47 of the
610 complaints filed about the Cadillac STS
are about the transmission —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
47
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
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.
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the contact became aware of a fluid leak. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a pinion seal leak on the rear axle. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,721.
NHTSA complaint #11639843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I NOTICED THE GEAR SHIFTER LOCKED IN PLACED WHERE ONE CAN NOT MOVE THE UNIT FROM PARK TO DRIVE; I RECEIVE THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE ON THE VIC VISUAL INFORMATION CENTER. I BELIEVED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME CAR IN THE 2006 CADILLAC STS; THE SHIFT TO PARK ERROR MESSAGE ALSO COMES ON AFTER DRIVING AND UNABLE TO TURN THE UNIT OFF (RED LIGHTS OF COURSE) UNTIL THE BATTERY DIES. NO RECALL
NHTSA complaint #10892779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLETE FAILURE OF SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE AN REAR DIFFERENTIAL 2006 CADILLAC STS PLZ REF: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V589000 COMPONENT(S): POWER TRAIN RECALL SUBJECT : DRIVE AXLE SEAL LEAK GM RECALL NO. N070204 CAR WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET WHEN GRINDING NOISE BEGAN AND LOST ALL GEARS. ARE REPAIRS COVERABLE?
NHTSA complaint #10836312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, DROPS OF OIL WERE VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE SEAL FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. .....UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF UPDATED 03/17/16.
NHTSA complaint #10825095 — 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10713602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR PINION SEAL ON MY CAR HAS FAILED A LONG TIME AGO. IT IS ODDLY STRANGE HOW THE 2005-2007 CADILLAC BUILDS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, YET, SOMEHOW MY VIN ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDER PROBLEM THAN THE BULLETIN COVERS. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE DRIVING ONE DAY AND THEIR CAR IS GOING TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM!
NHTSA complaint #10703880 — 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.
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD BANG, MY CAR SWERVED, MY RPMS REVVED UP, WHITE SMOKE AND I SMELLED BURNING. I PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL CERTIFIED CADILLAC DEALERSHIP, MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED RELATED TO A REAR PINION SEAL LEAK. THERE'S A RECALL FOR THAT EXACT PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL BUT MY VIN ISN'T COVERED. HOW CAN I GET MY VIN ON THE RECALL LIST?
NHTSA complaint #10680583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND STOPPED AFTER REACHING 35 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
NHTSA complaint #10673044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 CADILLAC STS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A THUMPING AND TUGGING SOUND FROM THE FRONT TIRES. *TGW THE DEALER STATED THE BELTS WERE STARTING TO SEPARATE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10648097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2005 CADILLAC STS BRAKES LOCKED UP AND CAUSED MY CAR TO CRASH. AFTER RESEARCH I AM SHOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, WHEN CHANGING GEARS YOU CAN HEAR THE GEARS CHANGING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I RESEARCHED THIS AS WELL AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A DEFECT AND RECALL ON THE AXLE. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE THAT I JUST PURCHASED FOR ALITTLE OVER 7 MONTHS. THERE IS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. AS I AM DRIVING, THE HOOD AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF MY HOOD BEING AJAR. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS AS THOUGHT IT IS GOING OUT AS WELL. BEFORE I CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY I WANTED TO FIRST GIVE GMC AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUES. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, MY REVERSE LIGHTS HAS NEVER WORKED. THE UNKNOWN OTHER WOULD BE THE AXLE AND TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10610116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR SIMPLY MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STEER, BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. THE GEARS WERE CORRODED AND AS A RESULT THE GEAR SHIFT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 47,000 AND IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD THAT GM DID NOT PUT A SEALANT ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND AS A RESULT WATER AND ICE AND ALL OTHER WEATHER AFFECTED THE GEARS AND LITERALLY RUSTED OUT. I AM ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT WHEN THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, THEY WILL NOW PUT THAT SEALANT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. TO ME THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND ARE NOW GOING TO BE SURE A SEALANT IS PART OF THE FIX. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS JUST GETTING BACK ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IF I HAD BEEN DOING 75 MILES AN HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I TRULY BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE CAR JUST STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS AND I HAD NO CONTROL. FINALLY, I GOT THE CAR TO STOP GOING BACKWARDS WHEN I PLACED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT I AM THE THIRD LOW MILEAGE CAR THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH THIS DEFECT. ANYONE LIVING IN WET AND SNOWY CLIMATES IS AT SERIOUS RISK. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AWD GM VEHICLES IS WARRANTED. MEANWHILE, I HAVE A 5 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED IN MARCH AND SO GM DOES NOT BELIEVE THEY SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR NICKEL. I BELIEVE THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME SERIOUS ACCIDENTS SOON AND WANT THEM TO RECALL THE CARS TO HAVE THE SEALANT PLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES AND TO CHECK FOR CORROSION.
NHTSA complaint #10605307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.