2006 Cadillac Dts Electrical Problems

While driving at night in July, 2023 on [XXX] , both headlights began to go out intermittently but not simultaneously. Continued driving for approximately 3 hours to final destination. Took to local Cadillac dealer for diagnostics (Invoice [XXX]) and after dialogue with dealer had both assemblies replaced as was informed the electronics have been noted to fail in these assemblies. I replaced both assemblies for approximately $2,950.00 (Invoice [XXX}). As a follow-up, during a recent 5,000 mile trip during February 2024, driving in cold, rain, snow and road spray conditions for days, both headlight assemblies accumulated a significant amount of moisture (see photo) behind the lenses. Cadillac dealer did replace left assembly (drivers side) under parts warranty but not the right side. Both headlight assemblies are operating without incident since replacement, except as noted above on assemblies not sealed against environment/elements. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11577865

Incident

May 10, 2023

Driving at night on I-29 South and headlights went off intermittently but not simultaneously. Headlamps continued intermittent cut-out until reached destination (approx 3 hours later). As a safety issue for driving while dark, had both assemblies replaced at Cadillac dealer for approx $3,950.00. Replacement was Cadillac recommendation as it was stated the electronics do fail in these headlight assemblies. After replacement and as a follow-up, new assemblies were installed and are not sealed against the elements. In February 2024, on a 5,000 mile trip, drove several hours during cold, snowy and raining conditions. Both headlight assemblies had a considerable amount of moisture inside the lens housings (see photo). Cadillac dealer did replace one of the new headlight assemblies due to moisture accumulation in assembly under parts warranty, but not both.

NHTSA ID

11577860

Incident

May 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 Cadillac DTS. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start as needed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic however, no failure was found. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and no failure was found. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated there was a button on the radio that was stuck, causing the battery power to be drained. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11489589

Incident

Feb 17, 2022

Mileage

78,000 mi

I called OnStar because my car would not start and they sent someone from GM. The guy looked at my car, could not identify the problem, so I got it towed to a repair shop. Ends up, I had to replace the transmission. The repair shop ran electric test on the vehicle and no codes or issues. My dash is now reading service power steering and this is a safety issue that needs to be fixed by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11461898

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

So we bought the car. In 2012 or 2013. And in 2014 we received a yellow letter in the mail saying that our car needed to be serviced for a recall. We set it up. Ended up taking it in To be serviced for the recalls. Not knowing in 2008 they recalled what is now going wrong in the car, I didn’t say anything at the time we repaired it. It they didn’t either I believe and even if we didn’t say anything they honestly should’ve just repaired the part that was messed up for us and then let us know: now we have spent so much money towing our car back to our house so that it is safe, and have missed appointments, been stranded, I mean we have really, honestly and truly, very very compromised but this issue with the electrical system Our car is having all the time since this recall repair was administered: NOW IT HAS JUST GOTTEN SO BAD WE CAN NOYT EVEN DRIVE IT. We will get stuck where ever we turn it off unfortunately. I’ve not looked online at information taken all the necessary needs to find out if my vehicle was given the recall before we owned it just to be sure too, it was not. I know that everything that I have read relates directly perfectly to Every single issue that we are have ig Now on our car. The recall from 2014 the key doesn’t come out the ignition anymore and that’s very good, but I know that The CADILLAC Dealer, DID NOT!! Install any other part into the car but that service it asked for. Like beyond a doubt I don’t know what to do and would love to be able to get some answers soon. Thank you very much. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11437278

Incident

Jul 28, 2014

PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER CHECKING ALTERNATOR, CURRENT WHILE REMOVING FUSES, CURRENT WHILE IN 'SLEEP' MODE, AND REPLACING BATTERY THREE TIMES THE CAR WILL RUN FOR TWO DAYS, ON THE THIRD DAY IT WILL NOT CRANK AND THE BATTERY IS TOTALLY DEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330397

Incident

May 3, 2020

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF AND ON OR FLICKERS - MOST NOTICEABLE DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. OUR DEALER, ED SHULTS CHEVROLET, ADVISED US THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF THE CADILLAC CTS WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. WE WANTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY WHEN ALL OF THE TESTIMONIALS FROM OTHER 2006 CADILLAC OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY DEALER STATED IT HAD TO DO WITH WHERE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THE TOTAL CHARGE TO US WAS $901.80 TO REPLACE THE LIGHT + LABOR. THIS WAS PROBABLY HAPPENING ALL THE TIME WE WERE DRIVING BUT WE ONLY BEGAN TO NOTICE IT DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, MOST ESPECIALLY DRIVING BACK FROM THE BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE THRUWAY. WE LIVE IN THE CITY OF JAMESTOWN, NY SO IT WASN'T REALLY NOTICEABLE BECAUSE OF THE CITY LIGHTS. AFTER THAT, WE WERE MORE DILIGENT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND DISCOVERED0 IT WAS ON A DAILY THING. THAT WAS VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ID

11192334

Incident

Jan 25, 2019

Mileage

114,000 mi

I HAVE 70.000 MILES AND NOT ONLY JUST HAVE TO GET NEW AIR CONDITIONING NOW I AM BACK IN SHOP AND MY CAR IS NOW MISFIRING ON 3 PISTONS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR AND 70,000 MILES I HAVE BABIES I HIS CAR WITH MOST EXCEPT ENDIVE HAS AND OIL CHANGES PER R COMMENDED MILEAGE. I HAVE ANOTHER CAR AT DEALERSHIP TOO AND WOULD HATE TO THINK IT IS DEALERSHIP BUT BETWEEN THE 2 I HAVE SPENT OVER 15,999 IN REPAIRS AND THE DENELLLI NOW ALSO HAS ISSUE WITH AIR. THAT TOO IS 2006 AND 70,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11118233

Incident

Aug 6, 2018

HEADLIGHT BALLAST FAILURE DUE TO POOR HEADLIGHT DESIGN WITH HOUSING ETC... CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO MOISTURE. HAPPENED AT NIGHT. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND CURIOUS AS TO WHY NO RECALLS?

NHTSA ID

11081804

Incident

Mar 27, 2018

Mileage

92,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP FLICKERED AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. BENNETT CHEVROLET (6721 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11074025

Incident

Feb 14, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUSLY FLASHED OFF AND ON. OCCASIONALLY, ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE SECOND LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTING WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (ED MORRIS CADILLAC OF TAMPA, FLORIDA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

11020282

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESET THE LIGHT SWITCH BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FOR THE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A BULB OR WIRE CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10985107

Incident

May 12, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ID

10946858

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

HEATED SEAT ELEMENT NOT WORKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10946856

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOBIK AND IGNITION KEY FAILED TO OPEN THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY FOBIK BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10870683

Incident

May 24, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 03/10/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10810710

Incident

Jun 16, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN MOVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, ALSO CAUSES MOTOR TO RUN ROUGH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT DOING 70 MPH...BEGINS FLICKERING, AND THEN OUT. HAVE READ 2006 CADILLAC COMPLAINT FORUMS AND THEY ARE NUMEROUS..BOUGHT CAR USED FROM DEALER...PREVIOUS ONE-OWNER

NHTSA ID

10795047

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

53,683 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10785392

Incident

Jun 15, 2014

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GAUGES FAILED TO OPERATE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND ALL OF THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10763063

Incident

Jul 29, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,400.

NHTSA ID

10730609

Incident

Jun 20, 2015

Mileage

45,400 mi

AS PART OF STATE INSPECTION, TOLD DEALER THAT FRONT SEATS ARE NOT HEATING. TOLD BY DEALER THAT PROBLEM WAS "CONNECTOR TO CLIMATE CONTROL SEAT MODULE BURNED/SHORTED OUT MODULE" AND TO REPLACE CONNECTOR AND MODULE WOULD COST $1016. ASKED DEALER PERSONNEL IF A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SAID IT IS A ROUTINE/RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE COMPONENTS MELTING FROM THE HEAT BUT DON'T WORRY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE (DESPITE REFERENCE TO " BURNED/SHORTED OUT"). INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH SAME COMPONENTS IN OTHER CADILLACS BUT ACCOMPANIED BY/WITH SMOKE AND/OR FIRE-- IF OCCURS WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT A HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10726529

Incident

Oct 10, 2014

Mileage

89,541 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEYS COULD BE REMOVED OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE IN THE ON POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

10722885

Incident

May 29, 2015

Mileage

123,000 mi

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN IT RAINS AND THE STREETS ARE WET MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP

NHTSA ID

10721045

Incident

May 20, 2015

Mileage

116,000 mi

HEATED/COOL SEATS STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692598

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

126,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,700.

NHTSA ID

10691410

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

117,700 mi