RoadVitals

2008 Cadillac Sts Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
50
Latest Jun 27, 2025
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.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 10, 2008

What this page shows

Our database holds 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Cadillac Sts. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 50 · page 1 of 2

Engine
Filed Jun 27, 2025

Dealership had ownership of car and should have replaced the timing chain before selling car to me, which they did not and after time for repairs to be done before time ran out, I had to pay for repairs, causing me be be out $3000+ dollars for repairs should have been covered by the warranty.

NHTSA ID
11669621
Incident
Jul 2, 2016
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 24, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Service TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) sensor message and TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the sensor was replaced and reprogrammed on multiple occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V108000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact left a message with a service manager at the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ID
11470831
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
57,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 13, 2021

The Cadillac Company sent me a letter several years ago informing me of a premature timing chain wear and the illumination of the Service Engine light. They knew about this defective engine problem but they did not recall the vehicle. Instead they extended the engine warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles. I have only 90,000 miles on my vehicle but I've owned it for over 10 years and now the check engine light is illuminated. The Cadillac dealer refuses to extend the warranty. This is a safety issue because if the engine were to fail the driver would also lose power steering and power brakes putting the safety of the vehicle occupants and others at risk. I believe that this vehicle and other GM vehicles with the 3.6 liter engine should be recalled and repaired at no cost to the vehicle owner.

NHTSA ID
11443623
Incident
Nov 25, 2021
Filed Oct 20, 2019

SUDDENLY LOST NAVIGATION SYSTEM, WHICH ALSO SHUT DOWN CLOCK AND OTHER APPLICATIONS WITHIN THAT SYSTEM. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. CALLED GM CUSTOMER CENTER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM, SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE UNIT BEING UNABLE TO SYNCHRONIZE WITH NEW SATELLITES FOR GPS. WROTE TO GM HQS, OT A REPLY BACK THAT "IT WAS BEING WORKED", WITH NO EXPECTED DATE FOR A FIX. AFTER DOING ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, FOUND THIS ISSUE HAS INDEED BEEN HAPPENING TO THIS AND SIMILAR CADILLAC SERIES VEHICLES; AND THAT GM HAS NO PLAN FOR A FIX. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT OCCURS RANDOMLY AND IN IN THE WRONG LOCATION AND WRONG SITUATION COULD SUFFICIENTLY DISTRACT DRIVER TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT THE LEAST GM SHOULD BE NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM AND POTENTIAL HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
11269738
Incident
May 20, 2019
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 9, 2019

AIR BAG ALERT SAYS SERVICE AIR BAGS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AS MANY OF THESE BAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. SECOND PROBLEM: WHEN TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, IT KEEPS DINGING AND SAYS PUT CAR IN PARK EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THIS DINGING NOISE LASTS MAYBE 10 SECONDS TO A MINUTE. SOMETIMES SHIFTING OR PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE AGAIN STOPS THE DINGING.

NHTSA ID
11230433
Incident
Jun 6, 2018
Engine
Filed Feb 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THEY TURNED OFF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT EXCEED 25 MPH. THE FAILURE PRODUCED ERROR CODES 08, 09, 16, 17, 18, AND 19. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
11180212
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 26, 2019
Crash reported

MY HUSBAND BACKED INTO A POST AND IT LUNCHED HIM FORWARD, AS FAR AS THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING. HE ENTER A BUILDING THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. HE WAS IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID
11172321
Incident
Jun 6, 2013
Mileage
210,000 mi
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Oct 16, 2018

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT REMAINS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER A $1000.00 TO FIX IT. THIS OCCURS WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONERY. MY CAR DOES A HARD JERK WHEN STOPPING ON BRAKES IT JERKS FROM THE REAR END.

NHTSA ID
11140583
Incident
Mar 9, 2018
Mileage
190,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2018

MY CAR IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 08V108000, RECALL DATE: 2008-03-11. HOWEVER, MY VIN: [XXX], IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SUMMARY GM IS RECALLING 4,586 MY 2008 CADILLAC STS AND STS-V PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, 'TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS' (TPMS). THE STANDARD REQUIRES AN INDICATION TO THE DRIVER FOR CERTAIN TPMS MALFUNCTIONS. WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTS A MALFUNCTION, THE LOW TIRE WARNING LIGHT SHOULD FLASH FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE AND THEN STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE IGNITION CYCLE. A DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER MESSAGE WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. INTERMITTENTLY, MY CAR WILL DISPLAY A WARNING WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE TPMS SENSORS HAVE FAILED. THE WARNING PERSISTS UNTIL THE END OF THE DRIVE CYCLE. RESTARTING THE CAR CLEARS THE WARNING. THE CAR IS ALWAYS MOVING WHEN THIS OCCURS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH TPMS SENSORS THAT HAD WARNINGS. THE REPAIR FACILITY ALSO RESET THE TMPS SYSTEM FOR THE NEW SENSORS TO BE RECOGNIZED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS, EVEN ON THE REPLACED SENSORS. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF AN INVOICE FOR ONE OF THE TPMS SENSORS IN QUESTION. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE DEALER SHOULD REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM TO CORRECT THE ISSUE (AS WITH THE OTHER CARS LISTED IN THE RECALL). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11093168
Incident
Dec 9, 2017
Mileage
57,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2018

THE SAME CONDITION AS LISTED IN THE: 2007 CADILLAC STS FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP NHTSA CAMPAIGN #14V542000. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS IN THE 2007 MODEL YEAR RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11079477
Incident
Feb 5, 2018
Mileage
180,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 20, 2017

RECALL.I AM AN ACTIVE DUTY SAILOR AND MISSING SEVERAL NOTICES OF THE INTIAL RECALL.....ENGINE REDUCTION OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE...PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN WEAR REPROGRAM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE...WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 15MPH....THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY I-10 INTERSTATE...IS THERE AWAY TO REOPEN THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11024670
Incident
Sep 19, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 9, 2017

ENGINE BLOCK DETERERATING FROM INSIDE OUT. LEEKING FLUID. ALL SERVICES MADE AND CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. SERVICED BY RELIABLE CADILLAC, ROSEVILLE CA

NHTSA ID
10984500
Incident
Apr 1, 2017
Mileage
92,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 14, 2017

PURCHASED VEHICLE 11- 2011 (65,498) 10-(2012) FIRST CK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE AND EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE FOR CK ENGINE LIGHT LAST THREE YEARS 2014-THRY-16 NOW 17 THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING OR SITTING WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE THIS IS A ISSUE FOR ME BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT GETTING REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE IS IN THE KERBECK CADILLAC SERVICE DEALER SINCE 1/19/2017 FOR THE SAME ISSUE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND PARK TO SHIFT I'VE COMPLAIN TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CASE NUMBER ON THIS ISSUE , BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THEIR OWN VEHICLE IN THE MEAN TIME I', STILL PAYING FOR A UNSAFE VEHICLE , IF THE MAKER OF THE CAR CAN'T CORRECT THEIR OWN ISSUE THEN WHO CAN, WHY DOES ISSUE HAVE TO FALL IN THE CONSUMER LAP ? WHY DO I HAVE TO DRIVE AND PAY FOR THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. NO-ONE WANTS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE WHY KEEP GIVING ME THAT CT BACK IF THEY CAN'T CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ,THEY KEEP BLAMING IT ON THE MILEAGE THEN WHY SELL THESE VEHICLE WITH THE OUTRAGE PRICE TAGS KNOWING THAT IT THAT BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN A FEW YEARS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100,000 MILES I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR FIVE YEARS (JUST PUT APPROX ANOTHER 66,000 MILES, SO THEY ARE USING THIS AS EXCUSE THEN DON'T SELL CARS WITH HIGH MILES . THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT CONSUMER SAFETY NOT JUST THE MONEY. IN THE BEGINNING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE STATIONARY THEN YEARS PASS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION CITY DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10945231
Incident
Jan 10, 2017
Mileage
121,361 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2016

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON VEHICLE START SHUTTING DOWN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A PA INTERSTATE AND ON A CITY STREET THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SERVAL OCCASION , THEN THE PARK TO SHIFT LIGHTS COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME IS UNABLE TO SHUT OFF. AT LEASE THREE TIME THIS YEAR 2016 (APR#7TH OCT 26TH AND NOV 3RD EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, APPROX SIX TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOV 2011.

NHTSA ID
10933939
Incident
Nov 3, 2016
Mileage
120,168 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10927880
Incident
Nov 21, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2016

AIR BAG SENSORS GOING BAD OR CORRODED. SHOULDN'T THEY LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE?

NHTSA ID
10920048
Incident
Aug 19, 2016
Mileage
180,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2016

POWER ASSISTED STEERING FLUCTUATES. SOMETIMES IT WORKS. IT MAY START OR STOP WORKING AT ANY TIME, AND IS INCONSISTENT.

NHTSA ID
10892914
Incident
Jul 28, 2016
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 23, 2015

THE INFORMATION WINDOW UNDER MY SPEEDOMETER WARNED ME TO CHECK THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. IT THEN WENT OFF ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER. I WARNED ME AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL, BEGINNING OF MAY AND MAY 22ND. I DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR TODAY (5/23) SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE WARNING IS STILL ON. IF IT IS I WILL WRITE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10721164
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
45,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
10713602
Incident
Jul 8, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 14, 2015

STEERING WHEEL HEATER STOPPED WORKING. DEALER WANTS 1100 TO REPLACE. AFTER READING MANY FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694246
Incident
Mar 14, 2014
Mileage
46,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10693349
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 6, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10692521
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Feb 24, 2015

IN COLD WEATHER CAR WILL NOT TAKE OFF FROM THE START AND THE MOTOR BOGS DOWN AND WILL NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES CREATING A HAZARD TO DRIVER AND ON COMING TRAFFIC ABS LIGHT COMES ON, STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON IF YOU RESTART THE CAR ALL THE ERRORS GO AWAY BUT STILL STORED ON COMPUTER MEMORY. *JS

NHTSA ID
10690449
Incident
Feb 23, 2015
Electrical
Filed Jan 16, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED BY A CAR GOING 40. THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND BURNED PRETTY BAD. I HAVE TO GET A NEW CAR DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE FIRE, I'M JUST HAPPY MY KIDS WEREN'T WITH ME AT THE TIME. I HAVE HERNIATED AND BULGING DISCS IN MY CERVICAL AND LUMBAR, WHICH WERE FOUND BY MRI. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR BUT THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO LET THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10673063
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
96,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 22, 2014

I HAD THIS CAR SERVICED AT GOLD COAST CADILLAC, OAKHURST, N.J. ON MARCH 25, 2013 AND THE MILEAGE WAS 42,951. SINCE MY WIFE DOES NOT DRIVE MUCH ANYMORE, WE DO NOT USE THIS CAR VERY MUCH AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE MILEAGE. ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 13, 2014 I GOT INTO THE CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE THE DISPLAY SAID "SERVICE AIR BAG". SINCE I FELT THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY GM BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS, I EMAILED A LETTER TELLING GM ABOUT MY PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL FROM SOME WOMEN REPRESENTING GM. I TOLD HER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SHE TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I GUESS NEITHER WERE ALL THE GM CARS THAT HAD DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES. I TOLD HER THAT THIS CAR HAD NEVER BEEN TOUCHED BY ANOTHER CAR (ACCIDENT) AND IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST SCRATCH ON IT AND I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE DEALER AND HAVE HIM CHARGE ME $600.00 TO REPAIR AN AIR BAG THAT HAD A DEFECT IN IT. I DID NOT WANT TO CHANCE BEING CHARGED A LOT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. I AM WRITING YOU TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF AIR BAGS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND I THINK I HAVE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG AND GM SHOULD INSPECT IT AND FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE PUT THIS IN YOUR RECORDS FOR POSSIBLE RECALLS OF AIR BAGS IN GM CARS. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ID
10660265
Incident
Nov 13, 2014
Mileage
44,750 mi

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.

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