Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 28 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.
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE PANEL GOES "OFF" SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR COMPLETELY. THE PANEL BOARD IS COMPLETELY DARK, NO ELECTRIC SUPPLY, NO GAS SUPPLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SPUTTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR TOW DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WOODWORTH CADILLAC (339 N. MAIN STREET, ANDOVER, MA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
PURCHASED 2006 CADILLAC STS BUILT ON JUNE 21 2005 LAST DAY OF 2005 MODEL. CAR HAS HAD ALL THE ISSUES THAT 22005 VEHICLE HAD. JUNE 23RD 2005 WAS FIRST DAY OF PRODUCTION. AT EVERY CORNER VIN # ARE NOTED HOWEVER FOR THIS MODEL THE BUILD DAYS WHICH NOTED BY CADILLAC ARE THE IMPORTANT FACTORS. I DON'T THINK COINCIDENCE THAT I'VE BEEN COMPANLING TO CADILLACAND ASKING FOR HELP WITH ZERO HELP. CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR 200000 AND 12 YEARS HOWEVER CADILLAC ALWAYS SAYS VIN EVEN THOUGH DATES ARE THE ONLY THING NOTED. I HAVE CALLED AND E,AIL FOR 3 YEARS. MY CAR IS OFF ROAD AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO LOOK AND EVEN IF I PAID THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT THE ISSUES. MY CAR IS IN ABSOLUTE LIMBO NEITHER A 2006 OR 05 OR WHATEVER. THEY HAVE REFUSED EVERY STEP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BASED ON RECALLS
ON THURSDAY 18 MAY 2017, WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 405 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT NORMAL SPEEDS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS OUT; AND THE BRAKES LOST POWER ASSIST. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND WORSENED, SO I EXITED THE FREEWAY TO SURFACE STREETS AND BEGAN THE TRIP BACK SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 405 TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. WHEN STOPPED ON SURFACE STREETS (AND ON THE FREEWAY), IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND ADD FUEL TO THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. ALSO, IT WAS NECESSARY TO APPLY EXTRA STRONG PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF POWER ASSIST. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DEALER AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO RESTART. AFTER EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE OF ENGINE INTERNAL PARTS, DEALER DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A ROCKER ARM HAD BROKEN AT ONE OF THE CYLINDERS, RESULTING IN DEBRIS FALLING THROUGH THE VALVE OPENING INTO THE CYLINDER AND SCORING THE VALVE SEAT AND THE PISTON. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE. -- AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD ACCUMULATED 83,000 MILES OF MODERATE DRIVING, AND WAS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 11 YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER IN DECEMBER 2005, AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY BY THAT DEALER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. SUBSEQUENTLY, A NEW (REMANUFACTURED) ENGINE WAS PURCHASED FROM AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER AT A COST OF $12,678.25. THE VEHICLE WAS WITH THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF SIX WEEKS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR AND INSTALLATION. -- CLEARLY, HAD THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, INTENSIVE ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO SAFELY EXIT THE FREEWAY AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP (ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER ASSIST ON THE BRAKES). THIS WOULD HAVE PLACED MY PASSENGERS IN VERY HIGH DANGER AND PERSONAL RISK.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, DROPS OF OIL WERE VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE SEAL FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. .....UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF UPDATED 03/17/16.*JB
HELLO, I PURCHASED A 2006 STS V8 LAST JANUARY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES IMMEDIATELY, A STARTER, AND THE BRAKES AND THEN REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AGAIN. I RECENTLY WENT TO AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SUSPENSION NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER INVESTIGATION I REALIZED THERE WAS RECALLS ON THE 2005 STS V8 MODEL FOR THE BRAKES, SUSPENSION AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 12 YEARS AND 200000 MILES. THE FACT IS THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 2005 AND THE ACTUAL MANUFACTURE DATE ON VEHICAL WAS 6/20/2005 WHICH WAS LAST DATE OF PRODUCTION FOR THE 05 MODEL. THE 2006 MANUFACTURE OR BUILD DATE BEGAN ON 6/23/05. IT SEEMS ODD ALL THE RECALLS FOR THE 05 MODEL ARE ALL THE YEAR OLD VEHICLE ARE FACED WITH. I CALLED CADILLAC AND THEY SAID ALTHOUGH THE BUILD DATE OF VEHICLE IS VALID THE VIN NUMBER IS WHAT IS FOLLOWED. HOWEVER, FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS THEY ACTUALLY FOUND THE SAME RECALL ON THE 05 CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON A 2007 CADILLAC. EVERYTHING POINTS TO THE FACT THAT THE MY 2006 MODEL WAS ACTUALLY EITHER A LATE MODEL OF A 2005 BY THE BUILD DATE OF 6/20/05 AND OR THE SAME PARTS HAVE BEEN USED AS THE 2005 RECALL. LASTLY THE VIN NUMBER WHEN I PULLED UP ON A SITE SHOWED IT WAS ACTUALLY A CTS MODEL. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF DATA I COULD SHARE THAT WOULD BACK THAT MY 2006 STS V8 ACTUALLY IS PART OF THE RECALL CARS. I UNDERSTAND THE VIN NUMBER IS WHAT IS LOOKED AT BUT WHEN MODEL YEAR CARS ARE BEING MADE AND SOLD AS DIFFERENT YEARS THAN WHEN THEY ARE PRODUCED AND RECALLS EFFECT THE YEAR OF ACTUAL BUILD THIS BECOMES VERY CONCERNING. AS IN THE PAST YEAR I WILL BE SPENDING OVER 3000$ PLUS DOLLARS TO FIX THIS CAR. I.HOPE YOU CAN LOOK INTO. AS THEY WONT EVEN INVESTIGATE OR GIVE ME THE SERIAL NUMBERS FOR THE PARTS BEING RECALLED
THE CAR SPARK PLUGS KEEP GOING OUT AND THE CAR IS MAKE A CLICKING NOISE IT IS SILENDER 1 AND 3.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,663.
TIMING BELT AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS IN ENGINE HAVE FAILED AT 108000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE ALSO UNCERTAIN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 8/27/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 09/08/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD EIGHT MISFIRES AND THE ICM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLAMMED INTO AN ON COMING CAR IN THE OTHER LANE. THIS CAUSED PERMANENT TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AS OUR AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED CAUSING US TO SLAM OUR HEADS OFF WINDSHIELD AND SIDE DOOR WINDOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT AND THE TWO REAR PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES EJECTING BOTH THE CONTACT AND FRONT PASSENGER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND BRAIN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAILING IN THE SAME MANNER THAT I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CADILLAC OWNERS HAVE GOTTEN REPAIRED THROUGH A RECALL ALREADY IN PLACE. EVERY SINGLE TIME I PUT GAS IN THE TANK THE CAR REFUSES TO TURN ON WITH THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO TURN ON IS AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND FINALLY ENOUGH FUEL GETS DELIVERED TO THE SYSTEM. SIMILARLY, THE CAR WILL HESITATE OR FEEL LIKE NO GAS IS BEING DELIVERED TO THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. OFTEN, IT WILL CAUSE A DRAMATIC DROP IN SPEED CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. GM DEFINITELY NEEDS TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT IS FAULTS EQUIPMENT RATHER THAN WEAR AND TEAR. ALSO, THERE SEEMS TO BE A SOME MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE OIL SYSTEM IN THE CAR. ONE WEEK AFTER A SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE, THERE IS OVER 1 QUART OF OIL MISSING IN THE RESERVE. THERE HAS BEEN OVER 4 QUARTS MISSING AT A TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,820.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT CAUSE AT A WALMART PARKING LOT. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DOOR PANEL OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. STERLING HEIGHTS FIRE DEPT WAS ON THE SEEN AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR
1) ON INTERSTATE I-495 LONG ISLAND EXPWY, CAR MOVING SLOW CAME FROM ON RAMP STRAIGHT ACROSS TO MIDDLE LANE. WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS IN LEFT LANE AND ENGINE STOPPED. PUTTED ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO HOV SHOULDER AND RESTART ENGINE. 2) ON NORTHERN STATE PKWY (2 LANES ONLY) ON LONG ISLAND, NY AND WAS IN RIGHT LANE- SAW ONCOMING TRAFFIC MERGING AHEAD AND WENT TO GIVE GAS TO MOVE OVER TO LEFT LANE AND ENGINE STOPPED. AGAIN- MOVED TO SHOULDER, RESTARTED ENGINE. 3) WAS DOING 65 ON NJTPKE I-95N IN LEFT LANE BETWEEN CARS AND TRUCKS ON RIGHT. ENGINE STOPPED (NO ACCELERATION- JUST STRAIGHT DRIVING). I WAS BETWEEN VEHICLES AND NO PLACE TO PULL OVER- PUT CAR INTO N AND RESTARTED AND BACK TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN- DID SAME THING. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR- PULLED OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER- TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND CONTINUED TRIP. ** COULD THIS BE PART OF THE RECENT RECALL ON CADDYS 2005-11 BUT DID NOT INCLUDE STS'S???? JUST FOR THE RECORD- HAVE NEW AIR FILTER AND SPRAYED BOTH THE MAF AND THROTTLE BODY VALVE WITH CORRECT CLEANERS- RECENTLY- AFTER SEEING A VIDEO ON CADDY COMPLAINT FORUM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCESSORY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS AN IGNITION PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING HAPPEN 4 TIMES IT STARTS UP GO ABOUT HALF A MILE SHUTS OFF AGAIN AFTER 4 TIMES IT WAS OK UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AT 20 MPH, AND ALSO SHUT OFF 5 TIMES AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE CLUSTER PANEL TURNED OFF, BUT THE RADIO STAYED ON. THE ODOMETER SHOWED A MESSAGE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). I PULLED OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE EACH TIME. THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP SAID THAT REAR AXLE PINION SEAL WAS THE ONLY RECALL FOR MY STS, BUT I AM EXPERIENCING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V020000 , AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V007000 ALSO. *TR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 83,000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONVERTER. AT 93,000 MILES, RECEIVED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING AGAIN AND THE CODE INDICATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS A PROBLEM. THE SIDE AFFECT IS THAT THE CAR LACKS POWER WHEN HAVING A NEED ACCELERATE. GM HAS RECALLED THE 2005 CONVERTER, BUT NOT THE 2006. *TR
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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