Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Cadillac CTS problems

Owners filed 284 complaints about the 2005 Cadillac CTS with NHTSA between Feb 2005 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is power train (82).

Complaints
284
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
31
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train82
  2. Air bags75
  3. Electrical system41
  4. Engine24
  5. Service brakes22
  6. Suspension18
  7. Steering15
  8. Engine and engine cooling14
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  11. Tires11
  12. Fuel system, gasoline8
  13. Structure7
  14. Wheels6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200519
200634
200716
20088
200910
201020
201118
201217
201315
201430
201528
201621
201714
201811
20199
20204
20212
20224
20232
20241
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

82 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“Transmission cooler line fittings have dissimilar metals causing the threads inside the radiator transcooler to strip and dump coolant into Transmission lines and on road along with what was the transmission fluid as well as steam rolling out blocking vision through my windshield going uphill on a dangerously busy road crossing.This is a well known manufacturing defect that has yet to be handled. This could have gotten me and my 3 year old son seriously hurt by sudden loss of power and slick roadways not being able to avoid or brake properly or even steer away from on coming collision. The dissimilar metals are aluminum nut with a mild steel washer backed by a stainless steel washer before it contacts the radiator. This car has 101k miles and has been babied it's entire life. And when I see the 4 brake lines are about to rust out after all the repairs that have already been done. This is just poor quality material and craftsmanship. Easily could have been avoided by simply using a different metal than mild steel between dissimilar metals.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2021Power train, Engine, Visibility/wiperODI 11433480

Air bags

75 reports15 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that failure was intermittent at first but became persistent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed passenger occupant sensor. The contact was informed that the passenger occupant sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he was concerned because his fiancée was expecting a child and normally occupied the seat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an undisclosed recall repair however, the contact was informed that the recall repair had expired. The contact stated that the representative contacted three local dealers and inquired about performing the recall repair; however, all three dealers declined to perform the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2024Air bagsODI 11624272

Electrical system

41 reports2 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V394000 (Electrical System). The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2022Electrical systemODI 11465419

Engine

24 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2021Electrical system, EngineODI 11403487

Service brakes

22 reports2 crashes
“During normal driving, my service stibilatrak light comes on. While the message is on, the TCS kicks in and it grabs the wheel and stops the car. I've been reared ended once and two barely missed collisions. When the TCS activates, it stops the car completely and the only way to drive the car is to turn it off for a few second and then restart it. That resets the computer and turn the message light off. The TCS or ABS does not come on in the dash, just the stilibatrak message in the message center. Once it's turned off, it does not come on until the next time the TCS activates. I've had several diagnostic tests to check the problem or get a code but there is no code. I've been told that the car is clear of codes. The dealer cannot find a code or the problem. I've spent several hundred dollars on trying to locate the problem. The car, as is, is a death trap. I can't drive it because I don't know when the traction will kick on. I've taken good care of my car, nice bodywork and low milage but it's not safe to drive and no one knows how to fix it, including the dealer. At $200 an hour to try to find the problem is unforeseeable financially on my pension. One option…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2022Steering, Wheels, Service brakesODI 11452118

Suspension

18 reports1 crash
“PER REPORT TJE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND AORBAG RECALL. WHEN I PURCHASED VEHICLE, INFORMATION WAS WARRANT TO ME. I TOTAL LOSS MY CAR DUE TO SUSPENSION AND AXLE MALFUNTION. IT CAUSED ME TO HIT A CURB. I COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2018Suspension, Electrical system, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11082624
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.