2005 Cadillac STS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other STS years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Cadillac STS. That ranks 2nd out of 14 STS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (23 complaints, 23%), typically at around 62,500 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 101owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Cadillac STS 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 | 23 | 23% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 18% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 12 | 12% | 100,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 11% | 68,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 7% | 40,898 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 6% | 26,728 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 6% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 5% | 28,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 5% | 147,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 5% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 5% | 55,323 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 5% | 102,360 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 5% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 5% | 47,568 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 4% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 4% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 3% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% | 33,900 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2% | 58,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2% | 40,440 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1% | 110,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Cadillac STS recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the rear axle pinion seal does not meet all of the specifications and may experience a fluid leak.
Risk: A rear differential failure may cause loss of motive power and possibly loss of control increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the pinion seal free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2008. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006 or http://www.cadillac.com; pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com; and saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or http://www.saturn.com.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Certain vehicles have a left or right rear suspension toe link that could separate because of an incorrect weld.
Risk: If this were to occur, the affected rear wheel would be able to turn in or out, affecting vehicle control, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the right and left toe link and replace as required. If a toe link is replaced, the dealer will perform a wheel alignment. The recall began on may 3, 2006. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery
Problem: Certain vehicles equipped with v6 engines may have a condition where fuel is no longer supplied to the engine. This condition occurs without the illumination of the fuel level low indicator light or the warning chime.
Risk: If the engine stops running, the operator will not be able to restart the vehicle which could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the electronic control module (ecm) with new software free of charge. Owners were notified in december 2005 and asked to maintain at least 1/4 of a tank fuel level to avoid this condition until the parts are available. The parts are now available, owner renotification began on march 23, 2006. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Failure of the rear differential (PE07037) — opened Jul 17, 2007, closed Dec 27, 2007, led to recall 07V589000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the contact became aware of a fluid leak. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a pinion seal leak on the rear…
Airbag light came on last week, and continues to stay on. Have not taken in, as I was just checking for any recalls
el carro se bloquea tanto en direccion como en velocidades. pareciera ser que pierde brake fluid and gasoline
The service airbag light is now on and i notice numerous other complaints for this vehicle including injuries. Cadillac dealer says they wish to charge for diagnostics and believe it is a seat-belt pretensioner which they would not cover. Repairs would be as much as vehicle value. I notice a recall…
It just started making a loud knocking noise, and it dosent go no faster than 40mph.
Other Cadillac STS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 STS | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 STS | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 STS | 15 | 0 |
| 2008 STS | 50 | 1 |
| 2007 STS | 52 | 2 |
| 2006 STS | 139 | 4 |
| 2005 | 101 | 3 |
| 2004 STS | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 STS | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 STS | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 STS | 12 | 0 |
| 2000 STS | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 STS | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 STS | 3 | 0 |
See all Cadillac STS 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 2005 Cadillac STS?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 23 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Cadillac STS?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Cadillac STS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other STS model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.