2008 Cadillac STS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
57,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 50 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 18.0% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 9 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
Air Bags: 9; Engine: 9; Electrical System: 7; Power Train: 5; Steering: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 5; 2010: 7; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 8; 2015: 7; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10295247 · 2009-12-10 (December 10, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. DURING INSPECTION A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ALL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28900.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325116 · 2010-04-12 (April 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 90 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE TO 30 MPH. THE AUTOMATIC PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WAS ACTIVATED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 15,000. UPDATED 7/26/10 *CN UPDATED 08/03/10
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375529 · 2011-01-10 (January 10, 2011)
TILT STEERING FAILED TO LOWER STEERING COLUMN IN PROPER DRIVING POSITION. THE POWER MOTOR UNIT FAILED AND IT CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO STAY IN THE HIGHEST POSITION, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576035 · 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)
POWER STEERING FAILED IN DRIVEWAY, THEN DAY LATER STARTED TO WORK THEN THE NEXT DAY FAILED WHILE BACKING VEHICLE, THEN STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425063 · 2011-09-12 (September 12, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS-V. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE SYSTEM STABILITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS AN INTERMITTENT RECURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927880 · 2016-11-25 (November 25, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10484877 · 2012-11-16 (November 16, 2012)
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JANUARY OF 2010 FROM APPLE CHEVROLET CADILLAC LOCATED IN YORK PA. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR I BOUGHT IT USED HOWEVER IT STILL HAD THE REMAINING MANUFACTURES POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. IT HAD 51,554 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ON FEB 9, 2011 I REPORTED TO HERITAGE CADILLAC IN BELAIR MD. THAT I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND THAT I WANT TO HAVE THAT TAKE CARE OF BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR THERE I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE LIGHT HAD WENT OUT BEFORE I GOT THERE, THERE WAS NO WAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,959 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230433 · 2019-07-09 (July 9, 2019)
AIR BAG ALERT SAYS SERVICE AIR BAGS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AS MANY OF THESE BAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. SECOND PROBLEM: WHEN TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, IT KEEPS DINGING AND SAYS PUT CAR IN PARK EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THIS DINGING NOISE LASTS MAYBE 10 SECONDS TO A MINUTE. SOMETIMES SHIFTING OR PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE AGAIN STOPS THE DINGING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11230433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294126 · 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)
OWN A 2008STS V --ON MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STOP,THE CAR LOST POWER WITH NO ERROR MESSAGES,AND FULL ELECTRICAL POWER.WOULD SURGE TO ABOUT 3 MPH--GOT TO A SPOT WHERE I COULD TURN CAR OFF.STARETED IT UP AND THE CAR WAS FINE.DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBELM.FEEL ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND AM PUSHING THE DEALER TO CONTACT GM ENGINEERING AND FIND OUT WHAT COULD CAUSE THAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375377 · 2011-01-10 (January 10, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES LOCATED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,700. UPDATED 03/07/11
Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079477 · 2018-03-14 (March 14, 2018)
THE SAME CONDITION AS LISTED IN THE: 2007 CADILLAC STS FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP NHTSA CAMPAIGN #14V542000. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS IN THE 2007 MODEL YEAR RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079477 at NHTSA ↗