AI Damage2010 Cadillac DTS: common problems
Owners of the 2010 Cadillac DTS filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 22
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 45% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 18% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 4 Seats 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (45% of all).
- Engine: 4 complaints (18% of all).
- Air bags: 3 complaints (14% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 3 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
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 22 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 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 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 and no injuries were reported.the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000. The vin was unavailable.
Subject vehicle read ended suv that was stopped for a stop light. Vehicle sustained extensive front end damage and was declared a total loss by the insurance company. None of the air bags deployed. Driver was badly injured and is still in a coma. Passenger received minor injuries.
The air bag did not deploy. No known injuries to occupants of the other car. I sustained high blood pressure and was taken by ambulance to wellstar cobb hospital emr. I returned home that afternoon, but the next morning I have soreness in neck and chest.
I was traveling on Stevenson expressway at 55 mph when the fuel pump relay overheated and melted, which burned up the REC (Rear Electrical Electrical Center /fusebox). When the fuse pump relay overheated it shut fuel down going to the fuel pump, which caused the engine to stall.
There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was pushed to the side of the roadway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced.
The vehicle "service Airbag " warning keeps flashing. Should I keep driving this vehicle, Is my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk? I've reported this to [dealer] my local area, but the want to charge me $125.00 to $169.00 dollars to perform a diagnostic. My concern is for safety of myself and others.
The dealer offered to repair the oil leak however, the contact declined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Whether the vehicle was traveling at various speeds or parked, oil leaked from the undercarriage. The contact stated that a quart of oil had to be added every ten miles. There were no warning indicators illuminated.
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 7,904 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the DTS has 66 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 22, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Cadillac DTS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, air bags. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (9%), fuel system, fuel smell (9%), oil leak or consumption (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 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 2010 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 2010 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.