2011 Cadillac DTS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other DTS years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 6th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Cadillac DTS. That ranks 6th out of 8 DTS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints, 38%). Complaints mention 4 crashes, 6 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 16owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 Cadillac DTS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 38% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 31% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 19% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 13% | 126,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 13% | 66,082 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 6% | 8,400 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 Cadillac DTS recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Problem: General motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 dts and buick lucerne vehicles equipped with v8 engines. The starter or alternator cable is in contact with the power steering return line. If either the starter or alternator cable is contacting the power steering return line, the cable could wear through the line, causing a power steering fluid leak.
Risk: A power steering leak could result in a loss of power steering, increasing the risk of a crash, and/or the leak onto hot engine parts could cause an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will secure and if necessary reroute the lines to prevent contact. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 19, 2010. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, buick at 1-866-608-8080 and at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Airbags did not deploy in a rear end crash. Seat belts may have failed as well. Car is located at an offsite strorage facility for insurance purposes. I suffered head trauma and a concussion. Bruising on my torse from what I believe was from the seatbelt. Car is totaled and no inspection has been…
Car power shut off while driving on the highway to church and almost got in an accident. Pulled to the side and smelled smoke. Lifted the back seat and opened the fuse box and looked. Lifted the fuel pump fuse and it was burnt. Me and my family got stuck on the side of the highway instead of church…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY NOTICED A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RIZZA CADILLAC BUICK GMC (8425 159TH ST, TINLEY PARK, IL 60487; [redacted]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE…
Check engine light keeps coming on after a check and reset. The car has a lost of power and runs real slow than its like the problem never existed. This is the code i keep getting. P0420 code bad catalytic converter
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EDDIE TOURELLE'S NORTHPARK HYUNDAI (953 HIGHWAY 190 N, COVINGTON, LA 70433, [redacted]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT…
Other Cadillac DTS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 16 | 2 |
| 2010 DTS | 22 | 3 |
| 2009 DTS | 35 | 2 |
| 2008 DTS | 86 | 3 |
| 2007 DTS | 97 | 3 |
| 2006 DTS | 255 | 4 |
| 2005 DTS | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 DTS | 7 | 0 |
See all Cadillac DTS problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Cadillac DTS?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Cadillac DTS?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 Cadillac DTS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other DTS model years, the 2011 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.