IllustrationAirbag light came on last week, and continues to stay on. Have not taken in, as I was just checking for any recalls
2005 Cadillac Sts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sts years →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
150–25K
1725–50K
2350–75K
1075–100K
9100–150K
7150K+
81 reports with mileage · 20 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 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
11 reportsTHE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW ON AND I NOTICE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING INJURIES. CADILLAC DEALER SAYS THEY WISH TO CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND BELIEVE IT IS A SEAT-BELT PRETENSIONER WHICH THEY WOULD NOT COVER. REPAIRS WOULD BE AS MUCH AS VEHICLE VALUE. I NOTICE A RECALL WAS ORDERED FOR VEHICLES ONE O…
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THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW ON AND I NOTICE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING INJURIES. CADILLAC DEALER SAYS THEY WISH TO CHARGE FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND BELIEVE IT IS A SEAT-BELT PRETENSIONER WHICH THEY WOULD NOT COVER. REPAIRS WOULD BE AS MUCH AS VEHICLE VALUE. I NOTICE A RECALL WAS ORDERED FOR VEHICLES ONE OR TWO YEARS NEWER WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WHY NOT EXTEND TO THIS YEARS SAME VEHICLE MODEL. *TR
TAKATA RECALL -AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF ON MY 2005 CADILLAC STS.. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR.
WHEN I MOVE THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE "AIRBAG" SYMBOL APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. IF I MOVE THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH , AFTER A FEW TRIES, THE "AIRBAG" SYMBOL DISAPPEARS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOOK UNDER THE SEAT, BUT I HAVE SEEN A VIDEO WHERE SOMEBODY HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT FOUND BURNT WIRES UNDER THE SEAT. I AM WONDERING IF THER…
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WHEN I MOVE THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE "AIRBAG" SYMBOL APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. IF I MOVE THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH , AFTER A FEW TRIES, THE "AIRBAG" SYMBOL DISAPPEARS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOOK UNDER THE SEAT, BUT I HAVE SEEN A VIDEO WHERE SOMEBODY HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT FOUND BURNT WIRES UNDER THE SEAT. I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY.
B0022 ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS INOPERABLE AND WILL NOT RETRACT SEAT BELT WHEN NEEDED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LITE SHOWS ON DASH WHEN START OF ENGINE AND CONTINUOUS ON .
I HAD THE SERVICE AIR BAGS LIGHT REPAIRED AT 55,000 MILES NOW HAVE 70,000 MILES AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IF MY CAR WAS A 2005 CTS AND NOT A STS CADILLAC WOULD REPAIR IT. I AM DRIVING A CAR WITH OUT AIR BAG PROTECTION. I NEVER OWNED A FOREIGN CAR AND NOW SEE WHY THE ARE SO POPULAR. NO MORE AMERICAN BUILT CARS.
PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING IS ON. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOW DRIVING WITH NO AIR BAGS BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE MODULE WAS REPLACED WITH A MODULE FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER THAT MADE THE FIRST DEFECTIVE ONE. IF MY CAR WAS A CTS IT WOULD BE REPAIRED BY CADILLAC AS HUNDREDS OF CTS CARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS R…
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PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING IS ON. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOW DRIVING WITH NO AIR BAGS BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE MODULE WAS REPLACED WITH A MODULE FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER THAT MADE THE FIRST DEFECTIVE ONE. IF MY CAR WAS A CTS IT WOULD BE REPAIRED BY CADILLAC AS HUNDREDS OF CTS CARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS REASON. I HAVE OWNED CADILLACS MOST OF MY LIFE. THIS MAY BE THE LAST ONE.
I NOTICE THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING SERVICE AIRBAG SOON, SO I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT I CAN PUSH THE RESET BUTTON AND IT SHOULD GO OFF, WELL WE PUSHED IT AND THE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF. A WEEK OR TWO LATER I HEARD GM WAS DOING A RECALL FOR THAT SOME PROBLEM BUT ON LATER MODEL LUXURY CARS. *TR
AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON 02/04/14 AND WILL NOT GO OFF. WHEN CALLED THE CADILLAC DEALER THEY REQUESTED I PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO SEE WHY THE LIGHT IS ON BUT IT WILL NOT INCLUDE THE COST TO REPAIR. IS THIS A RECALL ITEM? *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CADILLAC STS DOING ABOUT 45 MILES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST CONTROL. I PUT ON BRAKES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED STEERING TO THE LEFT TO AVOID TREES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN IT APPEARED THAT MY ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. MY CAR HIT THREE TREES AND WHEN IT STRU…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CADILLAC STS DOING ABOUT 45 MILES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOST CONTROL. I PUT ON BRAKES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED STEERING TO THE LEFT TO AVOID TREES AND MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN IT APPEARED THAT MY ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. MY CAR HIT THREE TREES AND WHEN IT STRUCK THE THIRD TREE I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES IT STILL WOULDN'T STOP THEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I GOT IT TO STOP. MY BACK WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAME OFF AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SPOKE WITH GMAC CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE AIR BAG NOT TO DEPLOY. HE ALSO, STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATED THAT I HAD APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I KNOW THAT I DID NOT. I AM TERRIFIED FROM THIS ACCIDENT AND THIS IS THE FIRST ACCIDENT I HAVE EVER HAD AND I DO NOT DRINK OR TAKE DRUGS. I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE DID THE BLACK BOX INDICATE THAT I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO STOP IT AND REPRESENTATIVE STATED NO, THEN I ASKED HIM TO TELL ME HOW THE CAR STOPPED. IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. GMAC DENIED MY CLAIM AND STATED THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. *TR
Official recalls
307V589000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft:seal
Dec 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINION SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM; AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM.
06V125000 · Suspension:rear
Apr 20, 2006
CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE AFFECTED REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN IN OR OUT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT TOE LINK AND REPLACE AS REQUIRED. IF A TOE LINK IS REPLACED, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
06V020000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Jan 25, 2006
CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS NO LONGER SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL LEVEL LOW INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE WARNING CHIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING, THE OPERATOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WITH NEW SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED IN DECEMBER 2005 AND ASKED TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST 1/4 OF A TANK FUEL LEVEL TO AVOID THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE, OWNER RENOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
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
1PE07037 · Failure Of The Rear Differential
Opened Jul 17, 2007 · Closed Dec 27, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
ODI EVALUATED TWO DIFFERENT ALLEGED DEFECTS INVOLVING REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS DURING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE DEFECT CONDITIONS AND ODI HAS OPENED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER ALLEGED DEFECT. ON DECEMBER 19, 2007, GM SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE PINION SEALS IN APPROXIMATELY 275,936 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005-07 CADILLAC CTS, STS AND SRX VEHICLES AS WELL AS MY 2006-07 PONTIAC SOLSTICE AND MY 2007 SATURN SKY VEHICLES (RECALL 07V-589).ON STS AND SRX VEHICLES WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE FRONT AXLE PINION SEAL ALSO DOES NOT MEET ALL OF GM'S SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.GM INDICATED THAT THE SEAL SUPPLIER MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE TO THE PINION SEAL MATERIAL.LEAKING PINION SEALS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL LUBRICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ON DECEMBER 7, 2007, ODI OPENED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-017) TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE (E.G., FRACTURED REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER HOUSING OR REAR AXLE HALF SHAFTS) WHILE DRIVING IN APPROXIMATELY 7,600 MY 2004 THROUGH 2006 CADILLAC CTS-V VEHICLES.THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND VEHICLE DISABLEMENT AND IS NOT ADDRESSED BY RECALL 07V-589.ODI IDENTIFIED 35 COMPLAINTS (16 TO ODI AND 19 TO GM) AND 128 WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THIS CONDITION (SEE EA07-017 OPENING RESUME).THESE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY OF THIS CLOSING RESUME. THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY FIGURES GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE LIMITED TO THOSE THAT (A) ARE MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY A LEAKING REAR PINION SEAL; AND (B) RESULTED IN AN ALLEGATION OF A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.THE DATA DO NOT INCLUDE ALL REPORTS OF SEAL LEAKAGE.