2008 Cadillac STS
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 12 of 50 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 52 in 2007 to 50 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–4,550 | 3,300–4,850 | 3,100–4,850 | 3,100–4,550 | 2,950–3,650 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–19 | 16–19 | 16–20 | 17–20 | 17–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 21–25 | 14–16 / 21–25 | 14–17 / 21–26 | 15–17 / 22–26 | 15–18 / 22–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468–523 | 468–555 | 444–555 | 444–523 | 423–523 | |
| Complaints filed | 139 | 52 | 50 | 15 | 4 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 16 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 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 2008 Cadillac STS have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign 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 2008 Cadillac STS?
Airbags & Restraints: 12 of 50 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac STS get?
EPA rates it 16–20 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Cadillac STS?
EPA estimates $3,100–$4,850 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 (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg | 24 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 14 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 555 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 5 | 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 (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 08V108000 · Mar 11, 2008
Defect: GM IS RECALLING 4,586 MY 2008 CADILLAC STS AND STS-V PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, 'TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS' (TPMS). THE STANDARD REQUIRES AN INDICATION TO THE DRIVER FOR CERTAIN TPMS MALFUNCTIONS. WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTS A MALFUNCTION, THE LOW TIRE WARNING LIGHT SHOULD FLASH FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE AND THEN STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE IGNITION CYCLE. A DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER MESSAGE WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Consequence: THESE INDICATIONS OF A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DO NOT WORK. PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCK RECEIVER MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .