86 of the
610 complaints filed about the Cadillac STS
are about the electrical system —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
The vehicle experiences a Shift-to-Park malfunction in which it does not consistently recognize that it is in Park, despite being physically shifted into the Park position. When this occurs, the vehicle may fail to shut down properly or behaves as if it is not securely in Park. The condition is reproducible and occurs during normal use. The issue first appeared in approximately mid-2024 at an estimated mileage of 80,000–85,000 miles and continues to occur. No crash or collision has occurred. However, the defect involves core powertrain and electrical systems and presents safety concerns related to reliable gear recognition and vehicle shutdown. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11709379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Air bag on the steering wheel has oozing glue that oozed/leaked out of the airbag and has hardened on outer cover! Lights and radio don’t disconnect or turn off when car is turned off and drain battery.
NHTSA complaint #11548517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Service TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) sensor message and TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the sensor was replaced and reprogrammed on multiple occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V108000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact left a message with a service manager at the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #11470831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 'EXTENDED CRANK'. MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER MADE APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN ATTEMPTS AT FIXING IT TO NO AVAIL. I'M TOLD IT'S THE CHECK VALVE, BUT I HAVE NOT HAD THAT DONE BECAUSE ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER DIDN'T WORK; E.G., NEW COMPUTER (AND REMOVED), BATTERY (AND REMOVED), FUEL PUMP, ETC. VERY FRUSTRATING AND I FEEL IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH AND SAFETY BECAUSE THE CAR ALMOST NEVER STARTS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A DEAD BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #11318139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF WATER WILL CAUSE THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER TO ENGAGE AND IT DOES NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS SAT FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. FIRST THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN YOU LOSE POWER. 3RD ROW LED TAILLIGHT OUT... 400 TO FIX. PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2018 WITH 93K MILES. CURRENTLY AT 104K.
NHTSA complaint #11291164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT SMELLED WIRES BURNING LEFT SIDE WIRE HARNESS WAS MELTING I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON HIGHWAY 51 NORTH AT AROUND D 10:45 IN THE EVENING
NHTSA complaint #11232841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE OWN A 2011 CADILLAC STS. RECENTLY MY WIFE WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT THE HOUSE SHAKE. MY WIFE WAS REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL WAS SO HARD SHE COULD NOT PRESS THE PEDAL DOWN. TO AVOID A CRASH SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO THE STREET. ONCE SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE STREET SHE PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT RESPONDING. THATS WHEN OUR HOME BECAME OUR CAR STOPPER. I DROVE THE CAR AFTERWARDS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL HARD AND WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR FROM MOVING WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO GEAR. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 3 TO 4 HOURS LABOR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THAT AT $149.99 PER HOUR. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD A VEHICLE IN EARLIER SAYING THE SAME THING AND THEY PRETTY MUCH REPLACED ALL OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE CAR AT THE COST OF OVER $3900.00. THAT IS CRAZY TO ME SO I WENT THROUGH THE CAR MYSELF. I REPLACED ALL BRAKES AND ROTORS, REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLEED THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALL THAT FOR THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVE SINCE TRACED THE ELECTRICAL SIDE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE VACUUM BRAKE ASSIST FUSE UNDER THE HOOD WAS BLOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUSE BUT AS SOON AS YOU HIT THE BRAKE IT BLOWS THE FUSE AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10913653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,396.
NHTSA complaint #10909386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A NEW STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10903056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND I HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BACK OF THE CAR. THE KEY FOB WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY AND DRAINED THE BATTERY AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT ITS DRIVEABLE FOR NOW BESIDES THE SLIGHT BANGING NOISE. IT NEED TO BE CHECKED FOR RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10899089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL HAD TOTAL MELTDOWN SURROUNDED BY SMALL FLAMES, AND THE FUSE WAS BLOWN FOR THE ODD INJECTORS. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,920.
NHTSA complaint #10873210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTO START WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10865431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE CHANGED BOTH O2 SENSORS TWICE. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME I NEED ANOTHER O2 SENSOR. ALDATA SHOWS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS NEEDE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10860520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #10837183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP FAILED AFTER CONDENSATION BUILD UP IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE THE HID HEADLAMPS AND CHANGED THE BULBS CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS BUT IT STILL WILL NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND IT WAS NOT COVERED AS BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 53000 MILES. THE COST IS $1695 THEY SAID THE LIGHT FAILED BECAUSE THE SEAL IS BAD AND THIS ALLOWED CONDENSATION TO BUILD UP. I CHECKED AROUND AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR CADILLAC SRX 2010 MODEL YEAR AND NEW OWNERS. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDE SPREAD IT SEEMS MORE LIKE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED EITHER BY A RECALL OR AN EXTENSION IN THE WARRANTY. SEEMS UNFAIR TO MAKE THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10823523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS PROBLEM STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY CAN NO FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CODES IN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SHUTS DOWN AND YOU LOSE EVERTHING LIGHTS, TURN SINGLES, HAZARDS,THE DASH GOES TOTALY OUT AND THE ENGINE STOPS THE BEST YOU CAN DO IT TO PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HOPE YOU DON'T GET HIT. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IT TOWN DRIVING AND ON THE HIGHWAY SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED. I HAVE LOANED MY CAR TO OTHER PEOPLE AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM SO IT IS NOT THE DRIVER. I WILL HAPPEN AND YOU PULL OVER PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP AND YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING AND IT MAY HAPPEN A MILE UP THE ROAD OR IT MAY NOT HAPPEN FOR A WEEK OR A MONTH LATER AND STILL NO CODES.
NHTSA complaint #10763012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SEAT BELT CHIME CONSTANTLY RINGS WITH THE SEAT BELT CONNECTED. GAS LOW NOTIFICATION LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL ON EMPTY. NO HEATED SEATS. I THINK THE ECM NEEDS TO BE RESET.SUN ROOF GOES UP BUT NOT SLIDES OPEN. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN.AUTOMATIC CAR STARTER DOESN'T WORK. 2 YEARS AGO, MY SON IN LAW, STARTED THIS CAR IN BELOW ZERO TEMP AND IT STARTED ON FIRE. HE PUT IT OUT AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS OK. SOMETHING MAKES NOISE OCCASIONALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10749790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY CADILLAC STS A (SERVICE ELECTRIC SYSTEM) WARNING FLASHED ON MY DASH. A FEW MOMENTS LATER EVERYTHING ELECTRIC IN MY CAR STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. THE RADIO, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, AND FINALLY THE ENGINE. I CRUISED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10732191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.