31 of the
610 complaints filed about the Cadillac STS
are about the stability control —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
31
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
Stability & Traction Control complaints by model year
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.
THE CAR TRACTION CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD THE SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM COME ON. THE ABS LIGHT WAS LIT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR TURN EASILY. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE DITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAD HEADLIGHTS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WITH BULBS POPPING OUT INSIDE AND MOISTURE. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE BY THE BODY SHOP THE NEW HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. THE AIRBAGS NEVER CAME OUT, AND THERE IS A MESSAGE DISPLAYED INDICATING THEY NEEDED SERVICE. IT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED BY THE BODY SHOP. ALSO PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE STEERING HAD AN ISSUE CAUSING PAIN TO MY SHOULDER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS WRONG AFTER THE STEERING SERVICE LIGHT REMAINED AFTER A GEAR REPLACEMENT AND THE SAME ISSUE CAUSED PAIN. TIME PASSED AND THE SHOULDER GOT WORSE. THERE HAS BEEN 2 WHEEL SENSORS WITH ISSUES. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL WARRANTY FOR THE TIMING BELT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I AM ALSO NOW HAVING ISSUES WITH THE COMPUTER SCREEN. I CANNOT CHANGE THE TIME ANYMORE.
NHTSA complaint #11271159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILED AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO RIMROCK CADILLAC GMC (LOCATED AT 840 SHILOH RD, BILLINGS, MT 59106, (406) 651-5000). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11253511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY HUSBAND BACKED INTO A POST AND IT LUNCHED HIM FORWARD, AS FAR AS THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING. HE ENTER A BUILDING THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. HE WAS IN A PARKING LOT.
NHTSA complaint #11172321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, THE CAR STALLS TEMPORARILY NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE OR ACCLIMATE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, THE TRACTION ACTIVE SYMBOL IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS IT SEEMS TO ALL WORK AGAIN, HOWEVER IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS OTHER CARS ARE EITHER ASSUMING I WILL BE AT THEIR SPEED, OR ASSUME I AM ALLOWING THEM TO GO WHEN IN FACT I AM STUCK. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND I AM BECOMING SCARED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #11001777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND THE STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10940227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO A THREE LANE HIGHWAY FROM A COMPLETED STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE STABILITRACK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILITRACK WOULD NEED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.
NHTSA complaint #10854852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE THE SERVICE STABILITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10723486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN COLD WEATHER CAR WILL NOT TAKE OFF FROM THE START AND THE MOTOR BOGS DOWN AND WILL NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES CREATING A HAZARD TO DRIVER AND ON COMING TRAFFIC ABS LIGHT COMES ON, STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON IF YOU RESTART THE CAR ALL THE ERRORS GO AWAY BUT STILL STORED ON COMPUTER MEMORY.
NHTSA complaint #10690449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLAMMED INTO AN ON COMING CAR IN THE OTHER LANE. THIS CAUSED PERMANENT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AS OUR AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED CAUSING US TO SLAM OUR HEADS OFF WINDSHIELD AND SIDE DOOR WINDOW.
NHTSA complaint #10672833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AT THE POSTED 70 MPH SPEED MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE CARS ENGAGED SUDDENLY BEGINS TO RAPIDLY POWER DOWN. A FEW MOMENTS LATER I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN 40 MPH AS THE TRANSITION REVIVED TO 2X NORMAL LEVELS. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE AND TURN OFF THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE WHILE THE TRANSITION LIGHT REMAINED LIGHT UP. OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT/ENGINE POWERING DOWN SITUATION HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND ALMOST A DAILY SITUATION I EXPECT--NOT A COMFORTING FEELING WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE. I TOOK THE CAR THE A LOCAL MECHANIC TODAY AND FOR ONCE THE TRANSMITION LIGHT WAS NOT ON AND THE TRACTION STABILITY SITUATION WAS NOT A PROBLEM--GO FIGURE. ANYWAY, THE MECHANIC TESTED THE CAR AND SAID THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR AND CAUSING THE ISSUE. HE WAS NOT 100% SURE AND RECOMMENDED I KEEP DRIVING THE CAR AND BRING IN ONCE THE ISSUE POPS UP AGAIN--SURE IT WILL. DIFFICULT TO PROVE WITHOUT BEING AN EXPERT MECHANIC BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT WITH THE CAR CREATING THIS ISSUE AND THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A NEWLY ENGINEERED MOISTURE SEALED PART. ALL ACCELERATION ISSUES LIKE THIS ARE VERY SERIOUS AS GM SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. I REPLACED THE SAME SENSOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO AND PROBLEM PERSISTENT OVER THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME. NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE CADILLAC BRAND.
NHTSA complaint #10669370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY( AT NIGHT), GOING 70MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I LOST ALL POWER, BRAKES, STEERING, LIGHTS. ON DASH MESSAGE STATED "ACCESSORY ACTIVE" AND THEN "SHIFT TO PARK." TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY AND CAM/CRANK SHAFT ALONG WITH A COUPLE OTHER SMALL THINGS. GOT THE CAR BACK, AND 1 WEEK LATER, THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN BUT WORSE. IT WOULD DO IT REPEATEDLY, AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS. A COUPLE OF TIMES RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION! TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY CHANGED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. GOT THE CAR BACK AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED!
NHTSA complaint #10641345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND VARIOUS WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10640139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND, AFTER ONE ATTEMPT, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10631580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A CITY ROADWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, ALMOST CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO COLLIDE WITH MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE DEALER, LAWLEY'S GM STORE IN SIERRA VISTA, AZ. WHERE I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER WHAT HAPPENED...HE SENT A TOW TRUCK TO PICKUP THE VEHICLE AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDING REPLACEMENT...I BOUGHT A NEW ONE AND HAD IT INSTALLED. RAN FINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER WHICH THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS WITH ONCOMING VEHICLES. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN, HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN AND THIS TIME WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLES COMPUTER WAS NOT PROGRAMMED RIGHT AND THAT IT ALSO NEEDED THROTTLE BODY HARNESS...BOUGHT THE HARNESS AND HAD IT INSTALLED AS WELL AS THE DEALER REPROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER. CAR DID WELL FOR A FEW MONTHS WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN (VEHICLE STOPPING UNEXPECTEDLY), THIS TIME APPROACHING A MAJOR CROSSWALK AND ONCE AGAIN CAUSING THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO COME A ABRUPT STOPS, FORTUNATELY A CITY POLICE VEHICLE WAS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CROSSWALK AND THE OFFICER WITNESSED WHAT HAPPENED, PUT HIS VEHICLE'S EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND CAME OVER TO HELP ME PUSH OUT FROM THE STREET TO A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT WHERE I ONCE AGAIN CALLED THE DEALER, HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE THROTTLE BODY PIN CONNECTORS HAD TO BE SOLDERED ON WHICH THEY DID. CAR IS RUNNING OK FOR NOW, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT I MAY BE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WILL ONCE AGAIN STOP UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.THERE ARE CONSUMER POSTS ON THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB.
NHTSA complaint #10607645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AT 20 MPH, AND ALSO SHUT OFF 5 TIMES AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE CLUSTER PANEL TURNED OFF, BUT THE RADIO STAYED ON. THE ODOMETER SHOWED A MESSAGE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). I PULLED OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE EACH TIME. THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP SAID THAT REAR AXLE PINION SEAL WAS THE ONLY RECALL FOR MY STS, BUT I AM EXPERIENCING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V020000 , AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V007000 ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10505490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY DURING STRONG ELECTRICAL STORM. LIGHTNING APPEARED TO HIT A TREE NEARBY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON, INCLUDING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNINGS. CALL WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND VEHICLE TOWED TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT WAS A BOLT NEAR WIRE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE POWER CONTROL MODULE HAD WORN INSULATION OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE.IF INDEED LIGHTNING/POWER SURGE DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, IMPROPERLY LOCATED BOLT OR DESIGN WOULD SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10473982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.