2009 Cadillac STS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 46.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Air Bags: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Steering: 3; Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2019: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10335541 · 2010-06-09 (June 9, 2010)
ON SEPT 17, 2009 AS I ROLLED TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT, I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR, WHICH WAS FOUR FEET FROM A BRICK BUILDING, SUDDENLY LURCHED AHEAD. THE CAR HIT THE BRICK WALL, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RETURN TO IDLE UNTIL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS THIS: THE FLOOR MAT WHICH HAS NO RESTRAINTS, HAD CREPT UP CAUSING A LOWER FOLDOVER, AND PUSHED UP SUFFICIENTLY TO CAUSE A FOLDOVER OF THE UPPER PART OF THE MAT . THIS CREATED A THREE LAYER THICKNESS OF THE FLOOR MAT ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,353 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351384 · 2010-08-23 (August 23, 2010)
2009 CADILLAC STS LOST ALL OR MOST BRAKE FLUID. THIS CAR HAS SLIGHTLY OVER 22000 MILES. MULTIPLE WARNINGS ON PANEL. DEALER FOUND THAT THE LEFT REARF BRAKE CALIPER WAS LEAKING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE AT THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE HOSE CONNECTS. CALIPER AND HOSE WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CONCERN NOW IS THAT IF THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS WHEN ALL BRAKES FAIL WITH NO FLUID LEFT IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND, HOPEFULLY, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT WIDESPREAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605307 · 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)
THE CAR SIMPLY MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STEER, BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. THE GEARS WERE CORRODED AND AS A RESULT THE GEAR SHIFT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 47,000 AND IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD THAT GM DID NOT PUT A SEALANT ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND AS A RESULT WATER AND ICE AND ALL OTHER WEATHER AFFECTED THE GEARS AND LITERALLY RUSTED OUT. I AM ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT WHEN THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, THEY WILL NOW PUT THAT SEALANT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. TO ME THIS IS A …
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608672 · 2014-07-07 (July 7, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING GOT EXTREMELY STIFF AND I LOST MY POWER STEERING. ON THE (DIC) DRIVERS INFORMATION CENTER THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED " SERVICE STEERING SYS" WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND LET IT COOL DOWN, NORMAL STEERING RETURNED. THIS PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING EVERY DAY OR TWO. AT SLOW SPEED ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, AS WHEN PARKING. I LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THIS ISN'T AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM IN BOTH THE 2009 CTS & STS CADILLAC'S. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE THE CART TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10735601 · 2015-07-21 (July 21, 2015)
SINCE MAY 2015, GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, THEN AGAIN IN JUNE 2015 GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN AND STAYS ON. ONCE AGAIN , IN JULY LIGHTS COMES BACK ON AND STAYS ON HAS NOT GONE OUT AS OF 21 JULY 2015.. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN 2014 WITH ONLY 19,000 MILES, THE CAR NOW ONLY HAS 32,500 ODD MILES ON IT. WE NEED TO KNOW IF IT HAS A RECALL , DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AS OF NOW... WE DO SEE THAT THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THE YEARS OFF 2000-2008...
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10859852 · 2016-04-16 (April 16, 2016)
STARTED CAR TO PULL OUT OF GARAGE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED AND NEW MODULE NEEDS CHANGING AT COST OF $900.00.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10859852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876730 · 2016-06-27 (June 27, 2016)
I PURCHASED A 2009 STS IN AUGUST OF 2014. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL BEARING HUBS GOING BAD. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT. THE FRONT LEFT SIDE HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE IN A 13 MONTH PERIOD. UNFORTUNATELY THE PART ONLY HAS A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. I'VE ALSO HAD THE RIGHT REAR CHANGED IN MAY OF 2015 AND NOW IT'S JUNE 2016 AND HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE NO EXTENDED WARRANTY,I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY THIS PARTICULAR PART WENT BAD IN THE TIME FRAME THAT IT DID? I CALLED THE SALESMAN AT THE DEALER ABOUT THE FIRST INCIDENT TO SEE IF HE COULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10940227 · 2017-01-06 (January 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND THE STABILITY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10940227 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.