Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Cadillac STS problems

Owners filed 141 complaints about the 2006 Cadillac STS with NHTSA between Sep 2005 and Dec 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (58).

Complaints
141
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags58
  2. Electrical system21
  3. Engine20
  4. Fuel/propulsion system18
  5. Power train13
  6. Engine and engine cooling8
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)8
  8. Vehicle speed control6
  9. Seats6
  10. Steering5
  11. Seat belts4
  12. Fuel system, gasoline3
  13. Suspension3
  14. Service brakes3

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 11, 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
20051
20065
20076
20085
20099
20107
20117
20127
20136
201421
201530
201612
20178
20185
20197
20203
20211
20220
20231

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

Air bags

58 reports13 crashes2 fires
“I UNDERSTAND THAT 2006 CADILLAC CTS HAS A RECALL FOR AIRBAG PROBLEMS. CADILLAC DOESN'T DENY THAT THE SAME SYSTEM WAS USED IN THE STS. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST WONDER WHY THE STS WAS NOT RECALLED. I KNEW THERE WAS NO WARRANTY, AND THAT'S WHY I CONTACTED CADILLAC. KNOWING THIS THEY SENT ME FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH WAS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THEY SAID IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CADILLAC SHOULD ADDRESS. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2019Air bagsODI 11280319

Electrical system

21 reports1 crash3 fires
“MY CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING 'EXTENDED CRANK'. MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER MADE APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN ATTEMPTS AT FIXING IT TO NO AVAIL. I'M TOLD IT'S THE CHECK VALVE, BUT I HAVE NOT HAD THAT DONE BECAUSE ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALER DIDN'T WORK; E.G., NEW COMPUTER (AND REMOVED), BATTERY (AND REMOVED), FUEL PUMP, ETC. VERY FRUSTRATING AND I FEEL IT'S A MATTER OF HEALTH AND SAFETY BECAUSE THE CAR ALMOST NEVER STARTS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A DEAD BATTERY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2020Electrical systemODI 11318139

Engine

20 reports3 crashes2 fires
“PURCHASED 2006 CADILLAC STS BUILT ON JUNE 21 2005 LAST DAY OF 2005 MODEL. CAR HAS HAD ALL THE ISSUES THAT 22005 VEHICLE HAD. JUNE 23RD 2005 WAS FIRST DAY OF PRODUCTION. AT EVERY CORNER VIN # ARE NOTED HOWEVER FOR THIS MODEL THE BUILD DAYS WHICH NOTED BY CADILLAC ARE THE IMPORTANT FACTORS. I DON'T THINK COINCIDENCE THAT I'VE BEEN COMPANLING TO CADILLACAND ASKING FOR HELP WITH ZERO HELP. CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR 200000 AND 12 YEARS HOWEVER CADILLAC ALWAYS SAYS VIN EVEN THOUGH DATES ARE THE ONLY THING NOTED. I HAVE CALLED AND E,AIL FOR 3 YEARS. MY CAR IS OFF ROAD AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO LOOK AND EVEN IF I PAID THEY WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THEY WOULD EVEN LOOK AT THE ISSUES. MY CAR IS IN ABSOLUTE LIMBO NEITHER A 2006 OR 05 OR WHATEVER. THEY HAVE REFUSED EVERY STEP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BASED ON RECALLS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2019Suspension, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11182238

Fuel/propulsion system

18 reports3 fires
“CERTAIN TIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE TRACTION ASSIST COMES ON, AND ALL POWER IS LOST TO THE ENGINE. LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, CAR IS STILL ON, BUT GAS DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND CAR IS HARD TO STEER. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER 6 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, TURN THE CAR OFF, RESTART AND HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2019Steering, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11231527

Power train

13 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SPUTTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR TOW DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WOODWORTH CADILLAC (339 N. MAIN STREET, ANDOVER, MA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2019Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 11182836

Engine and engine cooling

8 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, DROPS OF OIL WERE VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE SEAL FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. .....UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF UPDATED 03/17/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10825095
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

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