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2005 Cadillac CTSProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 277 owner complaints about the 2005 Cadillac CTS, most often about the power train. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-542 the manufacturer reports only 51% of affected cars repaired.

2005 Cadillac CTS
30
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.4× the CTS median · #2 of 16 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 51%Owner complaints27752 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage27kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 19, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Cadillac CTS has problems

277 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train823
Air bags7415
Electrical system394
Engine242
Service brakes222
Suspension161
Steering154
Engine and engine cooling142
Service brakes, hydraulic113
18 other systems8113

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2005 Cadillac CTS recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

51%repaired · 2016 Q4

Delivery: fuel pump

Recall 14V-542 · Sep 9, 2014 · 10,005 vehicles · 5,059 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

59%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 14V-394 · Jul 2, 2014 · 554,328 vehicles · 324,312 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 10V-644 · Dec 17, 2010 · 95,927 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 10V-105 · Mar 17, 2010 · 139,131 vehicles

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Axle shaft: seal

Recall 07V-589 · Dec 20, 2007 · 275,936 vehicles

Risk. A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

Recall 06V-020 · Jan 25, 2006 · 17,462 vehicles

Risk. IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING, THE OPERATOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Cadillac.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

27kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 72 power train complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
37under 30k miles63under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2005 vs. every other CTS year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the CTS median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2005 Cadillac CTS safety ratings

2005 Cadillac CTS 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2005 Cadillac CTS frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2005 Cadillac CTS side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Cadillac CTS, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILUREEA07017 · closed Jul 16, 2008
    No recall
  2. IEE Passenger Sensing System MatsEQ11001 · closed Jul 19, 2011
    No recall
  3. FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIALPE07037 · closed Dec 27, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-589
In owners' words

What CTS owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Transmission cooler line fittings have dissimilar metals causing the threads inside the radiator transcooler to strip and dump coolant into Transmission lines and on road along with what was the transmission fluid as well as steam rolling out blocking vision through my windshield going uphill on a…
Complaint 11433480 · Sep 18, 2021
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A VERY WEAK REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT WAS USED IN THE LESSER HORSEPOWER V6 AND WHEN TAKING OFF HARD THE CAR BEGINS TO WHEEL HOP AND DESTROYS THE REAR END THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN LESS THEN A YEAR AND A HALF
Complaint 11348468 · Aug 10, 2020 · 110,000 miles
THERE'S A VERY HARD JERKING COMING FROM SOME WHERE IN THE REAR AREA WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS A LOST OF POWER. ALSO THE ENGINE OIL IS GOING SOME WHERE,I KEEP HAVING TO PUT OIL IN IT, ABOUT TWO TO THREE QUARTS A WEEK. WHEN THE OIL GETS REAL LOW THE ENGINE SHAKES AND RUNS LIKE CRAP…
Complaint 11202707 · Apr 20, 2019

Own a 2005 CTS?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.