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2009 Cadillac Dts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Cadillac Dts do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

25 reports with mileage · 10 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

35 reports
48,000 miles · Apr 24, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACKED ONTO THE ROAD,THE CAR SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. I TRIED RESTARTING IT,BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD...I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER..WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY,I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE REAR SEAT HAD SHOR…

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I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACKED ONTO THE ROAD,THE CAR SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. I TRIED RESTARTING IT,BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD...I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER..WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY,I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE REAR SEAT HAD SHORTED OUT...I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALLS ON THE FUSE BOX THAT THEY NEW OF..I WAS TOLD A NEW FUSE BOX AND ASSOCIATED COSTS WOULD RUN $716.00, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE.. THE FUSE BOX COST ALONE WAS OVER $400.00. MY CAR HAD 48,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED..I HAVE HAD MANY CARS IN MY TIME AND NEVER HAD A FUSE BOX SHORT OUT..IF THIS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY,I WOULD HAVE LOST P/S,,P/B ECT. AND THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL...GM IS AWARE OF THIS,BUT TO MYKNOWLEDGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.INCIDENTLY ,THE DEALERSHIP HAD FUSE BOXES IN STOCK......

NHTSA ODI #10980310

76,000 miles · Sep 22, 2016
Service Brakes

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY MY CRUISE CONTROL KEPT TURNING ITSELF OFF AND ON. A DRIVER TRAVELING BEHIND ME LET ME KNOW THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON AS IF I WERE RIDING THE BRAKE (WHICH I WAS NOT) AND THEN WOULD GO OFF AGAIN - THIS KEPT REPEATING. IT SEEMED THIS WAS WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING, AS IT WOULD GO O…

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WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY MY CRUISE CONTROL KEPT TURNING ITSELF OFF AND ON. A DRIVER TRAVELING BEHIND ME LET ME KNOW THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON AS IF I WERE RIDING THE BRAKE (WHICH I WAS NOT) AND THEN WOULD GO OFF AGAIN - THIS KEPT REPEATING. IT SEEMED THIS WAS WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING, AS IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKE WAS ON & BACK ON WHEN THE BRAKE WENT OFF. I HAVE SINCE SEEN REPORTS ON LINE OF THIS HAPPENING WITH OTHER CADILLACS AND IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS VEHICLES BEHIND ME DO NOT KNOW WHEN I AM ACTUALLY BRAKING. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BUT HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ONE, NOR HAVE I FOUND ONE WHEN SEARCHING ON LINE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT OTHER VEHICLES (GM, BUT NOT CADILLACS) HAVE HAD SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10908661

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2016
Unknown Or Other

LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. THIS IS A SYSTEM TO WARN YOU WHEN YOU CROSS OVER INTO ANOTHER LANE.

NHTSA ODI #10898653

35,000 miles · Jan 30, 2016
Service Brakes

I PURCHASED MY 2009 DTS CADILLAC FOLEY IN NOV. OF 2008. PRESENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I SERVICED MY BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. IN DRIVING FROM CHICAGO NORTH TO HIGHLAND PARK ILLINOIS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY …

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I PURCHASED MY 2009 DTS CADILLAC FOLEY IN NOV. OF 2008. PRESENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I SERVICED MY BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. IN DRIVING FROM CHICAGO NORTH TO HIGHLAND PARK ILLINOIS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT IN FRONT MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. ON RESUMING DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I GOT OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND DROVE CAUTIOUSLY TO MY HOME AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED. I WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE FLUID LINES WERE CORRODED AND WERE LEAKING. THERE HAD BEEN NO SIGNS OF LEAKING IN MY CARPORT CONCRETE FLOOR. THE SERVICE MECHANIC TOLD ME ON REPLACING THE TWO LINES TO THE REAR BRAKES AND THAT ALL OF THE LINES WERE ORDINARY STEEL. APPARENTLY THE SUDDEN STOP I MADE BURST THE CORRODED BRAKE FLUID LINES. THE SERVICE MECHANIC REPLACED THE LINES TO THE REAR BRAKE WITH VINYL COATED LINES, PHOTO ATTACHED. MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I HADN'T ALLOWED ENOUGH SPACE TO THE VEHICLE AHEAD FOR JUST SORT OF AN INCIDENT. THIS IS THE THIRD CADI THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE YOUR OLDSMOBILE DIVISION WAS ELIMINATED. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT GENERAL MOTORS ISSUE AN ALERT TO CADI OWNERS AND OTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE OWNERS, OF THE NEED TO EXAMINE THE BRAKE LINES FOR CORROSION. FURTHER, IF THE PRESENT GM CARS DON'T USE COATED BRAKE LINES, THE COATED LINES NEED TO BE USED. MY CONCERN IS THAT OTHER CADI OWNERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. IN MY OPINION, CADI NEEDS TO NOTIFY CADI OWNERS THAT BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE INSPECTED IF OTHER ARE SERVICING CADI, IF INDEED CADI DOES BRAKE LINE INSPECTIONS AND TO PROVIDE CORROSION PROTECTED BRAKE LINES. [XXX] , FELLOW ASCE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10823262

54,000 miles · Jan 29, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PAN GASKET AND THE MAIN CRANK SEAL GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVID…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PAN GASKET AND THE MAIN CRANK SEAL GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10822999

42,000 miles · Aug 20, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ENTERED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ENTERED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10749994

60,000 miles · Jun 11, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE LOCKS ITSELF. "CHECKED" THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, NOTHING FOUND. THEN BACK PASSENGER SIDE LOCK FAULTY & REPLACED. ON 6/2/15 I TOOK MY CAT TO THE VET, REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, DID NOT LOCK THE DOOR, PLACED THE KEYS ON THE CAT CARRIER, CLOSED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WALKED AROUND TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET THE CAT. …

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VEHICLE LOCKS ITSELF. "CHECKED" THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, NOTHING FOUND. THEN BACK PASSENGER SIDE LOCK FAULTY & REPLACED. ON 6/2/15 I TOOK MY CAT TO THE VET, REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, DID NOT LOCK THE DOOR, PLACED THE KEYS ON THE CAT CARRIER, CLOSED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WALKED AROUND TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET THE CAT. BEFORE I COULD OPEN PASSENGER DOOR, CAR LOCKED ITSELF. WITNESSES 6-8 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, TRYING TO EITHER BREAK A WINDOW OR PICK THE LOCK. CITRUS HTS CA. FIRE DEPT. CALLED. THE BACK DRIVER'S 'SIDE WINDOW WAS BROKEN WITH A TOOL I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. ALARM DID NOT GO OFF. NEITHER THE DOOR BUTTONS, THE DOOR UNLOCK RELAY SWITCH NOR THE DOOR HANDLES WOULD WORK MANUALLY. AFTER THE GLASS WAS BROKEN OUT AND AFTER THE 3RD TIME TRYING THE KEY, DOOR UNLOCKED/ALARM WENT OFF. FIRE DEPT SAID NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS THE WINDOW WAS OPEN, SO IF I GOT LOCKED IN, I COULD AT LEAST GET OUT. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. RENTED AN ENTERPRISE CAR (WHERE AUTO WAS PURCHASED/10,000 MILES OR SO ON IT). I HAVE OVERLAPPING WARRANTIES & AUTO INSURANCE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH CAR, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR. (BECAUSE OF THIS, ENTERPRISE EXTENDED THE "COURTESY" CORPORATE RATE OF $980.00 PER MONTH. WINDOW GLASS APPEARED DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER AUTO GLASS. IT WOULD NOT BREAK. I AM UNDER THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY & ENTERPRISE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE RENTAL CAR UNLESS SOMETHING IS FOUND TO BE WRONG WITH SAID CAR. CAT LOCKED IN CAR FOR 45 MIN. O/S TEMP WAS ABOUT 93 DEGREES. CAT HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP. I DO NOT WANT TO RETRIEVE/ DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT I WILL BE LOCKED IN AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. WHAT IF THIS HAD BEEN A PERSON? AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SUGGESTED THAT I BUY A NEW CAR. HELP!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10724799

1,500 miles · Jan 27, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

NHTSA ODI #10679308

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10676894

72,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes

WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE METAL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DASH INDICATOR SERVICE BRAKE STABILATRAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667692

Official recalls

2

14V355000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jun 23, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.