #10427232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesFort Worth, TX
STEERING
WHEN IT RAINS AND WE HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT FRIGHTFUL IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS AS THERE IS MINIMUM CONTROL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE POWER STEERING IS RESTORED. THIS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10273994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.