WAS DRIVING LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT SMELLED WIRES BURNING LEFT SIDE WIRE HARNESS WAS MELTING I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON HIGHWAY 51 NORTH AT AROUND D 10:45 IN THE EVENING
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
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.
Electrical System complaints
23 reportsJUST 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL HAD TOTAL MELTDOWN SURROUNDED BY SMALL FLAMES, AND THE FUSE WAS BLOWN FOR THE ODD INJECTORS. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,920.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY CADILLAC STS A (SERVICE ELECTRIC SYSTEM) WARNING FLASHED ON MY DASH. A FEW MOMENTS LATER EVERYTHING ELECTRIC IN MY CAR STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. THE RADIO, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, AND FINALLY THE ENGINE. I CRUISED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES.…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY CADILLAC STS A (SERVICE ELECTRIC SYSTEM) WARNING FLASHED ON MY DASH. A FEW MOMENTS LATER EVERYTHING ELECTRIC IN MY CAR STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. THE RADIO, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, AND FINALLY THE ENGINE. I CRUISED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. *TR
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…
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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. *TR
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 …
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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. *TR
CAR DISABLED POWER UNDER LOAD FIRST TIME 4 YRS AGO. THEN FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS CONTINUED TO COME AND GO. STILL HAPPENING TO THIS DAY. CODES: P0651 AND P2108. AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND INTERMITTENT TIMES WOULD PUT ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. CAR CANT ACCELERATE. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART. BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS …
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CAR DISABLED POWER UNDER LOAD FIRST TIME 4 YRS AGO. THEN FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS CONTINUED TO COME AND GO. STILL HAPPENING TO THIS DAY. CODES: P0651 AND P2108. AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND INTERMITTENT TIMES WOULD PUT ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. CAR CANT ACCELERATE. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART. BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS BUYING AN AMERICAN CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE ACCESSORY ACTIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE ACCESSORY ACTIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,029. UPDATED 05/12/14 *LJ THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/14/14
AFTER LEAVING RESTAURANT GOT INTO CAR AND ADJUSTED DRIVER SEAT, PROCEEDED TO EXIT,APPROACHED STOP LIGHT, THEN HEARD FAINT POPPING SOUND THEN SMELLED ODOR AND SAW SMOKE.IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO ADJACENT RESTAURANT ACROSS STREET,EXITED VEHICLE AND CAR WAS ON FIRE. AN EMPLOYEE AT RESTAURANT ADVISED TO MOVE AWAY FROM CAR FEARING AN E…
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AFTER LEAVING RESTAURANT GOT INTO CAR AND ADJUSTED DRIVER SEAT, PROCEEDED TO EXIT,APPROACHED STOP LIGHT, THEN HEARD FAINT POPPING SOUND THEN SMELLED ODOR AND SAW SMOKE.IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO ADJACENT RESTAURANT ACROSS STREET,EXITED VEHICLE AND CAR WAS ON FIRE. AN EMPLOYEE AT RESTAURANT ADVISED TO MOVE AWAY FROM CAR FEARING AN EXPLOSION. IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND WAS DISPATCHED TO LOCAL FIRE DEPT. *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.
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