2005 Cadillac CTS Steering Problems

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

NHTSA ID

11700248

Incident

Nov 18, 2025

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SWAYED VIOLENTLY, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MORE THAN ONCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND PARK IT AT HIS RESIDENCE THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ID

10670951

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

500 mi

WOKE UP IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK AFTER A COLD NIGHT. STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT EXTREME EFFORT. CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. OBTAINED APPROPRIATE GM POWER STEERING FLUID AND REFILLED RESERVOIR ONLY TO HAVE IT LEAK OUT IN A MATTER OF HOURS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR ONLY 76 DAYS AND THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. LITERALLY HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669542

Incident

Dec 31, 2013

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V39000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10659970

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

VEHICLE SHUTTERS/HESITATES (LIKE THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGING) AND THEN JERKS VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT INTO NEXT LANE. "SERVICE STABILITY SYS" MESSAGE COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF. CADILLAC DEALER KEEPS "FIXING" IT AND CHARGING. PROBLEM RETURNS AGAIN WITHIN DAYS SOMETIMES HOURS. INTERNET IS LOADED WITH FOLKS WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND CADILLAC SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WHILE A TECH IS DRIVING IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. ANOTHER DRIVER ALMOST DROVE UP ON THE CURB WHEN HE HAD TO PULL AWAY FROM MY CAR MOVING UNEXPECTEDLY INTO HIS LANE. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE DEALER REPAIR DEPARTMENT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585707

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

IN NOVEMBER 2011 I COULD NOT TAKE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OF MY CAR.THEN IN 2012 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON ABOUT THE SAME MONTH, COSTING ME A LITTLE UNDER $900.00 BOTH TIMES.THE PROBLEM MENTION WAS STATED INTERNAL FAILURE OF ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.THE MODULE COMPUTER CHIP, WENT OUT BOTH TIMES. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHAKING AFTER REFUELING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS MODEL CAR IN 2010. I BROUGHT THIS N 2011 FROM FORD OF ROCK HILL IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THERE WERE NO MENTION OF ANY RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548980

Incident

Nov 26, 2011

Mileage

92,117 mi

I WAS HIT FRONT END NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO REACT. 110 MPH IMPACT. ENGINE TRANSMISSION BRACKETS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SHEAR OFF TO KEEP ENGINE FROM GOING INTO DRIVER COMPARTMENT DID NOT . EVERYTHING CAME FORWARD CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, HORRIBLE INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546127

Incident

Jan 5, 2012

Mileage

55 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THIS HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 29 2012. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AGAIN ON MAY 18 2013 AND THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,998 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,852. UPDATED 6/21/13 *CN UPDATED 07/17/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10513226

Incident

Nov 29, 2012

Mileage

61,998 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SIDE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE DOOR AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE AIR BAG FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE RACK AND PINION ROD WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,080 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 9/26/12 *CN UPDATED 09/27/12

NHTSA ID

10473939

Incident

Apr 12, 2010

Mileage

71,080 mi

MY 2005 CADILLAC CTS APPEARS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER-ASSISTED STEERING. THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND IS DIFFICULT TO STEER TOWARD THE RIGHT. ALSO, ONCE TURNED BY MANUAL FORCE, THE WHEEL SOMETIMES DOES NOT SPIN BACK INTO PROPER POSITION. THIS MAKES TURNING IN TIGHT PLACES AND PARKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS CAR; I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT; BUT THEY TELL ME EACH TIME THAT I AM SIMPLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL PROPERLY. THE CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE INABILITY TO SMOOTHLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH DUE TO MY NOT BEING ABLE TO AVOID A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING OR TRYING TO PARK. ALSO, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THIS CAR WAS FAULTY, CAUSING A ROARING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, AND A CLUNKING SOUND TO BE HEARD WHEN APPLYING OR EASING PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE DEALER AT FIRST SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS (AT LEAST 5); THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REPAIRED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344582

Incident

Jul 15, 2009

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK ON HIS GARAGE FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE REAR PINION SEAL AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT SAME DEFECT; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10233406

Incident

Jun 23, 2008

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE CAR BEING REPORTED ABOUT WAS MY CAR, WAS THREE MONTHS AND A CADILLAC CTS. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 25 MILES PER HR. THE CAR STEERING FAILED, PULLED TO THE RIGHT, COULDN'T BE STOPPED NOR STEERED AND CRASHED INTO THREE TREES AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE INTERSECTION OF ANOTHER STREET. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP, OR TURN, ETC. IT JUST SEEMED TO LIFT TO THE RIGHT AND HIT ONE TREE, THEN ANOTHER, THEN ANOTHER AND FINALLY STOPPED IN AN INTERSECTION. IT WAS TOTALED, TERRIBLE DAMAGE; I HAD A BROKEN WRIST. RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE READ IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT 2 FATALITIES DRIVING THIS MODEL CAR, BOTH SEEMINGLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL. ONE HIT A UTILITY POLE, ANOTHER HIT A GRATING AND FLEW INTO TREES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200962

Incident

Aug 15, 2005