Cadillac DTS Problems by Year
NHTSA has 527 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the Cadillac DTS, across 8 model years (2004–2011). The 2006 model year has the most complaints (255). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Cadillac DTS years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical DTS year: 2006, 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2006 DTS: 255 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2007 DTS: 97 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008 DTS: 86 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2004 DTS: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 DTS: 9 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2011 DTS: 16 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Cadillac DTS problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 177 | 8 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 102 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine | 80 | 8 | 2 |
| Steering | 56 | 8 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 34 | 8 | 26 |
| Seats | 27 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 5 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 | 4 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| Power Train | 16 | 4 | 1 |
| Structure | 16 | 5 | 3 |
| Tires | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| Suspension | 13 | 5 | 2 |
| Visibility | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Wheels | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| Equipment | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Cadillac DTS problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2006: electrical system (79) · exterior lighting (79)
All Cadillac DTS model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 DTS | 16 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 DTS | 22 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 DTS | 35 | 2 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 DTS | 86 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 DTS | 97 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 DTS | 255 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 DTS | 9 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 2004 DTS | 7 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Cadillac: all Cadillac models · Cadillac VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Cadillac DTS years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2006 (255), 2007 (97), 2008 (86) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical DTS year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Cadillac DTS?
Electrical System, with 177 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Cadillac DTS have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.