AI Damage2009 Cadillac DTS: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Cadillac DTS filed 35 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 35
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 34% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 9% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 12 complaints (34% of all).
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (17% of all).
- Seats: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 4 complaints (11% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 35 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained shoulder injuries and the passenger sustained bruises to the chest from the seat belt, which both required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
10823262) related corrosion of the rear brake lines. This complaint is similar but related to corrosion of the front brake lines in which I again had a similar life threatening experience. The ordinary "corroded" steel lines were replaced with "vinyl coated" lines.
Vehicle would not start when atvtrain station. Had to leave overnight and had it troubleshot in am. A faulty fuel pump relay was the supposed cause. Changed the relay on a wednesday morning and car was good till saturday afternoon when it stalled out in the middle of route 9 in heavy traffic.
Got check engine light and o'reily auto parts check and said it showed fuel issues. Took car to my gm dealer and they say need a new gas tank, a new gas cap and new evaporative lines because I have a leaking gas tank leaking at or near filling area, and gas cap is not good and lines are leaking according to a "smoke"…
My 2009 cadillac dts recently had a problem with the steering, it was steering hard when making right or left turns and eventually began making noises. I took it to my gm dealer and they checked the hoses and fluid receptacle.
The contact replaced the fuel pump relay and the vehicle operated normally for several days; however, the failure recurred. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (gerry lane cadillac, [address], baton rouge, la) were notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered.
The brake lines in my 2009 cadillac dts are completly corroded,to the point that they are leaking and need to be replaced. I never expected to see plain steel brake lines in a cadillac, they should have been stainless steel at a minimum. In my opinion this is a safety hazard and should be addressed.
I was informed the brake fluid lines were corroded and were leaking. There had been no signs of leaking in my carport concrete floor. The service mechanic told me on replacing the two lines to the rear brakes and that all of the lines were ordinary steel.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,335 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the DTS has 66 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 35, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Cadillac DTS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, service brakes, seats. Total complaints: 35. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (14%), rust, corrosion (11%), door locks, latches, handles (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Cadillac DTS?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Cadillac DTS from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.