Problems · by component

2005 Cadillac CTS power train problems

82 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Cadillac CTS cite power train, 29% of all 284 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
82
29% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A VERY WEAK REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT WAS USED IN THE LESSER HORSEPOWER V6 AND WHEN TAKING OFF HARD THE CAR BEGINS TO WHEEL HOP AND DESTROYS THE REAR END THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN LESS THEN A YEAR AND A HALF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2020Steering, Power trainODI 11348468
“THERE'S A VERY HARD JERKING COMING FROM SOME WHERE IN THE REAR AREA WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS A LOST OF POWER. ALSO THE ENGINE OIL IS GOING SOME WHERE ,I KEEP HAVING TO PUT OIL IN IT , ABOUT TWO TO THREE QUARTS A WEEK. WHEN THE OIL GETS REAL LOW THE ENGINE SHAKES AND RUNS LIKE CRAP AND ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11202707
“VEHICLE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM OPEN RECALLS. I REPLACED FRONT BRAKE HOSES MYSELF AT MY OWN COST. THEY STATED VERY HIGH MILEAGE 184000 MILES AND YOU DID NOT BUY THE CAR HERE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2018Power train, Service brakesODI 11093789
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" AND THE "STABILITY SYSTEM OFF" MESSAGES DISPLAYED WITHOUT WARNING. UPON ACCELERATION, THE FRONT WHEELS SEIZED. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER OF LAS VEGAS, NEVADA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2017Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11030551
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. COLE BUICK GMC CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V589000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2017Power trainODI 10993385

Showing 6 of 82 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: seal

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.

Power trainReported Dec 20, 2007NHTSA 07V589000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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

Other 2005 CTS problem areas