KnownCarProblems2005 Cadillac Cts Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 277 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Cadillac Cts, most often about the transmission (30% of complaints, typically around 28,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Cts model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2005 Cadillac Cts problems
Transmission
82 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: driveline, axle assembly, manual transmission, automatic transmission.
At 50mph rear differential let loose on my 2005 Cts Cadillac. Lost control spun, hit curb and median. Had to be towed out. Wheels locked. Could have been catastrophic had I went into on coming traffic.
(1) driving car from wet gravel incline up onto pavement. (2) loud noise from rear, car began to roll back down hill. Would not move further. (3) towed to dealership, rear differential and driveshaft damaged. Dealer refused to fix under warranty. Only owned car 2 weeks & bought extended warranty.
Air bags
74 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 88,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, sensor.
Vehicle stopped detecting person sitting in passenger front seat. Passenger airbag remains off when there is a passenger. Service message appears on dash stating to service airbag. This is a safety issue that could cause the front passenger airbag to not deploy in an accident. There is a recall on 2005-2007 Cadillac…
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while entering a driveway, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond causing the contact to crash into the garage. There were no injuries. Also, the contact stated that the brake pedal depressed to the ground and the service brake…
Electrical
39 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition, wiring.
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Cts. When attempting to start the vehicle, all of the instrument panel gauges were illuminated and the vehicle would not start. The key became stuck in the ignition as well. The dealer (barksdale Cadillac: 700 adcock drive, ridgeland, ms 39157) informed the contact that the vehicle…
The instrument panel stopped operating, different mechanics could not locate problem, Cadillac deal wanted 200.00 just to review. Several owners of same mocel having same problem. Dealears refuse to correct or even look at the cause without customers paying for service call. This seems to be a common problem with this…
Engine
38 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
This car has had several issues the newest being it started using excessive oil just after the main computer was replaced. This car has had regular maintenance at the proper times and never used a drop of oil. When it started using oil it used five liters of oil in just 24 days or 2000 miles. It continues to use a…
Engine oil consumption 2005 cadi Cts. Bought the car with 75k miles. 3 months later and 3800 miles.. No oil, no oil light came on. Engine damaged. Dealer bloosom chevrolet said engine replacement was all on me. Then later came back and said dgm was paying 1/3 and the dealership would pay 1/3 and 1/3 was on me. I have…
Brakes
33 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
Service brake assist message on screen and ABS/ trac control lights. Brakes were checked with no issues found. Also anti-locks will active on dry road for a second or two.
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Cts. While depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would not stop immediately and the braking distance increased. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. When operating the vehicle, the air bag sensor light illuminated.…
Suspension
16 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
I have a 2005 Cadillac Cts and have taken into the Cadillac dealership for rear end loss of control and bouncing of rear end. I know there was a recall on some type of rear end issues. I am tired of arguing with the ed morse dealership in tampa,fl about the recall and defect with the car. Please advise me as to what…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Cts. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the rear wheels locked up without warning. The vehicle came to a screeching halt. The vehicle restarted eventually, but would not move forward. The vehicle had to be towed. The ECM was replaced approximately seven hours prior to the failure. The…
Fuel system
15 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage.
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the lights on the instrumental panel became abnormally dark, the fuel gauge failed to read the fuel level and the key could not be released from the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the vehicle and advised the contact that the…
Multiple service visits with complaints re brakes not working fully, fuel gauge was always incorrect, passenger air bag not working. Air bag sensor was replaced but did not correct the problem. After multiple complaints regarding fuel gauge and several attempts to repair, was told no problem found. Stbility sensor…
Steering
15 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, column, hydraulic power assist system.
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH another vehicle crashed into the driver side and the air bags failed to deploy. The driver side had extensive damages to the door and was not drivable. The contact sustained traumatic brain injury. A police report was filed. The vehicle…
My 2005 Cadillac Cts appears to have a problem with the power-assisted steering. The car pulls to the right, and is difficult to steer toward the right. Also, once turned by manual force, the wheel sometimes does not spin back into proper position. This makes turning in tight places and parking extremely difficult. I…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Cadillac Cts recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: If the flange melts, a hole may be created allowing the fuel pump to leak fuel, causing the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, free of charge. Gm sent out interim notices in late october. The recall began on march 12, 2015. Owners may contact cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. Gm's number for this recall is 14405.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 cadillac cts-v vehicles manufactured october 6, 2003, to march 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 cadillac sts-v vehicles manufactured june 23, 2005, to march 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on september 15, 2014. Owners may contact cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. Gm's number for this recall is 14172.
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General motors llc (gm) notified the agency on july 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 cadillac cts vehicles manufactured august 16, 2001, to april 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 cadillac srx vehicles manufactured march 20, 2003, to august 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: Non-deployment of the front passenger air bag in the event of a crash necessitating that air bag's deployment may reduce protection of the passenger and increase the risk or severity of injury to them.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger sensing system free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about march 15, 2011. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463 and at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 cadillac cts vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the front passenger seat may cause the mat to kink, bend, or fold. This flexing can break the connections in the mat. If this occurs, the sensor may not detect the presence of a front seat passenger and will disable the air bag.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: The brake hose-tube interface may rupture suddenly without prior warning and increase vehicle stopping distance may occur increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers are to replace both front brake hose assemblies free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during may 2010. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2003-2007 cadillac cts vehicles currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the front brake hose fitting at the caliper may corrode due to snow or water, containing road salt or other contaminants, entering and being retained in the routing sleeve. If the fitting corrodes significantly, the brake hose-tube interface may develop a leak.
Transmission: seal
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.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear axle pinion seal does not meet all of the specifications and may experience a fluid leak.
Fuel system: delivery
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Iee passenger sensing system mats
Summary
On december 17, 2010, general motors (gm) notified the NHTSA that it had decided certain 2005 - 2007 model year cadillac cts vehicles contain a safety related defect.gm stated that certain cts vehicles contain a passenger sensing system mat, manufactured by iee, in the front passenger seat that may flex causing the mat to kink, bend or fold.if this flexing causes the connections in the mat to break, the passenger airbag could become disabled.non-deployment of the front passenger air bag in the event of a crash necessitating that air bag's deployment may reduce protection of the passenger and increase the risk or severity of injury to them.this issue was assigned recall number 10v-644.on febr
Rear drivetrain component failure
Summary
In july of 2007 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe07-037 to investigate allegations that the rear differential may fail causing a loss of motive power, and in some instances a loss of control, in model year (my) 2004 through 2006 cadillac cts, cts-v, and sts vehicles.as a result of that investigation gm issued recall 07v-589 to correct a leaking pinion seal problem.ea07-017 was opened to investigate complaints of fractured rear differential housings or rear half shafts in high performance cadillac cts-v vehicles.according to gm, these failures resulted from the cumulative damage from multiple power hop events that can occur during very aggressive driving. In february 2008 in
Failure of the rear differential
Summary
Odi evaluated two different alleged defects involving rear drivetrain components during this preliminary evaluation.gm is conducting a recall to address one of the defect conditions and odi has opened an engineering analysis to continue its investigation of the other alleged defect. On december 19, 2007, gm submitted a defect information report to NHTSA concerning defective rear axle pinion seals in approximately 275,936 model year (my) 2005-07 cadillac cts, sts and srx vehicles as well as my 2006-07 pontiac solstice and my 2007 saturn sky vehicles (recall 07v-589).on sts and srx vehicles with all wheel drive, the front axle pinion seal also does not meet all of gm's specifications and may e
Questions about the 2005 Cadillac Cts
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Cadillac Cts?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (82 complaints, typically around 28,000 miles); air bags (74 complaints, typically around 88,500 miles); electrical (39 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Cadillac Cts have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 9, 2014 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Cadillac Cts?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Cts model year since 2000, with 277 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.