2005 Cadillac CTS Owner Complaints

Steering wheel turns but no steering at wheels ,steering wheel just spins

NHTSA ID

11700248

Incident

Nov 18, 2025

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that failure was intermittent at first but became persistent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed passenger occupant sensor. The contact was informed that the passenger occupant sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he was concerned because his fiancée was expecting a child and normally occupied the seat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an undisclosed recall repair however, the contact was informed that the recall repair had expired. The contact stated that the representative contacted three local dealers and inquired about performing the recall repair; however, all three dealers declined to perform the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11624272

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel with an abnormal hissing sound while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where brake fluid was added to the reservoir. Despite the repair, the failure persisted. After the contact's third visit to the mechanic, the mechanic discovered severe corrosion along the brake line, which resulted in brake fluid leak from the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V225000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which the mechanic linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ID

11553853

Incident

Oct 23, 2023

Mileage

158,000 mi

Oil leaks from unknown location. Also make a grinding noise when accelerating.

NHTSA ID

11518442

Incident

Feb 16, 2023

Air bag light is on saying the passenger side buckle tensioner not working when there never a accident on this car, Fuel level low illuminates when there is fuel in the tank still, fuel level goes down fast after a short drive when fuel just been put in

NHTSA ID

11466418

Incident

Jan 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V394000 (Electrical System). The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA ID

11465419

Incident

May 9, 2022

Mileage

118,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown module under the passenger's side front seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V644000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was 138,404.

NHTSA ID

11463611

Incident

May 6, 2022

Mileage

138,404 mi

During normal driving, my service stibilatrak light comes on. While the message is on, the TCS kicks in and it grabs the wheel and stops the car. I've been reared ended once and two barely missed collisions. When the TCS activates, it stops the car completely and the only way to drive the car is to turn it off for a few second and then restart it. That resets the computer and turn the message light off. The TCS or ABS does not come on in the dash, just the stilibatrak message in the message center. Once it's turned off, it does not come on until the next time the TCS activates. I've had several diagnostic tests to check the problem or get a code but there is no code. I've been told that the car is clear of codes. The dealer cannot find a code or the problem. I've spent several hundred dollars on trying to locate the problem. The car, as is, is a death trap. I can't drive it because I don't know when the traction will kick on. I've taken good care of my car, nice bodywork and low milage but it's not safe to drive and no one knows how to fix it, including the dealer. At $200 an hour to try to find the problem is unforeseeable financially on my pension. One option is to junk the car for $200. I can't donate or sale it because it will not pass MD inspection. I can't trade it; I can't afford another car note. I've had this issue for almost a year. This happens every time I drive it, so I had to buy another car which I was not ready to buy. No major damage to report.

NHTSA ID

11452118

Incident

Dec 6, 2021

Transmission cooler line fittings have dissimilar metals causing the threads inside the radiator transcooler to strip and dump coolant into Transmission lines and on road along with what was the transmission fluid as well as steam rolling out blocking vision through my windshield going uphill on a dangerously busy road crossing.This is a well known manufacturing defect that has yet to be handled. This could have gotten me and my 3 year old son seriously hurt by sudden loss of power and slick roadways not being able to avoid or brake properly or even steer away from on coming collision. The dissimilar metals are aluminum nut with a mild steel washer backed by a stainless steel washer before it contacts the radiator. This car has 101k miles and has been babied it's entire life. And when I see the 4 brake lines are about to rust out after all the repairs that have already been done. This is just poor quality material and craftsmanship. Easily could have been avoided by simply using a different metal than mild steel between dissimilar metals.

NHTSA ID

11433480

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11403487

Incident

Mar 3, 2021

FIRST ECM MODULE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, WE REPLACED IT THEN AFTER THAT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE, 12 CODES POPPED UP. DID NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLE, OIL CHANGE SPARK PLUGS . THEN A FEW DAYS LATER WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE LOST ALL POWER, PUSHED ON ACCELERATOR NO POWER, FRONT END STARTED SHAKING, SO PULLED OVER, VEHICLE WAS VERY HOT AND SMELLS LIKE GAS, HAD IT TOWED COMPRESSION TEST WERE NO GOOD, WAS TOLD GASKET WERE BAD, ALSO WAS TOLD TO CHECK THE RECALL LIST. IM UP SET BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE WITH US. I HOPE WE ARE ABLE TO GET WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11352691

Incident

Apr 23, 2020

Mileage

197,300 mi

THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A VERY WEAK REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT WAS USED IN THE LESSER HORSEPOWER V6 AND WHEN TAKING OFF HARD THE CAR BEGINS TO WHEEL HOP AND DESTROYS THE REAR END THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN LESS THEN A YEAR AND A HALF

NHTSA ID

11348468

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER DROVE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE SWERVED, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED AS THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A COMA, BROKEN VERTEBRA, HIP CONTUSION, BRUISING AND MEMORY LOSS AS SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED HIP, CHEST, BREAST, WAIST, ARMS, SHOULDER, HEAD INJURIES AS WELL AS THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST, HIP, AND NOSE INJURIES ALL OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT WAS READING THE ACCIDENT INFORMATION FROM A NEWS PAPER ARTICLE. THE NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. *LN

NHTSA ID

11329163

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

114,000 mi

I WENT TO CADILLAC TO GET THE RECALL FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS CLOSED OUT AND COULDN'T FIX IT AND NOW I CAN'T SMOG MY CAR AND I CAN'T TELL IF I HAVE GAS OR NOT AND I'M SCARED TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT GETTING THE FUEL PUMP FIXED

NHTSA ID

11300281

Incident

Jan 14, 2020

MY 2005 CADILLAC CTS DOES HAVE RECALLS ON THOSE MODELS HOWEVER IN CONTACTING CADILLAC THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I HAVE A SREVICE AIR BAG SHOWING UP ONSREEN AND IN MIRROR OF MY CAR. I AM HOPING I CAN FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS

NHTSA ID

11255514

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

109,000 mi

AIRBAG ON NO PASSENGER AIRBAG. LIGHTS INSIDE WORK SOMETIMES. CAR WAS MOVING.

NHTSA ID

11252407

Incident

Oct 15, 2016

Mileage

149,656 mi

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2019 AND IT WENT DOWN IN LATE APRIL OR EARLY MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT WOULD GO OFF FOR A FEW DAYS. THE ENGINE WOULD RATTLE WHEN FIRST CRANKED AND THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD CONSTANTLY KEEP TRYING TO CRANK BUT NEVER WOULD AND NOW IT IS COMPLETELY OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO PUT 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN IT BUT I HAD THE OIL CHANGED A MONTH BEFORE THE CAR DIED. THEY SAY THE OIL IS GOING SOMEWHERE BUT WHERE? I WAS ALSO TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT CAN CAUSE THE PISTONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO FAIL WITH THE ENGINE. IT WILL COST ME OVER $2000 TO GET REPAIRED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. CADILLIAC MAKES EVERYTHING SO EXPENSIVE SO I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND GETTING ONE UNLESS YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY AFFORD IT AND NOT BE IN DEBT BEHIND IT. I WAS IN LOVE WITH THIS CAR BUT THIS IS HORRIBLE. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED AND NOW I'M DONE.

NHTSA ID

11242853

Incident

Aug 9, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 CADILLAC CTS WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AIRBAG RECALL, ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA AND GM WEBSITES, BUT HAS THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND DEFECTIVE AIRBAG AS THE ONES INCLUDED. I TOOK MY CADILLAC TO GET A 27 POINT INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE, ETC., ON 2/16/18, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WORKING. MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE GM MANUFACTURING RECALL OF TAKATA AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID

11242445

Incident

Feb 16, 2018

Mileage

184,980 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED GENESIS CADILLAC (19900 E 9 MILE RD, ST CLAIR SHORES, MI 48080, (586) 772-8200) AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11232089

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

NOT DRIVABLE

NHTSA ID

11219266

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

THERE'S A VERY HARD JERKING COMING FROM SOME WHERE IN THE REAR AREA WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS A LOST OF POWER. ALSO THE ENGINE OIL IS GOING SOME WHERE ,I KEEP HAVING TO PUT OIL IN IT , ABOUT TWO TO THREE QUARTS A WEEK. WHEN THE OIL GETS REAL LOW THE ENGINE SHAKES AND RUNS LIKE CRAP AND ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF.

NHTSA ID

11202707

Incident

Apr 18, 2018

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, ONLY 52000 MILES ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11182463

Incident

Feb 25, 2019

Mileage

52,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL HAD WRECK AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME IT SHOULD HAVE, RUSH IN AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL CAR WAS ON HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT,

NHTSA ID

11171015

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

Mileage

28,500 mi

ON ANY IN CLINING ROAD OR ACCERATION OF THE GAS, STALLING AND POWER ACCELERATION DECREASES DRAMATICALLY.AND EXTREMELY SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CARRIAGE CAUSED NAUSEA, SEVERE MIGRAINES, LIGHT HEADNESS, TO ME AND MY TOO YOUNG DAUGHTERS. FUEL EFFICIENCY ALSO DECREASED...

NHTSA ID

11142777

Incident

May 13, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

MY WIFE HAS BEEN COMPLAINTING ABOUT THE BRAKES DON'T STOP THE CAR SOMETIMES. I DROVE IT TODAY AND MADE A SHARP RIGHT TO ENTER IN A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THAT SCARED THE WHAT EVER OUT OF ME.

NHTSA ID

11132323

Incident

Jun 6, 2018

Mileage

229,980 mi