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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
40,898 miles · Jan 21, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL DOCUMENTED ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN AUTOMATICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DISPLAY SHOWS 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED' AND IS FOLLOWED BY OTHER MESSAGES LIKE 'SERVICE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYS' OR 'SERVICE RADAR' OR SERVICE STABILITY SYS AND TRACTI…

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THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL DOCUMENTED ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL FAILURES. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN AUTOMATICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DISPLAY SHOWS 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED' AND IS FOLLOWED BY OTHER MESSAGES LIKE 'SERVICE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYS' OR 'SERVICE RADAR' OR SERVICE STABILITY SYS AND TRACTION CONTROL.' BEFORE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN THE TRACTION CONTROL IS AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED. I HAVE HAD TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME SYMPTOM 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE IN-SERVICE DATES THAT WERE DESCRIBED AND DOCUMENTED FOR THIS PROBLEM ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1.)FEBRUARY 22, 2008 ' 'POOR DRAG ON C102 CONNECTOR UNDER HOOD' 2.)APRIL 24, 2009 ' 'FAILED CONVERTER' 3.)OCTOBER 1, 2009 ' 'ECM FAILED' 4.)MAY 5, 2010 ' 'REPROGRAM PCM' ALL OF THE ABOVE WERE SERVICED BY CLASSIC CADILLAC SAAB. EACH TIME THEY FIX SOMETHING NEW BUT THE SAME SYMPTOM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHEN TRAVELING IN THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS SHUTDOWN NUMEROUS TIMES BOTH ON A HIGHWAY AND IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR HAS BECOME A SEVERE LIABILITY FOR BOTH ME AND MY FAMILY. SOMETIME IN DECEMBER 2010 THE CAR HAD SHUTDOWN AGAIN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE THEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378184

33,000 miles · Dec 23, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT THE CONTACT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10372259

27,400 miles · Oct 8, 2010
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE CONTACT HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED WHERE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS TILED IN AN INWARD POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE CONTACT HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED WHERE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS TILED IN AN INWARD POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,400.

NHTSA ODI #10359680

81,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2005 CADILLAC STS. I NOTICE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE FOLLOWED BY SLUGGISH AND STALLING ENGINE WHILE IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY TIMING CHAIN. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 OTHER CARS OF THE SAME TYPE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SA…

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I OWN A 2005 CADILLAC STS. I NOTICE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE FOLLOWED BY SLUGGISH AND STALLING ENGINE WHILE IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY TIMING CHAIN. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 OTHER CARS OF THE SAME TYPE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGINS TO STALL AT 55 OR 60 MPH. THIS REPAIR COSTS OVER $3100.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339717

500 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Exterior Lighting

HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT LEFT SIDE WAY HIGH AND TO THE LEFT LIGHTS UP TREES NOT ROAD. RIGHT SIDE WAY TO HIGH. PER CADILLAC AND DEALER NO ADJUSTMENT IS POSSIBLE. ONLY ADJUSTMENT IS ON LOW BEAMS, NONE FOR HIGH BEAMS. COMPLAINTS TO CADILLAC WENT NO PLACE. AFTER MANY E-MAILS FINALLY TALKED TO A REAL PERSON AND WAS OFF…

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HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT LEFT SIDE WAY HIGH AND TO THE LEFT LIGHTS UP TREES NOT ROAD. RIGHT SIDE WAY TO HIGH. PER CADILLAC AND DEALER NO ADJUSTMENT IS POSSIBLE. ONLY ADJUSTMENT IS ON LOW BEAMS, NONE FOR HIGH BEAMS. COMPLAINTS TO CADILLAC WENT NO PLACE. AFTER MANY E-MAILS FINALLY TALKED TO A REAL PERSON AND WAS OFFERED $200.00 OF SERVICE WORK TO GO AWAY, I TURNED IT DOWN, PER CADILLAC THEY WOULD NOW CLOSE MY COMPLIANT OUT. I DRIVE ON COUNTY ROADS, TWO LANE FARM COUNTY AND THE HIGH BEAMS DO NOT LIGHT UP THE ROAD AHEAD OF MY CAR, ONLY TREE TOPS TO THE LEFT. PER CALIF LAW ALL HEADLIGHTS MUST BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY, IF NO ADJUSTMENTS IS ON THE HIGH BEAMS IT IS AGAINST CALIF STATE LAW BUT CADILLAC WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10322316

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2010
Steering

STEERING WHEEL MAKES THUMP/CLUNK SOUND WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS WHICH CAUSES STEERING WHEEL HAVE WIGGLE/LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO MAKING RUBBING SOUND WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED SLOWLY IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAD MY LOCAL DEALER LOOK INTO THIS AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT WHEEL NEEDED TO BE GREASED. THE THUMP/LOOSE STEERING WHEEL P…

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STEERING WHEEL MAKES THUMP/CLUNK SOUND WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS WHICH CAUSES STEERING WHEEL HAVE WIGGLE/LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO MAKING RUBBING SOUND WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED SLOWLY IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAD MY LOCAL DEALER LOOK INTO THIS AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT WHEEL NEEDED TO BE GREASED. THE THUMP/LOOSE STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I ENDED UP TAKING VEHICLE TO ANOTHER CADILLAC DEALER NEARBY. I EXPLAINED TO ADVISOR OF CONTINUING PROBLEM AND INFORMED THEM THAT ANOTHER DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY ADVISOR THAT PROBLEM WAS WORN TIRES. I EXPLAINED TO ADVISOR THAT VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH NEW TIRES. I REPLACED THE TIRES TWO MONTHS AGO PER DEALER'S RECOMMENDATION AND PROBLEM IS STILL CONTINUING AND GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #10307522

50,000 miles · Nov 9, 2009
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2005 STS AND HAD IT FOR 1 YEAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT HAD JUST PASSED THE 50K WARRANTY. I TOOK IT IN AND HAD IT CHECKED, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC AND SHOW HIM WHAT WAS WRONG. I WENT TO THE MAIN COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I…

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I PURCHASED A 2005 STS AND HAD IT FOR 1 YEAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT HAD JUST PASSED THE 50K WARRANTY. I TOOK IT IN AND HAD IT CHECKED, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC AND SHOW HIM WHAT WAS WRONG. I WENT TO THE MAIN COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I NOW HAVE AN STS SITTING IN MY GARAGE, NOT ABLE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE. I FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY 1/2 FULL FROM THE FACTORY BUT CAN NOT PROVE IT. I AM VERY, VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE CADILLAC COMPANY. I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A CHEAP CAR THAT WOULD HAVE OUT LASTED THIS CAR BY YEARS.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291545

62,000 miles · Oct 16, 2009
Power Train

DAUGHTER DRIVING ON CONCRETE HI-WAY AT 50 MPH., HEARS NOISE BY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE AREA. REAR END LOCKS AS IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT WERE NOT. CAR SLIDES OUT-OF-CONTROL . HER AND HER PASSENGERS ARE NOT INJURED. HAD TO SHIFT CAR FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE 2-3 TIMES, CAR MAKES CLUNK NOISE, THEN IT FREES ITSELF SHE DRIVES OUT …

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DAUGHTER DRIVING ON CONCRETE HI-WAY AT 50 MPH., HEARS NOISE BY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE AREA. REAR END LOCKS AS IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT WERE NOT. CAR SLIDES OUT-OF-CONTROL . HER AND HER PASSENGERS ARE NOT INJURED. HAD TO SHIFT CAR FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE 2-3 TIMES, CAR MAKES CLUNK NOISE, THEN IT FREES ITSELF SHE DRIVES OUT OF DITCH. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THEY DRIVE AT LOWER SPEED CARS REAR END LOCKS AGAIN FOR 2-3 SECONDS THEN FREES ITSELF BUT MAKES GRINDING NOISES.TAKE TO GMAC SERVICE CENTER TOLD REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. FOUND OUT ABOUT RECALL: NHTSA ID # 07V58900. CADILLAC REP. SAID OUR CARS VIN # IS NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL. FOUND RECALLED VIN #'S AND OUR CARS VIN # IS INSIDE THE RECALLED NUMBERS BRACKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288642

162,000 miles · Oct 15, 2009
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN HE LOSS VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF A ROADSIDE DITCH TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN HE LOSS VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF A ROADSIDE DITCH TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DIFFERENTIAL. HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL ID NUMBER 07V589000 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY;AXLE SHAFT;SEAL). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 162,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10288530

41,000 miles · Oct 13, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC STS. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, HE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10287205

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.