1.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,181 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Cadillac STS engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Cadillac STS Owner Comments

problem #12

Sep 092019

STS

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It just started making a loud knocking noise, and it dosent go no faster than 40mph.

- Port Arthur, TX, USA

problem #11

Aug 152019

STS

  • 155,000 miles
The vehicle intermittently loses engine/ electrical power while driving. When the power loss occurs, brakes and steering lose proper functionality creating a threat to the driver and passengers as well as other motorists. The vehicle then is unresponsive to the proper starting procedure. Restarting the vehicle is inconsistent. It may start immediately upon command or it may cause a theft procedure to initiate. The vehicles dic will possibly show the following prompts just before the shutdown failure occurs; service vehicle soon, service stability system soon, service A/C system soon. During the shutdown failure, no electrical components are operable but power is still available to the car allowing the dic to prompt 'no fob detected' or 'theft attempted' and the fob will intermittently allow you to send lock/ unlock commands during the shutdown failure. The failure happens in any scenario and is intermittent in the aspect of no failure occurs for a week or 5 failures occur in a day. I cannot determine when the failures began happening considering I purchased the vehicle used with 155000 miles and the failures have been happening since day 3 of my ownership. The vehicle is currently at a midland Michigan Cadillac dealership being diagnosed.

- Midland, MI, USA

problem #10

Oct 292018

STS

  • 279,900 miles
Without warning my transmission stopped working. I can move the greer with out it collecting any greer. No engine check light nothing. I pulled the parking lot and had to be pushed out street.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 252014

STS 6-cyl

  • 56,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Went outside to drive the car begin to drive off as I was driving a big ball of smoke came out the tail pipe and sounded as if something broke and the car shut off. The car would not re start.

- Halifax, NC, USA

problem #8

Jun 032014

STS

  • miles
This vehicle has pumped through 5-7 quarts of oil appx every 500 miles. I know that this is not normal. Car was overhauled, the trans was basically rebuilt, with new components.problem with oil evaporating at very low mileage still an issue. ** leaks*** or symptoms aside of diminishing oil every said set of miles. Very frustrating issue that hasn't been resolved.

- Niles, IL, USA

problem #7

Oct 062014

STS

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Sts. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the engine lost power as the engine light illuminated. The contact merged the vehicle to side of the road safely, which was then towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the intake and exhaust manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #6

Aug 182013

STS 8-cyl

  • 72,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Twice drive on interstate (possible after rough area on interstate) reduce power light and no engine power atlanta, ga traffic nearly got hit several times trying to get to the side of the interstate. Now three times stop car put in park and engine will not shut off, light says put in park although it is in park or should be. The recall on the drive axle seal, Cadillac would not cover cost, I did pay to have it fixed at hoover, al Cadillac.

- Gardendale, AL, USA

problem #5

Aug 012014

STS 8-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
While driving on the expressway( at night), going 70mph, the car completely shut down without warning. I lost all power, brakes, steering, lights. On dash message stated "accessory active" and then "shift to park." Took the car to the dealer and they changed the throttle body and cam/crank shaft along with a couple other small things. Got the car back, and 1 week later, the problem began again but worse. It would do it repeatedly, at all different speeds. A couple of times right in the middle of an intersection! took the car back to the dealer again and this time they changed the body control module. Got the car back and about a week later, the problem has returned!

- Fairdale, KY, USA

problem #4

Sep 122014

STS 6-cyl

  • 187,774 miles
The catalytic converter makes loud popping noises on passenger front side. Now is misfiring in cylinder 1 and also has unexpected gained speed without any gas peddle pushed. GM extended the catalytic converter warranty to 200,000 miles due to converter problems. But my VIN they say isn't included. My car is a V6. My sister was the previous owner she said she never received any recall information. The website shows no open recalls but the work wasn't completed since she purchased in 2007. GM website doesn't help at all.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 122014

STS

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Sts. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and the traction control indicator illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the shoulder of the road and, after one attempt, the vehicle restarted. The failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Ponoma , CA, USA

problem #2

Apr 112013

STS 8-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
I was driving along a city roadway when the vehicle's stability, traction control, and engine light came on simultaneously when all of a sudden the vehicle just stopped, almost causing the car behind me to collide with my vehicle. I called the dealer, lawley's GM store in Sierra vista, AZ. Where I had just purchased the vehicle and told the service manager what happened...he sent a tow truck to pickup the vehicle and after inspecting the vehicle at the dealership told me it was the throttle body needing replacement...I bought a new one and had it installed. Ran fine for a couple of weeks after which the vehicle began stalling while driving on a city road when the same thing happened again, but this time when the vehicle stopped without any warning causing the vehicles behind me had to swerve around me almost causing accidents with oncoming vehicles. Called the dealer again, had the vehicle towed in and this time was told that the vehicles computer was not programmed right and that it also needed throttle body harness...bought the harness and had it installed as well as the dealer reprogramming the computer. Car did well for a few months when it happened again (vehicle stopping unexpectedly), this time approaching a major crosswalk and once again causing the vehicles behind me to come a abrupt stops, fortunately a city police vehicle was on the opposite side of the crosswalk and the officer witnessed what happened, put his vehicle's emergency lights on and came over to help me push out from the street to a walgreen's parking lot where I once again called the dealer, had it towed to dealer where they told me the throttle body pin connectors had to be soldered on which they did. Car is running ok for now, but I am concerned that I may be driving and the vehicle will once again stop unexpectedly and cause an accident.there are consumer posts on this problem on the web.

- Sierra Vista, AZ, USA

problem #1

May 152013

STS

  • 123,000 miles
While driving my 2005 Cadillac Sts in afternoon rush hour traffic the car suddenly loss acceleration. The car would not maintain speed (60 mph) while driving on the freeway. Had to exit freeway. The car continued to operate only at idle. Everything else was working, but could not get the car to respond to the throttle pedal. Was able to slowly exit and enter a parking lot. Restarted the car and was able to drive off normally. After a few minutes the problem recurred. The dealer had the car 4 different times (over a month total) and was not able to resolve the problem. The dealer indicated a $4000 cable harness assembly has to be replaced, but did not guarantee it will correct the problem. Throttle body, throttle position sensors have been replaced without results. The car did operate normal for over a month with new throttle body. After visiting the dealer for another issue the throttle problem recurred.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

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