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2009 Cadillac Dts

The Verdict

92 Smooth Ride

The 2009 Cadillac Dts has 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (11 complaints) and body (10 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 92/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Cadillac Dts, consider the 2011 model year which has 57% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2011 has 57% fewer complaints

View the 2011 Cadillac Dts dashboard →

92

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

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.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2006558136514
2007231039187
200818440231
20091061180
2010321070
201120760

By Category

Electrical
11
Body
10
Engine
8
Brakes
6

By Severity

1
16
2
16
3
1
4
2

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

Fuse box got push on by seat clamp shorted out my fuel pump relay and burnt up my fuse box

22mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac DTS. The contact was driving at 55mph on the highway and the vehicle slowed down independently and the screens went blank. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was shut off but would not restart. The contact called the police and the officer called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic on 3 occasions replaced the same relay fuse however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

53mo ago
Brakes 1

I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2016 (COMPLAINT NO. 10823262) RELATED CORROSION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES. THIS COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR BUT RELATED TO CORROSION OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES IN WHICH I AGAIN HAD A SIMILAR LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE. THE ORDINARY "CORRODED" STEEL LINES WERE REPLACED WITH "VINYL COATED" LINES. I NEVER HEARD BACK ON THE 2016 COMPLAINT; WHAT IS GM DOING TO PROTECT CADDY OWNERS OR ALERTING THEM OF THIS SITUATION?

82mo ago
Electrical 3

CANT BRING DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEATS UP OR DOWN RESULTING IN UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL, PARK, ALL GEARS. DISTANCE SENSORS MALFUNCTION FREQUENTLY WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE.

82mo ago
Engine 1

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN ATVTRAIN STATION. HAD TO LEAVE OVERNIGHT AND HAD IT TROUBLESHOT IN AM. A FAULTY FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS THE SUPPOSED CAUSE. CHANGED THE RELAY ON A WEDNESDAY MORNING AND CAR WAS GOOD TILL SATURDAY AFTERNOON WHEN IT STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUTE 9 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AT THE TIME MY WIFE AND GRANDSON WERE IN THE CAR. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD LUCKILY INTO A STRIP MALL WITH AN AUTO PARTS STORE. REMOVED GRANDSON AND CAR SEAT FROM VEHICLE TO ACCESS THE RELAY IN REAR CIRCUIT BOARD. VERY HOT. I WENT IN AND GOT NEW RELAY AND HAD TO CHANGE IT IN THE PARKING LOT. WENT STRAIGHT HOME TO DROP OFF WIFE AND GRANDSON. WENT BACK OUT TO TEST DRIVE AND SEE IF PROBLEM WAS FIXED. WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND STALLED OUT AGAIN. AGAIN RELAY BURNING HOT. HAD SON GET A NEW RELAY AND CHANGED IT AGAIN AND BROUGHT VEHICLE HOME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOW COME ON SO I TESTED VEHICLE WITH IBD MINISTER AND GAVE ME A P0230 CODE WHICH IS FOR A BAD FUEL PUMP RELAY WHICH I ALREADY KNOW. I AM GOING TO CALL CADILLAC DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS AS IT IS A LIFE AND SAFETY HAZARD.

89mo ago
Body 2

MY 2009 CADILLAC DTS RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, IT WAS STEERING HARD WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS AND EVENTUALLY BEGAN MAKING NOISES. I TOOK IT TO MY GM DEALER AND THEY CHECKED THE HOSES AND FLUID RECEPTACLE. ALL THEY FOUND WAS THE RECEPTACLE WAS LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID AND I PICKED UP A BOTTLE AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEN MY STEERING WAS OK. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER MY STEERING GOT VERY HARD AND I HAD TROUBLE STEERING IT SO I STOPPED AND ADDED MORE FLUID. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY POWER STEERING LINE WAS LEAKING AT ONE END WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO SOME METAL. MY COST WAS $402 TO REPLACE THE ONE HOSE. THIS LEAKY HOSE MADE MY CAR VERY HARD TO STEER AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY A STRONG HOSE LIKE THIS ONE WOULD EVER LEAK ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE WITH BELOW AVERAGE ANNUAL MILEAGES. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 61,700 MILES AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT

93mo ago
Engine 2

HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS AFTER FILL UPS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. EACH TIME I FILL IT AND PARK IT IN MY GARAGE IT FILLS WITH GAS FUMES THAT COULD EXPLODE AND KILL SOMEONE UNAWARE. ODOR LEAVES AFTER DRIVING 30 MILES OR SO. GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND O'REILY AUTO PARTS CHECK AND SAID IT SHOWED FUEL ISSUES. TOOK CAR TO MY GM DEALER AND THEY SAY NEED A NEW GAS TANK, A NEW GAS CAP AND NEW EVAPORATIVE LINES BECAUSE I HAVE A LEAKING GAS TANK LEAKING AT OR NEAR FILLING AREA, AND GAS CAP IS NOT GOOD AND LINES ARE LEAKING ACCORDING TO A "SMOKE" TEST. REPAIRS ARE $2,800. I AM 75 YRS OLD AND HAVE NEVER HAD A GAS TANK LEAK AT THE "NECK" AREA AFTER OWNING SOME 40 DIFFERENT CARS, SOME OF THEM VERY OLD. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A FACTORY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND A DANGEROUS ONE AT THAT. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND TOMORROW I WILL PAY $175 FOR THE SMOKE TEST BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT SO I WILL ONLY FILL IT TO THE 12 GALLON POINT INSTEAD OF FULL. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS A RECALL OR PERHAPS OTHER CADILLAC DTS OWNERS WITH THIS OR A SIMILAR PROBLEM

93mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE BACKSEAT WAS VERY HOT AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (GERRY LANE CADILLAC, 10945 REIGER RD, BATON ROUGE, LA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED BURNING FUEL REAR FUEL BOX UNDER REAR SEAT IS CAUSING CAR TO SHUT OFF ANYTIME. *JB

94mo ago
Electrical 1

THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS BURNING OUT AND CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT JUST STALLED OUT IN THE ROAD.

95mo ago
Brakes 1

THE BRAKE LINES IN MY 2009 CADILLAC DTS ARE COMPLETLY CORRODED,TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE PLAIN STEEL BRAKE LINES IN A CADILLAC, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN STAINLESS STEEL AT A MINIMUM. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS STAINLESS STEEL AND IS NOT NEEDED TO STOP THE CAR. I BET HONDA HAS STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES. NO WONDER THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BUYING FOREIGN CARS.

110mo ago
Engine 1

I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACKED ONTO THE ROAD,THE CAR SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. I TRIED RESTARTING IT,BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD...I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER..WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY,I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE REAR SEAT HAD SHORTED OUT...I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALLS ON THE FUSE BOX THAT THEY NEW OF..I WAS TOLD A NEW FUSE BOX AND ASSOCIATED COSTS WOULD RUN $716.00, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE.. THE FUSE BOX COST ALONE WAS OVER $400.00. MY CAR HAD 48,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED..I HAVE HAD MANY CARS IN MY TIME AND NEVER HAD A FUSE BOX SHORT OUT..IF THIS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY,I WOULD HAVE LOST P/S,,P/B ECT. AND THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL...GM IS AWARE OF THIS,BUT TO MYKNOWLEDGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.INCIDENTLY ,THE DEALERSHIP HAD FUSE BOXES IN STOCK......

112mo ago
Brakes 2

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY MY CRUISE CONTROL KEPT TURNING ITSELF OFF AND ON. A DRIVER TRAVELING BEHIND ME LET ME KNOW THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STAYING ON AS IF I WERE RIDING THE BRAKE (WHICH I WAS NOT) AND THEN WOULD GO OFF AGAIN - THIS KEPT REPEATING. IT SEEMED THIS WAS WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING, AS IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKE WAS ON & BACK ON WHEN THE BRAKE WENT OFF. I HAVE SINCE SEEN REPORTS ON LINE OF THIS HAPPENING WITH OTHER CADILLACS AND IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS VEHICLES BEHIND ME DO NOT KNOW WHEN I AM ACTUALLY BRAKING. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BUT HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ONE, NOR HAVE I FOUND ONE WHEN SEARCHING ON LINE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT OTHER VEHICLES (GM, BUT NOT CADILLACS) HAVE HAD SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM.

119mo ago
Body 2

LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT TWO TIMES IN LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. THIS IS A SYSTEM TO WARN YOU WHEN YOU CROSS OVER INTO ANOTHER LANE.

120mo ago
Brakes 2

I PURCHASED MY 2009 DTS CADILLAC FOLEY IN NOV. OF 2008. PRESENTLY I HAVE ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I SERVICED MY BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. IN DRIVING FROM CHICAGO NORTH TO HIGHLAND PARK ILLINOIS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP WHEN THE TRAFFIC SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT IN FRONT MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. ON RESUMING DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. I GOT OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND DROVE CAUTIOUSLY TO MY HOME AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED. I WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE FLUID LINES WERE CORRODED AND WERE LEAKING. THERE HAD BEEN NO SIGNS OF LEAKING IN MY CARPORT CONCRETE FLOOR. THE SERVICE MECHANIC TOLD ME ON REPLACING THE TWO LINES TO THE REAR BRAKES AND THAT ALL OF THE LINES WERE ORDINARY STEEL. APPARENTLY THE SUDDEN STOP I MADE BURST THE CORRODED BRAKE FLUID LINES. THE SERVICE MECHANIC REPLACED THE LINES TO THE REAR BRAKE WITH VINYL COATED LINES, PHOTO ATTACHED. MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I HADN'T ALLOWED ENOUGH SPACE TO THE VEHICLE AHEAD FOR JUST SORT OF AN INCIDENT. THIS IS THE THIRD CADI THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE YOUR OLDSMOBILE DIVISION WAS ELIMINATED. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT GENERAL MOTORS ISSUE AN ALERT TO CADI OWNERS AND OTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE OWNERS, OF THE NEED TO EXAMINE THE BRAKE LINES FOR CORROSION. FURTHER, IF THE PRESENT GM CARS DON'T USE COATED BRAKE LINES, THE COATED LINES NEED TO BE USED. MY CONCERN IS THAT OTHER CADI OWNERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. IN MY OPINION, CADI NEEDS TO NOTIFY CADI OWNERS THAT BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE INSPECTED IF OTHER ARE SERVICING CADI, IF INDEED CADI DOES BRAKE LINE INSPECTIONS AND TO PROVIDE CORROSION PROTECTED BRAKE LINES. [XXX] , FELLOW ASCE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

127mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PAN GASKET AND THE MAIN CRANK SEAL GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

127mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ENTERED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

132mo ago
Electrical 1

VEHICLE LOCKS ITSELF. "CHECKED" THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, NOTHING FOUND. THEN BACK PASSENGER SIDE LOCK FAULTY & REPLACED. ON 6/2/15 I TOOK MY CAT TO THE VET, REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, DID NOT LOCK THE DOOR, PLACED THE KEYS ON THE CAT CARRIER, CLOSED THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WALKED AROUND TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET THE CAT. BEFORE I COULD OPEN PASSENGER DOOR, CAR LOCKED ITSELF. WITNESSES 6-8 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, TRYING TO EITHER BREAK A WINDOW OR PICK THE LOCK. CITRUS HTS CA. FIRE DEPT. CALLED. THE BACK DRIVER'S 'SIDE WINDOW WAS BROKEN WITH A TOOL I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. ALARM DID NOT GO OFF. NEITHER THE DOOR BUTTONS, THE DOOR UNLOCK RELAY SWITCH NOR THE DOOR HANDLES WOULD WORK MANUALLY. AFTER THE GLASS WAS BROKEN OUT AND AFTER THE 3RD TIME TRYING THE KEY, DOOR UNLOCKED/ALARM WENT OFF. FIRE DEPT SAID NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS THE WINDOW WAS OPEN, SO IF I GOT LOCKED IN, I COULD AT LEAST GET OUT. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. RENTED AN ENTERPRISE CAR (WHERE AUTO WAS PURCHASED/10,000 MILES OR SO ON IT). I HAVE OVERLAPPING WARRANTIES & AUTO INSURANCE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH CAR, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR. (BECAUSE OF THIS, ENTERPRISE EXTENDED THE "COURTESY" CORPORATE RATE OF $980.00 PER MONTH. WINDOW GLASS APPEARED DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER AUTO GLASS. IT WOULD NOT BREAK. I AM UNDER THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY & ENTERPRISE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE RENTAL CAR UNLESS SOMETHING IS FOUND TO BE WRONG WITH SAID CAR. CAT LOCKED IN CAR FOR 45 MIN. O/S TEMP WAS ABOUT 93 DEGREES. CAT HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP. I DO NOT WANT TO RETRIEVE/ DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT I WILL BE LOCKED IN AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. WHAT IF THIS HAD BEEN A PERSON? AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SUGGESTED THAT I BUY A NEW CAR. HELP!!!!!!!!!

135mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST FROM THE SEAT BELT, WHICH BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

139mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

139mo ago
Brakes 1

WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND FAILURE OF THE METAL HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DASH INDICATOR SERVICE BRAKE STABILATRAK. *TR

140mo ago

35 total

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