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2005 Cadillac Sts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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.

13 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

101 reports
50,000 miles · Apr 3, 2016
Air Bags

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.

NHTSA ODI #10853167

64,000 miles · Feb 19, 2016
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #10837183

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO GENERAL MOTORS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MARY BARRA REGARDING THE RECALL OF VEHICLES THAT CAN LEAK OIL AND CATCH FIRE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED HIM WHERE BURNT OIL HAD LEAKED THROUGH ENGINE GASKETS BETWEEN TH…

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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO GENERAL MOTORS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MARY BARRA REGARDING THE RECALL OF VEHICLES THAT CAN LEAK OIL AND CATCH FIRE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED HIM WHERE BURNT OIL HAD LEAKED THROUGH ENGINE GASKETS BETWEEN THE CRANKCASE AND MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $ 4,153.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKETS. THE PRICE WENT UP, AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE IN PROGRESS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ADDITIONAL GASKETS WERE NEEDED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10806962

38,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME DAY. MY WIFE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WANTS TO SELL IT.

NHTSA ODI #10745455

143,689 miles · Jul 6, 2015
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10732191

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2015
Power Train

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…

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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! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703880

147,000 miles · Mar 26, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI #10701911

106,121 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Power TrainWheelsFireInjury

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 YE…

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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? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680583

56,000 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Engine

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

NHTSA ODI #10660735

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

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

NHTSA ODI #10660516

Official recalls

3

07V589000 · 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

1

PE07037 · 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.