Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reports
93,000 miles · Aug 18, 2017
Air BagsInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A SLIGHT MUSTY ODOR WAS PRESENT DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A SLIGHT MUSTY ODOR WAS PRESENT DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN UNKNOWN CADILLAC DEALER LOCATED IN STUART, FL, WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A LONG PROCESS. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC (LOCATED ON SOUTHSIDE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN AN AIR BAG DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO CLAUDE NOLAN CADILLAC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE SET OFF THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/07/17*LJ *TR
NHTSA ODI #11016151
103,500 miles · Jun 6, 2017
Unknown Or OtherInjury
THE FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL GLASS SUNROOF OF 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS SPONTANEOUSLY "EXPLODED" AND SHATTERED. BROKEN GLASS RAINED DOWN INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OVER THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ON TO THE ROADWAY BEHIND WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT OVER A UNCROWDED HIGHWAY AT 62 - 63 MPH APPROXIMATELY AT 6:30 AM ON 6/2/17. SUNROOF WAS C…
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THE FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONAL GLASS SUNROOF OF 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS SPONTANEOUSLY "EXPLODED" AND SHATTERED. BROKEN GLASS RAINED DOWN INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OVER THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ON TO THE ROADWAY BEHIND WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT OVER A UNCROWDED HIGHWAY AT 62 - 63 MPH APPROXIMATELY AT 6:30 AM ON 6/2/17. SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. THE INTERIOR SUN SHADE WAS OPEN. EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60F. INTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 75F. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 103,500 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO SUNROOF OR INDICATIONS OF PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF CRACK LIKE WHEN ROCK HITS THE WINDSHIELD OR SOUND OF OBJECT HITTING THE CAR OR SUNROOF PRIOR TO THE "BANG!" AS THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND WERE NO TRUCKS IN AHEAD, OR CARS VERY NEARBY. IT WAS AN UTTERLY UNEVENTFUL AND NON-EXTREME DRIVE IN TERMS OF SPEED, TEMPERATURES, TRAFFIC VOLUME, OR OPERATION. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE REAR EDGE OF GLASS REMAINING IN THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE BENT UPWARD WHETHER FROM THE EXPLOSION OR THE AIR PRESSURE AFTER I HAVE NO IDEA. SUBMITTED AS A GLASS CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA ODI #10993359
25 miles · Nov 16, 2015
Exterior Lighting
THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 2006 CADILLAC DTS GO OUT AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY CUT OUT AND I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SO I CAN DRIVE AT NIGHT. II PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER 2006 CADILLAC DTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALER KRISTAL AUTO MALL IN BROOKLYN, NY AND THEY FIX THE…
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THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 2006 CADILLAC DTS GO OUT AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY CUT OUT AND I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHT SWITCH OFF AND ON SO I CAN DRIVE AT NIGHT. II PREVIOUSLY OWNED ANOTHER 2006 CADILLAC DTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALER KRISTAL AUTO MALL IN BROOKLYN, NY AND THEY FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY SAID WAS A FAULTY BALLAST. IT WAS FAULTY ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. AND NOW IN THE DTS I HAVE, IT IS FAULTY TOO. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE IN OTHER GM VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #10790772
70,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN U8PDATED 8/21/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10579217
200 miles · Oct 24, 2013
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DOTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DOTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10549419
59,600 miles · May 17, 2013
Steering
ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT INTERSECTION DURING RAIN STORM STEERING LOCKED FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10512548
54,871 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OVER TIME THE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OVER TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,871 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,757. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN UPDATED 10/24/2012 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10475706
29,000 miles · Sep 26, 2011
SteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY REPAIR FOR THE ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY REPAIR FOR THE ABNORMAL VIBRATION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10427232
23,000 miles · Jun 16, 2009
Steering
WHEN IT RAINS AND WE HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT FRIGHTFUL IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS AS THERE IS MINIMUM CONTROL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE POWER STEERING IS RESTORED. THIS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273994
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Cadillac Dts Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year