KnownCarProblems2008 Cadillac Dts Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Cadillac Dts, most often about the electrical (45% of complaints, typically around 88,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Dts model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2008 Cadillac Dts problems
Electrical
39 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 88,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, ignition, wiring, alternator/generator/regulator.
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The contact then inspected the vehicle and noticed that the power steering pump detached from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became hard to turn. The contact…
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. While driving 30 MPH, a deer crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the computer module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and…
Engine
16 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Lower engine oil leak. I understand that this is a common problem dating back a number of years and Cadillac has not rectified the problem and has not issued a recall. I am forced to install a new engine because the problem is so costly to resolve. Approximately $4,500. Is there any class action against Cadillac or is…
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. The contact stated that there was oil and transmission fluid leaking from the bottom of the engine while the vehicle was parked in the driveway. Also, upon coming to a stop, there was white smoke coming from underneath the engine on the passenger's side. There was no warning light…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
The Cadillac Dts 2008 would not start.. Had Dts towed to foreman-blair gm dealership.. 896382 scan for codes none found no fuel pressure no voltage at circuit to fuel pump no voltage burn connector at fuse box replace box c multi point inspection the relay 19116057 got hot and burn connector at fuse box and melted the…
Fuel pump relay melted replaced rear fuse box and relay tried to start vehicle on 6 june 2016 vehicle would not start at all. Had vehicle towed in to diagnose $81.99 just purchased about 6 months ago. Purchased a warranty but this problem was not covered. I have never had this experience with a vehicle. After…
Lights
7 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, tail lights, headlights.
The dash lights are intermittent, or very dim. The brightness does not come on for miles at a time. You cannot see the speedometer to see how fast you are going. It is a safety issue. In motion, city streets and on the highway. Have reported this to Cadillac and have had it to the Cadillac dealer. They say there is…
There is a 41 inch brake light installed on the trunk lid which costs $223.75 to replace. It would have been no big deal, but, as I was replacing it, I noticed it was never properly fitted to the trunk at the factory, which caused the original damage, broken completely through in the middle, and several cracks, not…
Seat belts
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. The contact stated that both the rear driver and passenger side lap-shoulder belts failed to latch. The contact mentioned that the failure would occur intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. The contact stated that the rear driver and passenger side seat belts failed to properly fit across the chest area and went across the neck area. The contact stated that the shoulder anchor was adjusted to the lower level but the seat belt continued to lie across the neck area.…
Air bags
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: side/window.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. While driving between 15-20 MPH, the driver side curtain air bags suddenly deployed without an impact. After the air bags deployed, the lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence and then called the dealer. The dealer did not want to repair the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact crashed into cement wall as a result. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was not injured and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed…
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles.
Oil leak under engine coming from engine transmission and power pump. Also white smoke coming from engine on passenger side when stopped on driveway.
December 16 2020 NHTSA id number 11383838 oil leak under engine coming from engine, transmission, and power steering pump. Also white smoke coming from engine on passenger side following stop on driveway.
Body and structure
5 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac Dts. The vehicle was being serviced at an authorized dealer for a signal light the mechanic had to remove the lower wind deflector. After leaving the dealer, the contact was driving approximately 60 MPH when the lower wind deflector fractured. The contact went back to the dealer and…
Both rear doors will not open in warm weather. Dealer will not repair because vehicle is out of factory warranty. We are unable to open the door when disembarking children and elderly handicapped adults. There is a concern that we cannot get people out of the car when they cannot open it themselves from the inside.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Cadillac Dts recalls
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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
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 23, 2014. Owners may contact general motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (buick), 1-800-458-8006 (cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (chevrolet). Gm's number for this recall is 14299.
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) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 buick lacrosse, 2006-2011 buick lucerne, 2000-2005 cadillac deville, 2006-2011 cadillac dts, 2006-2014 chevrolet impala, and 2006-2007 chevrolet monte carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
Fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on june 11, 2010. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, gmc at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 buick, lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 buick enclave; cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; saturn outlook; and model year 2009 chevrolet traverse vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system (hwfs). A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor distortion to considerable melting of the plastic around the hwfs fluid chamb
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or http://www.cadillac.com; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or http://www.saturn.com, gmc at 1-866-996-9436; or hummer at 1-800-732-5493; or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 buick lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, saturn outlook; and my 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.
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
Non-crash engine compartment fires
Summary
In a letter dated august 27, 2008, general motors corp. (gm) notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 08v-441) to address a safety relateddefect that can result in engine compartment fire in approximately 850,000 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid option.the subject vehicles of this investigation comprise over three-quarters of the recall population. According to gm, a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the windshield washer fluid heater module may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor or cause smoke and in rare cases it may cause a fire.as a remedy, gm
Questions about the 2008 Cadillac Dts
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Cadillac Dts?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (39 complaints, typically around 88,500 miles); engine (16 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); fuel system (11 complaints, typically around 86,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Cadillac Dts have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 23, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Cadillac Dts?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Dts model year since 2000, with 86 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.