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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Cadillac DTS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

35 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

54,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 35 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Fuel system concerns617.1%
Braking behavior514.3%
Electrical and battery issues38.6%
Engine operation25.7%
Steering behavior25.7%

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.

Electrical System
10
Service Brakes
6
Engine
4
Seats
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Steering
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System10
Service Brakes6
Engine4
Seats4
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Steering3
Unknown Or Other3
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers2

Electrical System: 10; Service Brakes: 6; Engine: 4; Seats: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 10 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.

2009
1
2010
5
2011
1
2012
1
2013
2
2014
6
2015
4
2016
4
2017
2
2018
4
2019
3
2022
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20105
20111
20121
20132
20146
20154
20164
20172
20184
20193
20221
20241

2009: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2022: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10462388 · 2012-06-20 (June 20, 2012)

VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT FIRE. DEALER FOUND REAR FUSE ASSEMBLY TO BE IN A "MELTED CONDITION"; FUEL PUMP FUSE/RELAY WAS CHARRED. ENTIRE FUSE ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. DEALER COULD FIND NO CAUSE FOR PROBLEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THIS ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT NEXT TO THE BATTERIES. THE POWER SURGE THAT CAUSED SUCH HEAT DAMAGE COULD, IN MY OPINION, RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE, OR AT THE VERY LEAST BURN ANYONE SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT OF THE VEH…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,575 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462388 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11129831 · 2018-09-17 (September 17, 2018)

THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS BURNING OUT AND CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT JUST STALLED OUT IN THE ROAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 108,432 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129831 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10667692 · 2014-12-22 (December 22, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE METAL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DASH INDICATOR SERVICE BRAKE STABILATRAK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667692 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10823262 · 2016-01-30 (January 30, 2016)

I PURCHASED MY 2009 DTS CADILLAC FOLEY IN NOV. OF 2008. PRESENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I SERVICED MY BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. IN DRIVING FROM CHICAGO NORTH TO HIGHLAND PARK ILLINOIS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT IN FRONT MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. ON RESUMING DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I GOT OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND DROVE CAUTIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823262 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10643597 · 2014-10-09 (October 9, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10643597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11185728 · 2019-03-11 (March 11, 2019)

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. AT THE TIME MY WIFE AND GRANDSON WERE IN THE CAR. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD LUCKILY INTO A STRIP MALL WITH AN AUTO PARTS STORE. REMOVED GRANDSON AND CAR SEAT FROM VEHICLE TO ACCESS THE RELAY IN REAR CIRCUIT BOARD. VERY HOT. I WENT IN AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185728 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10318829 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)

LOST OF POWER STEERING DURING LEFT TURN FROM STOP SIGN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318829 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11154126 · 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)

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. ALL THEY FOUND WAS THE RECEPTACLE WAS LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID AND I PICKED UP A BOTTLE AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEN MY STEERING WAS OK. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER MY STEERING GOT VERY HARD AND I HAD TROUBLE STEERING IT SO I STOPPED AND ADDED MORE FLUID. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY POWER STEERING LINE WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 61,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154126 at NHTSA ↗