IT JUST STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, AND IT DOSENT GO NO FASTER THAN 40MPH.
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.
Engine complaints
12 reportsTHE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOSES ENGINE/ ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURS, BRAKES AND STEERING LOSE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY CREATING A THREAT TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. THE VEHICLE THEN IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE PROPER STARTING PROCEDURE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IS INCONSISTENT. I…
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THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOSES ENGINE/ ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURS, BRAKES AND STEERING LOSE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY CREATING A THREAT TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. THE VEHICLE THEN IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE PROPER STARTING PROCEDURE. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IS INCONSISTENT. IT MAY START IMMEDIATELY UPON COMMAND OR IT MAY CAUSE A THEFT PROCEDURE TO INITIATE. THE VEHICLES DIC WILL POSSIBLY SHOW THE FOLLOWING PROMPTS JUST BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN FAILURE OCCURS; SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM SOON, SERVICE A/C SYSTEM SOON. DURING THE SHUTDOWN FAILURE, NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE OPERABLE BUT POWER IS STILL AVAILABLE TO THE CAR ALLOWING THE DIC TO PROMPT 'NO FOB DETECTED' OR 'THEFT ATTEMPTED' AND THE FOB WILL INTERMITTENTLY ALLOW YOU TO SEND LOCK/ UNLOCK COMMANDS DURING THE SHUTDOWN FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAPPENS IN ANY SCENARIO AND IS INTERMITTENT IN THE ASPECT OF NO FAILURE OCCURS FOR A WEEK OR 5 FAILURES OCCUR IN A DAY. I CANNOT DETERMINE WHEN THE FAILURES BEGAN HAPPENING CONSIDERING I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 155000 MILES AND THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY 3 OF MY OWNERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A MIDLAND MICHIGAN CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BEING DIAGNOSED.
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 .
WENT OUTSIDE TO DRIVE THE CAR BEGIN TO DRIVE OFF AS I WAS DRIVING A BIG BALL OF SMOKE CAME OUT THE TAIL PIPE AND SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING BROKE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. THE CAR WOULD NOT RE START. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS PUMPED THROUGH 5-7 QUARTS OF OIL APPX EVERY 500 MILES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. CAR WAS OVERHAULED, THE TRANS WAS BASICALLY REBUILT, WITH NEW COMPONENTS.PROBLEM WITH OIL EVAPORATING AT VERY LOW MILEAGE STILL AN ISSUE. ***NO LEAKS*** OR SYMPTOMS ASIDE OF DIMINISHING OIL EVERY SAID SET OF MILES. VERY FRUSTR…
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THIS VEHICLE HAS PUMPED THROUGH 5-7 QUARTS OF OIL APPX EVERY 500 MILES. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. CAR WAS OVERHAULED, THE TRANS WAS BASICALLY REBUILT, WITH NEW COMPONENTS.PROBLEM WITH OIL EVAPORATING AT VERY LOW MILEAGE STILL AN ISSUE. ***NO LEAKS*** OR SYMPTOMS ASIDE OF DIMINISHING OIL EVERY SAID SET OF MILES. VERY FRUSTRATING ISSUE THAT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
TWICE DRIVE ON INTERSTATE (POSSIBLE AFTER ROUGH AREA ON INTERSTATE) REDUCE POWER LIGHT AND NO ENGINE POWER ATLANTA, GA TRAFFIC NEARLY GOT HIT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. NOW THREE TIMES STOP CAR PUT IN PARK AND ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF, LIGHT SAYS PUT IN PARK ALTHOUGH IT IS IN PARK OR SHOULD BE. …
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TWICE DRIVE ON INTERSTATE (POSSIBLE AFTER ROUGH AREA ON INTERSTATE) REDUCE POWER LIGHT AND NO ENGINE POWER ATLANTA, GA TRAFFIC NEARLY GOT HIT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. NOW THREE TIMES STOP CAR PUT IN PARK AND ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF, LIGHT SAYS PUT IN PARK ALTHOUGH IT IS IN PARK OR SHOULD BE. THE RECALL ON THE DRIVE AXLE SEAL, CADILLAC WOULD NOT COVER COST, I DID PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AT HOOVER, AL CADILLAC. *TR
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 …
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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! *TR
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISES ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. NOW IS MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 1 AND ALSO HAS UNEXPECTED GAINED SPEED WITHOUT ANY GAS PEDDLE PUSHED. GM EXTENDED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY TO 200,000 MILES DUE TO CONVERTER PROBLEMS. BUT MY VIN THEY SAY ISN'T INCLUDED. MY CAR IS A V6. MY SISTER WAS…
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THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISES ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. NOW IS MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 1 AND ALSO HAS UNEXPECTED GAINED SPEED WITHOUT ANY GAS PEDDLE PUSHED. GM EXTENDED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY TO 200,000 MILES DUE TO CONVERTER PROBLEMS. BUT MY VIN THEY SAY ISN'T INCLUDED. MY CAR IS A V6. MY SISTER WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER SHE SAID SHE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION. THE WEBSITE SHOWS NO OPEN RECALLS BUT THE WORK WASN'T COMPLETED SINCE SHE PURCHASED IN 2007. GM WEBSITE DOESN'T HELP AT ALL. *TR
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…
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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.
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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