2005 Cadillac STS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 23 of 101 complaints (23%) mention it.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | vs. 2005 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,450–4,550 | 3,300–4,550 | 3,300–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–18 | 17–19 | 16–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 21–23 | 14–16 / 21–25 | 14–16 / 21–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494–523 | 468–523 | 468–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 101 | 139 | 52 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 16 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 6 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 20 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2005 Cadillac STS have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2005 Cadillac STS?
Electrical: 23 of 101 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Cadillac STS get?
EPA rates it 17–18 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Cadillac STS?
EPA estimates $3,450–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $3,450 (low) | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 8 | 4.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S5) | 8 | 4.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 14 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL · Campaign 07V589000 · Dec 20, 2007
Defect: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 06V125000 · Apr 20, 2006
Defect: 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 SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY · Campaign 06V020000 · Jan 25, 2006
Defect: 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.