2005 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
277 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
67,581 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 225 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 277 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 44 | 15.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 61 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 39 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Engine | 24 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 10 |
Air Bags: 61; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 39; Electrical System: 33; Power Train: 27; Engine: 24; Service Brakes: 22; Steering: 12; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 58 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 41 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 58; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 17
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 52 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 19; 2006: 34; 2007: 16; 2008: 8; 2009: 10; 2010: 20; 2011: 18; 2012: 17; 2013: 15; 2014: 30; 2015: 28; 2016: 17; 2017: 12; 2018: 10; 2019: 9; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 26 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10149493 · 2006-02-05 (February 5, 2006)
4/11/05 - 8,367 MILES - 1 DAY OUT OF SERVICE REAR END FAILURE 4/28/05 - 9,664 MILES - 5 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE REAR BUSHING FAILURE. *JB REAR END FAILURE 5/5/05 - 9,720 MILES - 1 DAY OUT OF SERVICE REAR END FAILURE WHEEL DELIVERED FROM FACTORY WILL NOT BALANCE - NO SIGN OF DAMAGE 7/25/05 - 15,732 MILES - 4 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE PCM RECALL #05544 - DEALER UNABLE TO REPROGRAM REAR END HOPS WILDLY IN RAINY OR SLICK ROADS WHEN ACCELERATING HARD SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR REAR END WHINE DRIVE LINE CLUNK PARKING BRAKE GOES TO FLOOR AND WON'T STO…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,171 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150506 · 2006-02-17 (February 17, 2006)
05 CADILLAC CTS 2.8L TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55/60 MILES PER HOUR...CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF ME CUT ME OFF. TO AVOID COLLISION, I SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND CAR DIED. I CALLED DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND ADVISED, ASKING WAS THIS SOME KIND OF SPECIAL FEATURE, DEALER ADVISED CAR NOT DESIGNED TO DO SUCH AND ASKED ME ABOUT QUANTITY OF GAS I HAD IN THE VEHICLE. I ADVISED 1/4 TANK AND DEALER EXPLAINED BY SLAMMING ON MY BRAKES ALL GAS RAN TO FRONT OF TANK LEAVING AIR POCKET CAUSING CAR TO DIE....ALSO AFTER JUST PURCHASING THE CAR, SITTING AT RED LIGHT AND THE WHOLE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113473 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,189 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119037 · 2005-04-22 (April 22, 2005)
THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND GOING OFF BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER PREVIOUSLY HAD WORK PERFORMED ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE RADIO. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,057 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112980 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE ROAD, WHEN SUDDENLY SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH " ON STAR". AND WAS TOLD NOT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MADE IT TO A PARKING LOT WHERE A TOW TRUCK WAS SENT TO RETRIEVE IT. AFTER THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PINE CONES WERE FOUND AND THAT IS WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE NO PINE CONES NEAR THE HOME OR WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY. *JB FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE PO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116899 · 2005-04-13 (April 13, 2005)
SHIFTING THE VEHICLE FROM 1ST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR AND UPON RELEASING THE CLUTCH THERE IS A LOUD BANG. HALF SHAFT BROKEN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE RAR END OF ONE OF MY CTS-V'S HAS BROKEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200962 · 2007-08-28 (August 28, 2007)
THE CAR BEING REPORTED ABOUT WAS MY CAR, WAS THREE MONTHS AND A CADILLAC CTS. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 25 MILES PER HR. THE CAR STEERING FAILED, PULLED TO THE RIGHT, COULDN'T BE STOPPED NOR STEERED AND CRASHED INTO THREE TREES AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE INTERSECTION OF ANOTHER STREET. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP, OR TURN, ETC. IT JUST SEEMED TO LIFT TO THE RIGHT AND HIT ONE TREE, THEN ANOTHER, THEN ANOTHER AND FINALLY STOPPED IN AN INTERSECTION. IT WAS TOTALED, TERRIBLE DAMAGE; I HAD A BROKEN WRIST. RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS I H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344582 · 2010-07-21 (July 21, 2010)
MY 2005 CADILLAC CTS APPEARS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER-ASSISTED STEERING. THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND IS DIFFICULT TO STEER TOWARD THE RIGHT. ALSO, ONCE TURNED BY MANUAL FORCE, THE WHEEL SOMETIMES DOES NOT SPIN BACK INTO PROPER POSITION. THIS MAKES TURNING IN TIGHT PLACES AND PARKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS CAR; I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT; BUT THEY TELL ME EACH TIME THAT I AM SIMPLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL PROPERLY. THE COND…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178994 · 2007-01-17 (January 17, 2007)
I HAVE A 2005 CADILLAC CTS-V MY FIRST ISSUE WAS BACK IN 05/05 8,200 MILES ON CAR WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SHIFT OR CHANGE GEARS THE CAR STALLED AND ROLLED TO A STOP. I CALLED FOR ROAD SERVICE 2 HOURS FROM HOME THEY TOWED CAR TO AN AREA DEALER WHO LATER CALLED TO INFORM ME THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND GM HAD REFUSED TO PAY FOR SERVICE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALER AT MY EXPENSE, AT MY DEALERS REQUEST. THEY INFORMED ME THAT GM SAID THE CAR HAD EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY DRIVER ABUSE OR AGGRESSIVE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10348743 · 2010-08-11 (August 11, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL OF THE SAFETY LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162242 · 2006-07-12 (July 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGE AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE RADIATOR FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST THREE REPAIRS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE RADIATOR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FOURTH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE WATER PUMP AND THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE CHECK ENG…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466203 · 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, MY PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND UNMODIFIED 2005 CADILLAC CTS CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVE TRAIN AND FUEL TANK WITH THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK SECONDS AWAY FROM BEING TOTALLY BREACHED BY FLAMES AND LIKELY SIGNIFICANT INJURIES INCLUDING DEATH. THE FIRE BURNED FOR 30-40 MINUTES UNTIL THE RESPONDING FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO JACK UP THE VEHICLE AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER FROM UNDERNEATH. FORTUNATELY, THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466203 at NHTSA ↗