2006 Cadillac STS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 58 of 139 complaints (42%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 101 in 2005 to 139 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,450–4,550 | 3,300–4,550 | 3,300–4,850 | 3,100–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–18 | 17–19 | 16–19 | 16–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 21–23 | 14–16 / 21–25 | 14–16 / 21–25 | 14–17 / 21–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494–523 | 468–523 | 468–555 | 444–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 101 | 139 | 52 | 50 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 16 | 5 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 20 | 3 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 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 2006 Cadillac STS have?
4 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 2006 Cadillac STS?
Airbags & Restraints: 58 of 139 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Cadillac STS get?
EPA rates it 17–19 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Cadillac STS?
EPA estimates $3,300–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| 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) | 25 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (high) | $3,300 (low) | 468 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 8 | 4.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg | 24 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg | 23 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | 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 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 21 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 58 | 12 | 2 | 17 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 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 (4)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 14V542000 · Sep 9, 2014
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.
Consequence: 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. Additionally, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, free of charge. GM sent out interim notices in late October. The recall began on March 12, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14405.
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.
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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · Campaign 06V007000 · Jan 13, 2006
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND A 3.6L V6 ENGINE, THE TORQUE MONITORING FUNCTIONS OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ARE NOT ENABLED. THESE FUNCTIONS CAN LIMIT ENGINE SPEED AND TORQUE IF UNUSUAL ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE FAILURES OCCUR.
Consequence: WITHOUT THESE FUNCTIONS ENABLED, A PERSISTENT ECM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A THROTTLE OPENING GREATER THAN COMMANDED BY THE DRIVER AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ECM ON THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.