RoadVitals

2005 Cadillac Dts

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Aug 18, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Cadillac Dts, most frequently naming the steering, electrical and engine categories. 128 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Steering333.3%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Airbags111.1%
  • Suspension111.1%
  • Visibility111.1%
  • Exterior lighting111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Aug 18, 2017
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A SLIGHT MUSTY ODOR WAS PRESENT DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN UNKNOWN CADILLAC DEALER LOCATED IN STUART, FL, WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A LONG PROCESS. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC (LOCATED ON SOUTHSIDE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN AN AIR BAG DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE SET OFF THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/07/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
11016151
Incident
Jul 1, 2017
Mileage
93,000 mi
Filed Jun 6, 2017
1 injury reported

THE FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL GLASS SUNROOF OF 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS SPONTANEOUSLY "EXPLODED" AND SHATTERED. BROKEN GLASS RAINED DOWN INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OVER THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ON TO THE ROADWAY BEHIND WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT OVER A UNCROWDED HIGHWAY AT 62 - 63 MPH APPROXIMATELY AT 6:30 AM ON 6/2/17. SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. THE INTERIOR SUN SHADE WAS OPEN. EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60F. INTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 75F. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 103,500 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO SUNROOF OR INDICATIONS OF PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF CRACK LIKE WHEN ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD OR SOUND OF OBJECT HITTING THE CAR OR SUNROOF PRIOR TO THE "BANG!" AS THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND WERE NO TRUCKS IN AHEAD, OR CARS VERY NEARBY. IT WAS AN UTTERLY UNEVENTFUL AND NON-EXTREME DRIVE IN TERMS OF SPEED, TEMPERATURES, TRAFFIC VOLUME, OR OPERATION. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE REAR EDGE OF GLASS REMAINING IN THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE BENT UPWARD WHETHER FROM THE EXPLOSION OR THE AIR PRESSURE AFTER I HAVE NO IDEA. SUBMITTED AS A GLASS CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID
10993359
Incident
Jun 2, 2017
Mileage
103,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 16, 2015

THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 2006 CADILLAC DTS GO OUT AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY CUT OUT AND I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SO I CAN DRIVE AT NIGHT. II PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER 2006 CADILLAC DTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALER KRISTAL AUTO MALL IN BROOKLYN, NY AND THEY FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY SAID WAS A FAULTY BALLAST. IT WAS FAULTY ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. AND NOW IN THE DTS I HAVE, IT IS FAULTY TOO. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE IN OTHER GM VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
10790772
Incident
Nov 16, 2015
Mileage
25 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN U8PDATED 8/21/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10579217
Incident
Feb 9, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 24, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DOTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF

NHTSA ID
10549419
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
Mileage
200 mi
Steering
Filed May 17, 2013

ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT INTERSECTION DURING RAIN STORM STEERING LOCKED FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512548
Incident
May 16, 2013
Mileage
59,600 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OVER TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,871 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,757. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN UPDATED 10/24/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10475706
Incident
Sep 21, 2011
Mileage
54,871 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY REPAIR FOR THE ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ

NHTSA ID
10427232
Incident
Oct 2, 2007
Mileage
29,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

02-00-89-002X

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only).

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Dts by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012000
2011152058.0
2010223050.8
2009352046.1
2008863157.1
2007973155.6
20062554156.3
2005Viewing900
2004700

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.