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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Cadillac STS: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

101 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

57,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 101 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1514.9%
Electrical and battery issues1110.9%
Steering behavior98.9%
Engine operation65.9%
Transmission and shifting44.0%
Fuel system concerns22.0%

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.

Electrical System
19
Power Train
13
Engine
12
Air Bags
11
Fuel/Propulsion System
5
Seats
5
Service Brakes
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System19
Power Train13
Engine12
Air Bags11
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Seats5
Service Brakes5
Unknown Or Other5

Electrical System: 19; Power Train: 13; Engine: 12; Air Bags: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Seats: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
17
50,000 to 74,999
23
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,99917
50,000 to 74,99923
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 7

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 20 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.

2005
7
2006
7
2007
7
2008
7
2009
7
2010
5
2011
7
2012
3
2013
5
2014
18
2015
6
2016
5
2017
3
2018
3
2019
7
2020
1
2022
1
2023
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20057
20067
20077
20087
20097
20105
20117
20123
20135
201418
20156
20165
20173
20183
20197
20201
20221
20231
20251

2005: 7; 2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 7; 2009: 7; 2010: 5; 2011: 7; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 18; 2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10120320 · 2005-06-03 (June 3, 2005)

DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE'S VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. IF YOU STATE A COMMAND 50% OF THE TIME IT WILL EXECUTE A DIFFERENT COMMAND. ONCE A COMMAND HAS BEEN EXECUTED IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE COMMAND. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A FILE NUMBER(GM FILE NO. 1322945605) BUT NOT YET FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10120320 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126001 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS COMPLAINT # 10120320 DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE'S VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. IF YOU STATE A COMMAND A MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT WILL EXECUTE A DIFFERENT COMMAND. ONCE A COMMAND HAS BEEN EXECUTED IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE COMMAND. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A FILE NUMBER(GM FILE NO. 1322945605) BUT NOT YET FIXED THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126737 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)

DT: PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE THAT HAD AN ODD SMELL, BUT SOON BECAME OVERPOWERED WITH ITS STRONG ODOR. CONSUMER'S WIFE EYES WATERED FROM THE SMELL AND HER THROAT BURNED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WHO TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY PLACING ODOR EATERS INSIDE OF THE TRUNK FROM WHERE THE SMELL WAS STRONGEST. THE ODOR WAS STRONGER WHEN VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE IN HEAT OR HOT WEATHER. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE TOXIC. THE PROBLEM WAS ONGOING. CONTACTED GM , BUT THEY DID NOT ANSWER THE CONCERNS. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SMELL OF ODORS. *…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126737 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10129862 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)

VEHICLES VOICE RECOGNITION & BLUTOOTH TELEPHONE SYSTEM ARE UNSTABLE/UNUSABLE. VR SYSTEM RECOGNIZES STATED CXOMMANDS APPROX. 10% OF THE TIME. SYSTEM MISS-IDENTIFIES COMMANDS 90% OF THE TIME CAUSING IMPROPER/INCORRECT EXECUTION OF WRONG COMMAND. SERVICING DEALER STATES THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL OWNERS AND THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR FIX ACTIONS AT THIS TIME OR KNOWN. CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN RESPONSE TO A WRITTEN LETTER INFOMRS THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A MAJOR CONCERN AND INFERRED IT WAS A "USER" ISSUE IN PROPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 97 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129862 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10137629 · 2005-09-26 (September 26, 2005)

USE OF DRL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137629 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10141453 · 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE GROCERY STORE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT IN THE STORE. WHEN SHE CAME OUT SHE NOTICED PEOPLE WERE LOOKING OVER AN EMBANKMENT. SHE REALIZED THEN THAT THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARD OVER THE EMBANKMENT. A TOW TRUCK CAME AND PULLED THE VEHICLE UP, AND THEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE ENGINEER AT THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A NEW KEY…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141453 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10142150 · 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)

2005 CADILLAC STS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD STATING "VEHICLE SPEED LIMITED TO 80 MILES PER HOUR". *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE NO OTHER TROUBLE CODES WERE TRIGGERED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BUT THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE INDICATOR REMAINED ON UNTIL THE CONSUMER P…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142150 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10149656 · 2006-02-07 (February 7, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH SMOKE WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. THE OCCUPANTS GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MORNING, DIAGNOSTICS TEST WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRING AND THE MODULE UNDER THE SEAT HAD MELTED. THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE WIRING WAS ROUTED IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149656 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

06V020000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery

Reported: 2006-01-25 (January 25, 2006)

CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS NO LONGER SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL LEVEL LOW INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE WARNING CHIME.

Consequence: IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING, THE OPERATOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WITH NEW SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED IN DECEMBER 2005 AND ASKED TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST 1/4 OF A TANK FUEL LEVEL TO AVOID THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE, OWNER RENOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
06V125000 · Suspension:Rear

Reported: 2006-04-20 (April 20, 2006)

CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE AFFECTED REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN IN OR OUT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT TOE LINK AND REPLACE AS REQUIRED. IF A TOE LINK IS REPLACED, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
07V589000 · Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal

Reported: 2007-12-20 (December 20, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.

Consequence: A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINION SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM; AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗