AI DamageCadillac STS: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Cadillac STS across 14 model years: 430 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- Air bags: 102 complaints (24% of all), 21 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 83 complaints (19% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 51 complaints (12% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 43 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 33 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2011named in 3 complaints
- 4.4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl 2006–2009
- 4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2005–2010
- automatic, 5-speed 2005–2007
- automatic, 6-speed 2006–2011
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 430 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 102 | 21 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 83 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 51 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 43 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 32 | 7 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 28 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 5 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My airbags did not deploy and my traction control failed. The airbag light remains on and there is a faulty code. The vehicle lost ability to control it to turn. I went straight into the fence. The airbags were not addressed by the body shop or repair shop.
This vehicle had headlights prior to the incident with bulbs popping out inside and moisture. After the repairs were done by the body shop the new headlights have had that same problem. The airbags never came out, and there is a message displayed indicating they needed service. It was never addressed by the body shop.
The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was unable to be driven and was towed to rimrock cadillac gmc (located at [address], billings, [ZIP], [phone]). The dealer diagnosed that the traction control needed to be serviced. The vehicle was repaired.
New tires failed on black ice. Not have traction for condition of road. Tires designed for summer only. Like snow tires for winter only. Vehicle went into oncoming lane, hit on side, spun. - and car trunk demolished - car still ran. But busted exhaust and catalytic converter. Flat tire, rear door jammed on one side.
My husband backed into a post and it lunched him forward, as far as the brakes weren't working. He enter a building thank god no one was hurt. He was in a parking lot.
My air bag did not go off nor did the seat belt stop me from hitting the steering wheel. After the accident, the warning panel read "service air bag". The other driver was ticketed for failure to yield.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- 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.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
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.