2005 Cadillac STS: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 101 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (16% of complaints); the 2007 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the contact became aware of a fluid leak. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a pinion seal leak on the rear axle. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,721.”Owner report · Power Train · May 2021
“The service airbag light is now on and I notice numerous other complaints for this vehicle including injuries. Cadillac dealer says they wish to charge for diagnostics and believe it is a seat-belt pretensioner which they would not cover. Repairs would be as much as vehicle value. I notice a recall was ordered for vehicles one or two years newer with the exact same issue. Why not extend to this years same vehicle model. *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2020
“Was driving low beam lights went out smelled wires burning left side wire harness was melting I was on my way home on highway 51 north at around d 10:45 in the evening”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“My fuel hand is always inaccurate. When it get close to the 1/8th marker the engine completely turns off due to lack of fuel. From my understanding my vehicle has already been taken in for all recalls but this problem has not been fixed.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2019
“New tires failed on black ice. Not have traction for condition of road. Tires designed for summer only. Like snow tires for winter only. Vehicle went into oncoming lane, hit on side, spun. - and car trunk demolished - car still ran. But busted exhaust and catalytic converter. Flat tire, rear door jammed on one side. No other cars driving same section had a problem. No major physical injuries to either vehicle... Hopefully. Just mental ones. Figure vehicle mfg should have sent out notice. And tire company not sell such tires to seniors. And tire store should not sell them unless for race track.”Owner report · Wheels · Feb 2019
“After driving car and shutting it off and trying to start it unless then 2 hours of shutting car off car will not start unless unhooking the battery”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jan 2019
“Without warning my transmission stopped working . I can move the greer with out it collecting any greer . No engine check light nothing . I pulled the parking lot and had to be pushed out street .”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2018
“2005 cadillas sts - frame rotting out - car is garage kept. Upon inspection on my lift this weekend, I found substantial rust to both lower frame rails just behind the mounts for engine cradle. Manufacturer fills the frame rails of this area with foam which absorbs and holds water and rots the frame rail from the inside out. This is definitely a manufacturer defect. Now looking at thousands to repair a vehicle in otherwise very good condition.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2018
“When I move the driver's seat the "airbag" symbol appears on the dashboard. If I move the seat back and forth , after a few tries, the "airbag" symbol disappears. I was not able to look under the seat, but I have seen a video where somebody had the exact same problem but found burnt wires under the seat. I am wondering if there is a fire hazard. This happened when the car is stationary.”Owner report · Seats · Apr 2018
“B0022 issue has been detected in the air bag deployment system. Passenger seat belt retractor is inoperable and will not retract seat belt when needed. The air bag warning lite shows on dash when start of engine and continuous on .”Owner report · Seat Belts · Nov 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.
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.
CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact STS by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Cadillac STS reliable?
NHTSA has 101 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Cadillac STS. The most complained-about area is electrical system (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Cadillac STS problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 60,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Cadillac STS have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:delivery. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.