Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Cadillac STS problems
Owners filed 50 complaints about the 2008 Cadillac STS with NHTSA between Apr 2008 and Jun 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (11).
Complaints
50
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags11
- Engine9
- Electrical system8
- Power train6
- Steering5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Exterior lighting2
- Suspension2
- Wheels2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Tires2
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
5
7
3
1
0
8
7
4
3
3
4
0
1
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
11 reports3 crashes
“AIR BAG ALERT SAYS SERVICE AIR BAGS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AS MANY OF THESE BAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. SECOND PROBLEM: WHEN TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, IT KEEPS DINGING AND SAYS PUT CAR IN PARK EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THIS DINGING NOISE LASTS MAYBE 10 SECONDS TO A MINUTE. SOMETIMES SHIFTING OR PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE AGAIN STOPS THE DINGING.”
Engine
9 reports
“Dealership had ownership of car and should have replaced the timing chain before selling car to me, which they did not and after time for repairs to be done before time ran out, I had to pay for repairs, causing me be be out $3000+ dollars for repairs should have been covered by the warranty.”
Electrical system
8 reports1 crash1 fire
“The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Service TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) sensor message and TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the sensor was replaced and reprogrammed on multiple occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V108000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact left a message with a service manager at the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.”
Power train
6 reports
“RECALL.I AM AN ACTIVE DUTY SAILOR AND MISSING SEVERAL NOTICES OF THE INTIAL RECALL.....ENGINE REDUCTION OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE...PREMATURE TIMING CHAIN WEAR REPROGRAM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE...WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 15MPH....THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY I-10 INTERSTATE...IS THERE AWAY TO REOPEN THIS RECALL.”
Steering
5 reports
“POWER ASSISTED STEERING FLUCTUATES. SOMETIMES IT WORKS. IT MAY START OR STOP WORKING AT ANY TIME, AND IS INCONSISTENT.”
Vehicle speed control
5 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS FAILED TO SECURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE THE KEY FOB TO SECURE THE DOOR BUT THAT DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM HAPPENING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASED IN ENGINE RPMS AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED IN ONE INSTANCE WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
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.