Avoid: 2006 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2011
6 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 6 model years, the Cadillac DTS has 511 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 17 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and exterior lighting. 2006 drew the most complaints (255), 2011 the fewest (16).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Cadillac DTS vehicles (US, public record). Typical used asking price $6,694–$10,190.
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2006 (255 complaints). Lowest: 2011 (16).
Sentiment is predominantly positive, with a strong consensus that the final-generation DTS (2006-2011) is a highly comfortable, reliable, and undervalued luxury cruiser.
Can lead to overheating; water pump pulley seizure is a known, preventable failure point.
Routine repairs are labor-intensive due to tightly packaged engine, leading to high shop costs.
Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) struts are noted to leak and fail, with replacements being very costly; conventional suspension components also wear but are more affordable.
Intermittent issues include "Service Stabilitrak" warnings, reduced engine power, faulty PRNDL switches causing no-start conditions, and traction control faults.
Valve cover gaskets, oil pan, and rear main seal leaks are common, often requiring significant labor to address.
Owner insights cover all generations of the DTS. Individual model years are broken down above.
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