What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Cadillac CTS

Typical pattern

12.7% of complaints about the 2005 Cadillac CTS came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (87 complaints), typically at 2.9 yr or about 29,000 miles.

Complaints
393
Median age at failure
7.3 yr
Median mileage
63,200 n=321
Crash / fire / tow
14.2% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
87 reports · 29,000 mi
2.9 yr
3.4%
Air bags
74 reports · 87,000 mi
9.6 yr
21.6%
Electrical system
39 reports · 69,008 mi
10.0 yr
12.8%
Engine
24 reports · 86,176 mi
11.3 yr
12.5%
Service brakes
22 reports · 98,137 mi
10.9 yr
9.1%
Suspension
16 reports · 27,171 mi
4.1 yr
6.2%
Steering
16 reports · 71,080 mi
8.6 yr
31.2%
Engine cooling
15 reports · 62,000 mi
5.7 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14V542000 2014-09-09
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.

If the flange melts, a hole may be created allowing the fuel pump to leak fuel, causing the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

14V394000 2014-07-02
Electrical system:ignition

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) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or s

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.

10V644000 2010-12-17
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH REPEATED FLEXING OF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE MAT TO KINK, BEND, OR FOLD. THIS FLEXING CAN BREAK THE CONNECTIONS IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE SENSOR MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND WILL DISABLE THE AIR BAG.

NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH NECESSITATING THAT AIR BAG'S DEPLOYMENT MAY REDUCE PROTECTION OF THE PASSENGER AND INCREASE THE RISK OR SEVERITY OF INJURY TO THEM.

10V105000 2010-03-17
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE FITTING AT THE CALIPER MAY CORRODE DUE TO SNOW OR WATER, CONTAINING ROAD SALT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS, ENTERING AND BEING RETAINED IN THE ROUTING SLE

THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY RUPTURE SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND INCREASE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE MAY OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

07V589000 2007-12-20
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal

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

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

06V020000 2006-01-25
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery

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.

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

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling 75,500 mi 3.8 yr in service
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION 2005 CADI CTS. BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 75K MILES. 3 MONTHS LATER AND 3800 MILES.. NO OIL, NO OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE DAMAGED. DEALER BLOOSOM CHEVROLET SAID ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS ALL ON ME. THEN LATER CAME BACK AND SAID DGM WAS PAYING 1/3 AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD PAY 1/3 AND 1/3 WAS ON ME. I HAVE FOUND REPORTS THAT OIL CONSUMPTION IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. *TR
Engine cooling mileage not reported 5.6 yr in service crash / fire / tow
2005 CADILLAC CTS. LETTER SENT FROM AN ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS IN REFERENCE TO AN ACCIDENT RELATING TO A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN VEHICLE *TGW WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD HE SUFFERED SERIOUS BURNS WHICH LEFT HIM PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Engine cooling 4,100 mi 5.7 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL OF THE SAFETY LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Electrical system 2,189 mi 5 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *BF *NM

Other CTS model years

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