Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Cadillac Sts submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE PANEL GOES "OFF" SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR COMPLETELY. THE PANEL BOARD IS COMPLETELY DARK, NO ELECTRIC SUPPLY, NO GAS SUPPLY.
MY CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 'EXTENDED CRANK'. MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER MADE APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN ATTEMPTS AT FIXING IT TO NO AVAIL. I'M TOLD IT'S THE CHECK VALVE, BUT I HAVE NOT HAD THAT DONE BECAUSE ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER DIDN'T WORK; E.G., NEW COMPUTER (AND REMOVED), BATTERY (AND REMOVED), FUEL PUMP, ETC. VERY FRUSTRATING AND I FEEL IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH AND SAFETY BECAUSE THE CAR ALMOST NEVER STARTS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A DEAD BATTERY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,396.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTO START WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
THE CAR WENT IN FLAMES BY ITSELF WHILE TURNED ON.
THIS PROBLEM STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO AND I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY CAN NO FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CODES IN THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SHUTS DOWN AND YOU LOSE EVERTHING LIGHTS, TURN SINGLES, HAZARDS,THE DASH GOES TOTALY OUT AND THE ENGINE STOPS THE BEST YOU CAN DO IT TO PULL IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HOPE YOU DON'T GET HIT. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IT TOWN DRIVING AND ON THE HIGHWAY SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED. I HAVE LOANED MY CAR TO OTHER PEOPLE AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM SO IT IS NOT THE DRIVER. I WILL HAPPEN AND YOU PULL OVER PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP AND YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING AND IT MAY HAPPEN A MILE UP THE ROAD OR IT MAY NOT HAPPEN FOR A WEEK OR A MONTH LATER AND STILL NO CODES.
AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SEAT BELT CHIME CONSTANTLY RINGS WITH THE SEAT BELT CONNECTED. GAS LOW NOTIFICATION LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL ON EMPTY. NO HEATED SEATS. I THINK THE ECM NEEDS TO BE RESET.SUN ROOF GOES UP BUT NOT SLIDES OPEN. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN.AUTOMATIC CAR STARTER DOESN'T WORK. 2 YEARS AGO, MY SON IN LAW, STARTED THIS CAR IN BELOW ZERO TEMP AND IT STARTED ON FIRE. HE PUT IT OUT AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS OK. SOMETHING MAKES NOISE OCCASIONALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
4/14 - CAR WAS SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY, PULLED OVER IN HOTEL PARKING LOT AND A GENTLEMEN CAME UP TO CAR TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS SMOKING, GOT OUT AND THERE WAS A FIRE AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. RAN INTO HOTEL AND GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT IT OUT, HAD TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. THERE DETERMINED THAT THE TERMINAL ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP OVER HEATED AND MELTED A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE PUMP, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK OUT AND CATCH FIRE -$6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE, ONLY USED PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX CAR. 8/14 RECALL WAS RELEASED ABOUT FUEL MODULE AND HARNESS. 6/15 - CALLED DEALER ABOUT UNRELATED ISSUE (DOOR LOCK), VIN# WAS RAN AND WAS TOLD PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO FIX RECALL. I MENTIONED I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND WAS TOLD DEALER HAD TO ORDER THEM, 4 DAYS LATER PARTS CAME IN AND WORK WAS SCHEDULED. CAR WAS THERE FOR 10 DAYS "HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PARTS". WHEN CAR WAS PICKED UP THE FUEL GAUGE WAS NOW OFF ONLY READING 3/4 WHEN FULL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOLD HARNESS IS NOT AVAILABLE TO FINISH RECALL AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF BOTH PROBLEMS. THIS SAFETY RECALL IS BEYOND A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE TORN INTO CAR IF ALL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. CAR IS DUE FOR INSPECTION 9/15 AND AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON AND NOW THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE INCONVENIENCE AND AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM CADILLAC AND THE DEALERSHIP. I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I CAN NOT GET PARTS TO FIX RECALL, WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION, AND I CAN NOT SELL IT OR TRADE IT IN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AND THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THERE WAS A ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE OF THE LOCKS UNLOCKING AND LOCKING COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IN ADDITION, THEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 4/27/15*CN UPDATED 9/22/2017*CN
I AM A MECHANIC AND HAVE WORKED ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES RECENTLY THAT ARE MODEL 2006 CADILLAC STS. SAFER CAR.GOV NEEDS TO MAKE ENGINEERS AWARE THAT THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. GM SHOULD HAVE THIS VEHICLE ADDED TO THE IGNITION RECALL LIST. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME A MECHANIC THAT GM HAS MODELS CTS AND DTS BUT NOT THE STS ON THE RECALL LIST, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE ALL THE SAME CAR. IT'S NOT LIKE THE CARS HAVE A DIFFERENT IGNITION , THEY ALL COME OFD THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE AND STAMPED A DIFFERENT MODEL NAME FOR VARIOUS PRICING POINTS AND TARGET MARKETS. PLEASE DON'T IGNORE MY MESSAGE AS THIS IS A VERY VITAL TOPIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND STOPPED AFTER REACHING 35 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
TRAVELING 81 NORTH IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA, ROUNDING TURN CAR STALLED. I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED ME TO SLAM INTO A GUARD RAIL AND THE CAR WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO A BOULDER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. PASSENGER AND I WERE SEVERELY INJURED AND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH WE WERE BOTH BUCKLED IN, THE SEATBELTS FLEW OFF UPON IMPACT. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD (ITS A DEATH TRAP). *TR
2006 CADILLAC STS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE IGNITION PROBLEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE NEARED THE HIGHEST ELEVATION OF THE HIGHWAY, OTHER VEHICLES WERE GOING ABOUT 58-60 MPH, AND THE CREST FLATTENED, THE SPEED INCREASED ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY, AS THE RESISTANCE DECEASED. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED YARDS, THE CONSUMER REALIZED HE HAD NO POWER UNDER HIS FOOT, THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO ENGINE CONDITION INDICATORS DISPLAYING, THE ONLY LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS A LIGHTED "D" INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING IN GEAR, THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING AT 70 MPH. UPON INSPECTION, THE START BUTTON AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. HE IMMEDIATELY RE-STARED THE VEHICLE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A LAPSE OF POWER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON BUT AS SOON AS PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BUTTON, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,100. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 1/5/2015 *JS
AFTER CAR HAD BEEN IMMOBILE FOR A WEEK, ATTEMPTED TO START AND ENGINE JUST CLICKED AND CAR WOULD NOT START. I PLACED THE BATTERY ON CHARGER WITHOUT DISCONNECTING FROM TERMINALS, CHARGE BATTERY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 HOURS. TRIED TO START VEHICLE AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. IT STARTED AND I DROVE DIRECTLY TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE (AUTO ZONE) AND HAD THEM TEST MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR MY SYSTEM TESTED GOOD, SO I DROVE FOR A COUPLE MORE DAYS, THIS TIME I KEPT A CLOSE WATCH ON THE BATTERY VOLTS AND THEY KEPT FLUCTUATING UP AN DOWN. I PARKED THE CAR FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF DAYS AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN. SO I CHARGED THE BATTERY AGAIN AND THEN TOOK IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED THEY TROUBLESHOOT IT. THEY CHARGED ME 45.00 AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. NOW I HAVE THE CAR AT HOME AGAIN WITH A DEAD BATTERY.I NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS UN SAFE PROBLEM. THE CAR CAN SHUT OFF AT ANYTIME AND I WON'T E ABLE TO RESTART W/O A JUMP..HAS THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ? HELP HELP! *TR
CAR STALLED ON BUSY STREET AND WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER LATER INVESTIGATION IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN FUEL MODULE ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT AND MELTED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. IT ALSO MELTED PART OF THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE TOP OF MODULE. GM HAS RECALLED EARLIER MODELS OF VEHICLES FOR THE SAME SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR MULTIPLE REASONS:STALLING ON BUSY STREET AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART, FUEL LEAKS DUE TO HOLE MELTING IN MODULE TOP, AND ITS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES MY CADILLAC'S PASSENGER SEAT LIGHT BEGAN TO ACT UP AND WOULD GO ON AND OFF WHEN SOMEONE WOULD SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I AM SINGLE AND RARELY EVER HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. APPROXIMATELY TWO TIMES PER MONTH SOMEONE RIDES IN THIS SEAT. THE LAST TIME SOMEONE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, I TRAVELED 10 MILES ROUND TRIP ON 1/19/2012, THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" AND AIR BAG RED LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON THE DASH AND SINCE THEN WILL NOT GO OFF. I TAKE EXTRAORDINARY CARE OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM (PPS) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $629.00. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE CADILLAC CTS MODEL OF THE SAME YEAR. MY QUESTION AND COMPLAINT ARE: DID THE MODULES COME FROM THE SAME PLACE AND/OR ARE THEY THE SAME MODULE AND PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM. WHY WOULDN'T MY CADILLAC STS BE INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL WHEN I SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHER CADILLAC STS MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR. *TR
KEYLESS DOOR ENTRY UNLOCK FAILS. THE OUTER HANDLE HAS FAULTY WIRING WITH MANY CARS SENT IN FOR REPLACEMENT AND NO RECALL PERFORMED YET. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE DOOR LOCK FAILING CAN LOCK THE DRIVER IN THE CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE AND, IF THE PERSON IS UNRESPONSIVE DUE TO THE ACCIDENT, SOMEONE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR CANNOT ENTER THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK THAT HAS YET TO BE ADDRESSED. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, IT COMMONLY AFFECTS 2005 & 2006 CADILLAC STS MODEL CARS WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY & KEYLESS IGNITION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED THE OFF BUTTON FOR THE ENGINE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED AT THE TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE REMOTE START AND TURN OFF FEATURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND THOUGHT THIS COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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