Cadillac DTS Electrical System Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 177 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 177 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Cadillac DTS across 8 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (79). The words owners use most often: “fuse box” (9% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Fuse box: mentioned in 16 of 177 complaints (9%)
  • Pump relay: mentioned in 12 of 177 complaints (7%)
  • Ignition switch: mentioned in 10 of 177 complaints (6%)
  • Rear seat: mentioned in 9 of 177 complaints (5%)

At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?

Based on 110 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles7 · 6%
10k–25k miles5 · 5%
25k–50k miles23 · 21%
50k–75k miles19 · 17%
75k–100k miles25 · 23%
100k–150k miles23 · 21%
150k+ miles8 · 7%

How serious are the reports?

Of 177 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 3 an injury.

Cadillac DTS electrical system complaints by model year

Peak: 2006, with 79 complaints
2004: 2200422005: 1200512006: 792006792007: 282007282008: 392008392009: 122009122010: 102010102011: 620116

n = 177 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearElectrical System complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2011 DTS638%—
2010 DTS1045%76,880
2009 DTS1234%66,000
2008 DTS3945%88,500
2007 DTS2829%44,800
2006 DTS7931%74,000
2005 DTS111%200
2004 DTS229%69,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2014, with 66 complaints
2006: 120062007: 32008: 420082009: 32010: 920102011: 52012: 620122013: 122014: 662014662015: 202016: 220162017: 132018: 620182019: 62020: 720202021: 22022: 420222023: 32024: 320242025: 12026: 12026

n = 177 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (4)

Electrical system:ignitionJun 23, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V355000 · 3,141,731 vehicles

Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

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:cablesNov 5, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V553000 · 13,780 vehicles

Model years: 2010, 2011

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.

Electrical systemJun 4, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V240000 · 1,365,070 vehicles

Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Problem: Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 buick, lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 buick enclave; cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; saturn outlook; and model year 2009 chevrolet traverse vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system (hwfs). A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor distortion to considerable melting of the plastic around the hwfs fluid chamber.

Risk: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.

Fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on june 11, 2010. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, gmc at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.

Electrical systemAug 28, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V441000 · 857,735 vehicles

Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008

Problem: Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 buick lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, saturn outlook; and my 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.

Risk: This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or http://www.cadillac.com; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or http://www.saturn.com, gmc at 1-866-996-9436; or hummer at 1-800-732-5493; or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Received Apr 20, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11732561

I was traveling on Stevenson expressway at 55 mph when the fuel pump relay overheated and melted, which burned up the REC (Rear Electrical Electrical Center /fusebox). When the fuse pump relay overheated it shut fuel down going to the fuel pump, which caused the engine to stall. When the engine…

Received Jul 30, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11677365

Fuse box got push on by seat clamp shorted out my fuel pump relay and burnt up my fuse box

Received Sep 23, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11616020

While driving at night in July, 2023 on [XXX] , both headlights began to go out intermittently but not simultaneously. Continued driving for approximately 3 hours to final destination. Took to local Cadillac dealer for diagnostics (Invoice [XXX]) and after dialogue with dealer had both assemblies…

Received Mar 17, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11577865

Driving at night on I-29 South and headlights went off intermittently but not simultaneously. Headlamps continued intermittent cut-out until reached destination (approx 3 hours later). As a safety issue for driving while dark, had both assemblies replaced at Cadillac dealer for approx $3,950.00…

Received Mar 17, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11577860
Cadillac DTS
2006-2007 Cadillac DTS photographed in USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Cadillac DTSs have electrical system problems?

No. NHTSA has 177 owner complaints about electrical system for the Cadillac DTS. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the Cadillac DTS electrical system?

Yes: 4 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Cadillac DTS?

The most frequent phrase is “fuse box”, in 16 of 177 complaints, followed by “pump relay” (12).

Other Cadillac DTS problems

See all Cadillac DTS problems.