FaultScore

Cadillac STS engine problems

83 of the 610 complaints filed about the Cadillac STS are about the engine — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

83

Complaints

14%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

4

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1999 STS 8 9.6%

Median failure at 94,793 miles

2000 STS 3 3.6%

Median failure at 98,000 miles

2001 STS 2 2.4%

Median failure at 24,100 miles

2002 STS 1 1.2%
2003 STS 3 3.6%

Median failure at 16,650 miles

2004 STS 1 1.2%

Median failure at 5,350 miles

2005 STS 19 22.9%

Median failure at 72,500 miles

2006 STS 28 33.7%

Median failure at 77,402 miles

2007 STS 5 6.0%

Median failure at 103,000 miles

2008 STS 11 13.3%

Median failure at 107,063 miles

2009 STS 2 2.4%

Median failure at 140,000 miles

What owners said

2009 Cadillac STS Rupert, WV

ENGINE

The known timing chain issue GM done a warranty for to fix it but won’t fix it now. My car is running sluggish because of it and had numerous times that it wouldn’t go up to the speed limit almost caused accidents because of it and I’m afraid to even drive it anymore knowing that it’s a time bomb waiting to happen that could blow up on the highway that can cause accidents.

NHTSA complaint #11732370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS Amarillo, TX

ENGINE

Dealership had ownership of car and should have replaced the timing chain before selling car to me, which they did not and after time for repairs to be done before time ran out, I had to pay for repairs, causing me be be out $3000+ dollars for repairs should have been covered by the warranty.

NHTSA complaint #11669621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS Weymouth, MA

ENGINE

The Cadillac Company sent me a letter several years ago informing me of a premature timing chain wear and the illumination of the Service Engine light. They knew about this defective engine problem but they did not recall the vehicle. Instead they extended the engine warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles. I have only 90,000 miles on my vehicle but I've owned it for over 10 years and now the check engine light is illuminated. The Cadillac dealer refuses to extend the warranty. This is a safety issue because if the engine were to fail the driver would also lose power steering and power brakes putting the safety of the vehicle occupants and others at risk. I believe that this vehicle and other GM vehicles with the 3.6 liter engine should be recalled and repaired at no cost to the vehicle owner.

NHTSA complaint #11443623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Cadillac STS at 56,000 miles Rego Park, NY

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE PANEL GOES "OFF" SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR COMPLETELY. THE PANEL BOARD IS COMPLETELY DARK, NO ELECTRIC SUPPLY, NO GAS SUPPLY.

NHTSA complaint #11342769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac STS Port Arthur, TX

ENGINE

IT JUST STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, AND IT DOSENT GO NO FASTER THAN 40MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11255603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac STS at 155,000 miles Midland, MI

ENGINE

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOSES ENGINE/ ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURS, BRAKES AND STEERING LOSE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY CREATING A THREAT TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. THE VEHICLE THEN IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE PROPER STARTING PROCEDURE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IS INCONSISTENT. IT MAY START IMMEDIATELY UPON COMMAND OR IT MAY CAUSE A THEFT PROCEDURE TO INITIATE. THE VEHICLES DIC WILL POSSIBLY SHOW THE FOLLOWING PROMPTS JUST BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN FAILURE OCCURS; SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM SOON, SERVICE A/C SYSTEM SOON. DURING THE SHUTDOWN FAILURE, NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE OPERABLE BUT POWER IS STILL AVAILABLE TO THE CAR ALLOWING THE DIC TO PROMPT 'NO FOB DETECTED' OR 'THEFT ATTEMPTED' AND THE FOB WILL INTERMITTENTLY ALLOW YOU TO SEND LOCK/ UNLOCK COMMANDS DURING THE SHUTDOWN FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS IN ANY SCENARIO AND IS INTERMITTENT IN THE ASPECT OF NO FAILURE OCCURS FOR A WEEK OR 5 FAILURES OCCUR IN A DAY. I CANNOT DETERMINE WHEN THE FAILURES BEGAN HAPPENING CONSIDERING I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 155000 MILES AND THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY 3 OF MY OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A MIDLAND MICHIGAN CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BEING DIAGNOSED.

NHTSA complaint #11244847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Cadillac STS at 100,000 miles Andover, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SPUTTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR TOW DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WOODWORTH CADILLAC (339 N. MAIN STREET, ANDOVER, MA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11182836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Cadillac STS Andover, MA

ENGINE

PURCHASED 2006 CADILLAC STS BUILT ON JUNE 21 2005 LAST DAY OF 2005 MODEL. CAR HAS HAD ALL THE ISSUES THAT 22005 VEHICLE HAD. JUNE 23RD 2005 WAS FIRST DAY OF PRODUCTION. AT EVERY CORNER VIN # ARE NOTED HOWEVER FOR THIS MODEL THE BUILD DAYS WHICH NOTED BY CADILLAC ARE THE IMPORTANT FACTORS. I DON'T THINK COINCIDENCE THAT I'VE BEEN COMPANLING TO CADILLACAND ASKING FOR HELP WITH ZERO HELP. CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR 200000 AND 12 YEARS HOWEVER CADILLAC ALWAYS SAYS VIN EVEN THOUGH DATES ARE THE ONLY THING NOTED. I HAVE CALLED AND E,AIL FOR 3 YEARS. MY CAR IS OFF ROAD AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO LOOK AND EVEN IF I PAID THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT THE ISSUES. MY CAR IS IN ABSOLUTE LIMBO NEITHER A 2006 OR 05 OR WHATEVER. THEY HAVE REFUSED EVERY STEP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BASED ON RECALLS

NHTSA complaint #11182238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS at 80,000 miles Dunlap, IL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THEY TURNED OFF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT EXCEED 25 MPH. THE FAILURE PRODUCED ERROR CODES 08, 09, 16, 17, 18, AND 19. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #11180212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Cadillac STS at 279,900 miles Oakland, CA

ENGINE

WITHOUT WARNING MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING . I CAN MOVE THE GREER WITH OUT IT COLLECTING ANY GREER . NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NOTHING . I PULLED THE PARKING LOT AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT STREET .

NHTSA complaint #11144600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS at 130,000 miles EL Paso, TX

ENGINE

RECALL.I AM AN ACTIVE DUTY SAILOR AND MISSING SEVERAL NOTICES OF THE INTIAL RECALL.....ENGINE REDUCTION OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE...PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN WEAR REPROGRAM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE...WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 15MPH....THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY I-10 INTERSTATE...IS THERE AWAY TO REOPEN THIS RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11024670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Cadillac STS at 83,000 miles Huntington Beach, CA

ENGINE

ON THURSDAY 18 MAY 2017, WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 405 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT NORMAL SPEEDS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS OUT; AND THE BRAKES LOST POWER ASSIST. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND WORSENED, SO I EXITED THE FREEWAY TO SURFACE STREETS AND BEGAN THE TRIP BACK SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 405 TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. WHEN STOPPED ON SURFACE STREETS (AND ON THE FREEWAY), IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND ADD FUEL TO THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. ALSO, IT WAS NECESSARY TO APPLY EXTRA STRONG PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF POWER ASSIST. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DEALER AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO RESTART. AFTER EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE OF ENGINE INTERNAL PARTS, DEALER DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A ROCKER ARM HAD BROKEN AT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS, RESULTING IN DEBRIS FALLING THROUGH THE VALVE OPENING INTO THE CYLINDER AND SCORING THE VALVE SEAT AND THE PISTON. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE. -- AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD ACCUMULATED 83,000 MILES OF MODERATE DRIVING, AND WAS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 11 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER IN DECEMBER 2005, AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY BY THAT DEALER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. SUBSEQUENTLY, A NEW (REMANUFACTURED) ENGINE WAS PURCHASED FROM AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AT A COST OF $12,678.25. THE VEHICLE WAS WITH THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF SIX WEEKS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR AND INSTALLATION. -- CLEARLY, HAD THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, INTENSIVE ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO SAFELY EXIT THE FREEWAY AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP (ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER ASSIST ON THE BRAKES). THIS WOULD HAVE PLACED MY PASSENGERS IN VERY HIGH DANGER AND PERSONAL RISK.

NHTSA complaint #11002667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS at 92,000 miles Rocklin, CA

ENGINE

ENGINE BLOCK DETERERATING FROM INSIDE OUT. LEEKING FLUID. ALL SERVICES MADE AND CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. SERVICED BY RELIABLE CADILLAC, ROSEVILLE CA

NHTSA complaint #10984500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS at 121,361 miles Philadelphia, PA

ENGINE

PURCHASED VEHICLE 11- 2011 (65,498) 10-(2012) FIRST CK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE AND EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE FOR CK ENGINE LIGHT LAST THREE YEARS 2014-THRY-16 NOW 17 THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING OR SITTING WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE THIS IS A ISSUE FOR ME BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT GETTING REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE IS IN THE KERBECK CADILLAC SERVICE DEALER SINCE 1/19/2017 FOR THE SAME ISSUE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND PARK TO SHIFT I'VE COMPLAIN TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CASE NUMBER ON THIS ISSUE , BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THEIR OWN VEHICLE IN THE MEAN TIME I', STILL PAYING FOR A UNSAFE VEHICLE , IF THE MAKER OF THE CAR CAN'T CORRECT THEIR OWN ISSUE THEN WHO CAN, WHY DOES ISSUE HAVE TO FALL IN THE CONSUMER LAP ? WHY DO I HAVE TO DRIVE AND PAY FOR THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. NO-ONE WANTS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE WHY KEEP GIVING ME THAT CT BACK IF THEY CAN'T CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ,THEY KEEP BLAMING IT ON THE MILEAGE THEN WHY SELL THESE VEHICLE WITH THE OUTRAGE PRICE TAGS KNOWING THAT IT THAT BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN A FEW YEARS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR FIVE YEARS (JUST PUT APPROX ANOTHER 66,000 MILES, SO THEY ARE USING THIS AS EXCUSE THEN DON'T SELL CARS WITH HIGH MILES . THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT CONSUMER SAFETY NOT JUST THE MONEY. IN THE BEGINNING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE STATIONARY THEN YEARS PASS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION CITY DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10945231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Cadillac STS at 140,000 miles Newbury, OH

ENGINE

VEHICLE DETECTS FAULT AND DISPLAYS MESSAGE TO SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. SPECIFIC PROBLEM NOT YET DIAGNOSED. WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS, THE DISPLAY STATES THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. THIS CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AS THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 10-15 MPH. PRESSING GAS PEDAL CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEAR SLOWING VEHICLE FURTHER. CANNOT SAFELY MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC, BRAKES REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER PEDAL PRESSURE DUE TO LOW VACUUM BOOST AFTER ENGINE POWER REDUCED. INSUFFICIENT WARNING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. PROBLEM IS NOT WITH ENGINE OR POWERTRAIN, BUT ENGINE POWER IS CUT (ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH AS A RESULT) IN RESPONSE TO DETECTED STABILITY SYSTEM ERROR. ENGINE RUNS FINE IF TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. NO OVERHEATING, OIL LEVEL IS FINE, GASOLINE IS GOOD, NO EXTERNAL PROBLEMS. AFTER RESTARTING CAR DRIVES FINE INITIALLY, EVENT RECURS WITHIN 1 MILE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO JUSTIFY THIS KIND OF INTENTIONAL VEHICLE CONTROL BEHAVIOR. EXTREMELY POOR DESIGN THAT CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN A STABILITY SYSTEM ERROR IS DETECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10940234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS at 120,168 miles Philadelphia, PA

ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON VEHICLE START SHUTTING DOWN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A PA INTERSTATE AND ON A CITY STREET THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SERVAL OCCASION , THEN THE PARK TO SHIFT LIGHTS COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME IS UNABLE TO SHUT OFF. AT LEASE THREE TIME THIS YEAR 2016 (APR#7TH OCT 26TH AND NOV 3RD EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, APPROX SIX TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOV 2011.

NHTSA complaint #10933939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Cadillac STS at 150,000 miles Henderson, KY

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10927880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Cadillac STS at 105,000 miles Henrico, VA

ENGINE

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.

2006 Cadillac STS at 60,000 miles Wilbraham, MA

ENGINE

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.

2007 Cadillac STS at 126,000 miles Shaker Heights, OH

ENGINE

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.

Other Cadillac STS problems