2006 Cadillac Dts
The Verdict
The 2006 Cadillac Dts has 254 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (136 complaints) and body (55 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 47/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Cadillac Dts, consider the 2011 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2011 has 94% fewer complaints
View the 2011 Cadillac Dts dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
While driving at night in July, 2023 on [XXX] , both headlights began to go out intermittently but not simultaneously. Continued driving for approximately 3 hours to final destination. Took to local Cadillac dealer for diagnostics (Invoice [XXX]) and after dialogue with dealer had both assemblies replaced as was informed the electronics have been noted to fail in these assemblies. I replaced both assemblies for approximately $2,950.00 (Invoice [XXX}). As a follow-up, during a recent 5,000 mile trip during February 2024, driving in cold, rain, snow and road spray conditions for days, both headlight assemblies accumulated a significant amount of moisture (see photo) behind the lenses. Cadillac dealer did replace left assembly (drivers side) under parts warranty but not the right side. Both headlight assemblies are operating without incident since replacement, except as noted above on assemblies not sealed against environment/elements. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driving at night on I-29 South and headlights went off intermittently but not simultaneously. Headlamps continued intermittent cut-out until reached destination (approx 3 hours later). As a safety issue for driving while dark, had both assemblies replaced at Cadillac dealer for approx $3,950.00. Replacement was Cadillac recommendation as it was stated the electronics do fail in these headlight assemblies. After replacement and as a follow-up, new assemblies were installed and are not sealed against the elements. In February 2024, on a 5,000 mile trip, drove several hours during cold, snowy and raining conditions. Both headlight assemblies had a considerable amount of moisture inside the lens housings (see photo). Cadillac dealer did replace one of the new headlight assemblies due to moisture accumulation in assembly under parts warranty, but not both.
Suffered chemical burn to my right lower arm after airbag deployed & ruptured in my 2006 Cadillac DTS sedan during a front-impact motor vehicle accident.
The contact owns a 2006 Cadillac DTS. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start as needed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic however, no failure was found. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and no failure was found. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated there was a button on the radio that was stuck, causing the battery power to be drained. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Cadillac DTS. The contact stated he became aware that oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the oil pan was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred and the oil pan was replaced again. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 132,000.
The Service Stabilitrak and Service Traction Control error message come on periodically and when on the car seems to run rough. Message shuts off then could hit a bump and comes on again. You never know when it is going to come on and when on it shuts off the traction control and could be dangerous.
I called OnStar because my car would not start and they sent someone from GM. The guy looked at my car, could not identify the problem, so I got it towed to a repair shop. Ends up, I had to replace the transmission. The repair shop ran electric test on the vehicle and no codes or issues. My dash is now reading service power steering and this is a safety issue that needs to be fixed by the manufacturer.
So we bought the car. In 2012 or 2013. And in 2014 we received a yellow letter in the mail saying that our car needed to be serviced for a recall. We set it up. Ended up taking it in To be serviced for the recalls. Not knowing in 2008 they recalled what is now going wrong in the car, I didn’t say anything at the time we repaired it. It they didn’t either I believe and even if we didn’t say anything they honestly should’ve just repaired the part that was messed up for us and then let us know: now we have spent so much money towing our car back to our house so that it is safe, and have missed appointments, been stranded, I mean we have really, honestly and truly, very very compromised but this issue with the electrical system Our car is having all the time since this recall repair was administered: NOW IT HAS JUST GOTTEN SO BAD WE CAN NOYT EVEN DRIVE IT. We will get stuck where ever we turn it off unfortunately. I’ve not looked online at information taken all the necessary needs to find out if my vehicle was given the recall before we owned it just to be sure too, it was not. I know that everything that I have read relates directly perfectly to Every single issue that we are have ig Now on our car. The recall from 2014 the key doesn’t come out the ignition anymore and that’s very good, but I know that The CADILLAC Dealer, DID NOT!! Install any other part into the car but that service it asked for. Like beyond a doubt I don’t know what to do and would love to be able to get some answers soon. Thank you very much. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Stabilitrak light on
The contact owns a 2006 Cadillac DTS. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, he became aware that the oil pan was leaking. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the oil pan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000. Consumer stated leak in the oil pan and vehicle is at the dealership.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK UNDER HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE HEAD GASKET TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS(AUDIO/CRUISE CONTROL) HAVE NOT WORKED, PRIOR OWNER WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE BCM. FRONT DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL SWITCH TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT, ANGLE, AND SETTINGS FOR EACH DRIVER ALSO ARE NOT WORKING. APPARENTLY THESE ARE KNOWN ISSUES. I HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH MY 2000 CHEVY IMPALA, AND MY 2004 CHEVY IMPALA SS.
POWER STEER SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. I ACTUALLY LOOKED UP SEVERAL RECALLS ON ALLDATA.COM AND THEY'RE ARE NUMEROUS OF RECALL. THESE RECALLS ARE SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE RECALLS ARE ACTUALLY SAFETY RECALLS. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE RECALLS SERVICED BY ANY LOCAL DEALERS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
MY LIGHTS I HAVE CHANGED AND TRIED EVERY THING ONLY GOT 1 TO WORK SO FAR ! I SMELL A ! BURNING SMELL ! MY POWER STEERING IS SCREWED AND LIKES A SMALL LEEK ALL ELECTRIC SOME THINGS HAS HAD ISSUES ! BLOW FUSES CIGARETTE LIGHTER STOPS WORKING CAN'T CHARGE PHONE ! BACK REAR POWER STRUTS ONLY WORK PART TIME ME L BACK UP LIGHTS THAT WARNS DON'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME ! MY KEY CAN TURN THE CAR BUT DRIVE WITH OUT KEY IN THE IGNITION THE IGNITION CAN SWITCH IT SELF ! HAVE HAD TO FIX BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS AND FRONT TIRE PROBLEMS!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ENGINE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED TO LOCATE WHERE THE ENGINE OIL LEAK ORIGINATED FROM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN CADILLAC DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE OIL LEAK WOULD GET WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. *BF*JB
THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL, NOT JUST SPOTS, ACTUAL DRIPS, HAVE TO ADD MUCH OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED FROM THE PARKING SPOT AT THE RESIDENCE, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSANI BROS CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 6101 W SLAUSON AVE, CULVER CITY, CA 90230, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPLACED, CAREFUL ATTENTION SHOULD PLACED ON THE OIL LEVEL AT ALL TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,600.
PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER CHECKING ALTERNATOR, CURRENT WHILE REMOVING FUSES, CURRENT WHILE IN 'SLEEP' MODE, AND REPLACING BATTERY THREE TIMES THE CAR WILL RUN FOR TWO DAYS, ON THE THIRD DAY IT WILL NOT CRANK AND THE BATTERY IS TOTALLY DEAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN EXCESSIVE OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUBER CADILLAC SERVICE (11102 W DODGE RD, OMAHA, NE 68154) WHERE THE OIL LEAK WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH *JSE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED FROM THE PARKING SPOT IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE RESIDENCE, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL LEAKED FROM THE CAMSHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
254 total