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2009 Cadillac DTS: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10285388 · 2009-09-23 (September 23, 2009)

2009 CADILLAC DTS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF HEAD RESTRAINTS. *NJ THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE UNABLE TO RELAX THEIR SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK REST OF THE SEAT, BECAUSE THE HEAD REST WAS POSITIONED AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHICH CAUSED THEIR HEADS TO BECOME CRUNCHED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WINDOWS CAN'T BE RAISED OR LOWERED MIDWAY WITHOUT THEM GOING ALL THE WAY UP OR DOWN, THEY CAN'T BE STOPPED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10285388 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 10335122 · 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)

HEADRESTS TOO LARGE AND BLOCK VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER LOOKING TO HIS RIGHT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10335122 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10347674 · 2010-08-04 (August 4, 2010)

2009 CADILLAC DTS. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING VEHICLE RECALL AND DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE IS WORRIED ABOUT A FUTURE ACCIDENT THAT MAY OCCUR DUE TO THE HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM BEING DISABLED AND REMOVED PER THE RECALL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10347674 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10355842 · 2010-09-15 (September 15, 2010)

WE HAVE A 2010 CADILLAC DTS. I AM 5 FEET 5 INCHES TALL AND THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT I COULD NOT RIDE COMFORTABLY IN THE CAR. THE HEADREST IS TILTED FORWARD AND I COULD NOT SIT ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE SEAT AS THE HEADREST WOULD BE PUSHING ON MY HEAD. I TRIED ADJUSTING THE SEAT'S POSITION TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO SIT WITH MY BACK NOT RESTING ON THE SEATBACK. THE DEALER'S ANSWER TO FIXING THE PROBLEM WAS TO TURN THE HEADREST BACKWARDS BUT NOW IT IS NOT SECURED IN ITS HOLDER. THE BACK SEATBELTS WERE SO POORLY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10355842 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10360618 · 2010-10-15 (October 15, 2010)

FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS CAUSE A VERY LARGE OBSTRUCTION IN TRYING TO SEE A VEHICLE YOU ARE PASSING, SO AS TO KNOW WHEN TO GET BACK IN TO THE TRAVEL LANE. ALSO THE HEAD RESTRAINTS POSE A LARGE BLIND SPOT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360618 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10380842 · 2011-02-05 (February 5, 2011)

MY 2009 DTS HAS FACTORY INSTALLED CROME WHEELS AND THE CROME IS PEELING OFF. CADILLAC DEALER SAID THEY WERE ABUSED, BUT ALL FOUR WHEELS ARE PEELING THE SAME PLACE. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380842 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V355000 · Electrical System:Ignition

Reported: 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

NHTSA campaign record ↗