Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 Cadillac STS. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗DRIVE AXLE SEAL LEAK
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.
- Consequence
- A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINION SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM; AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM.
REAR SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY
- Summary
- CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.
- Consequence
- IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE AFFECTED REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN IN OR OUT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT TOE LINK AND REPLACE AS REQUIRED. IF A TOE LINK IS REPLACED, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE
- Summary
- CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS NO LONGER SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL LEVEL LOW INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE WARNING CHIME.
- Consequence
- IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING, THE OPERATOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WITH NEW SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED IN DECEMBER 2005 AND ASKED TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST 1/4 OF A TANK FUEL LEVEL TO AVOID THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE, OWNER RENOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (101)
101 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 23 | 22.8% |
| Power train | 18 | 17.8% |
| Engine | 12 | 11.9% |
| Air bags | 11 | 10.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 6.9% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 6.9% |
| Seats | 6 | 5.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 5.9% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 5% |
How 2005 compares with other STS years
Best and worst STS years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| 2004 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 101 | 3 |
| 2006 | 139 | 4 |
| 2007 | 52 | 2 |
| 2008 | 50 | 1 |
| 2009 | 15 | 0 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 18 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 494 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 18 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 4.6 L 8-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 23 / 18 | $4,550 | 494 |
| 4.6 L 8-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 21 / 17 | $4,850 | 523 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2005 STS for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2005 Cadillac STS FAQ
How many recalls does the 2005 Cadillac STS have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 07V589000 (power train), 06V125000 (suspension), 06V020000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2005 Cadillac STS problems?
Owners filed 101 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (23), Power train (18), Engine (12) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2005 Cadillac STS get?
EPA rates the 3.6 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic version at 16 city, 23 highway and 18 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2005 STS compare with other years?
Among the 2001–2010 Cadillac STS model years at least five years old, the 2010 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 2006 the most (139). The 2005 drew 101. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.