Most common 2005 Cadillac CTS problems
Share of the 277 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac CTS complaints by model year
Best CTS years: 2018, 2019, 2017. Years to avoid: 2006, 2005, 2007, 2003. Compare all years →
2005 Cadillac CTS recalls (6)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
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.
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Cadillac cts vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the front passenger seat May cause the mat to kink, bend, or fold. This flexing can break the connections in the mat.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger sensing system free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about March 15, 2011.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
General motors has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2003-2007 Cadillac cts vehicles currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island,…
Remedy: Dealers are to replace both front brake hose assemblies free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2010.
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear axle pinion seal does not meet all of the specifications and May experience a fluid leak.
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;…
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2005 Cadillac CTS:
Failure of the rear differential
Odi evaluated two different alleged defects involving rear drivetrain components during this preliminary evaluation.GM is conducting a recall to address one of the defect conditions and odi has opened an engineering analysis to continue its investigation of the other alleged defect.
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
On December 17, 2010, General Motors (GM) notified the NHTSA that it had decided certain 2005 - 2007 model year Cadillac CTS vehicles contain a safety related defect.GM stated that certain CTS vehicles contain a passenger sensing system mat, manufactured by IEE, in the front passenger seat that may flex causing the mat to kink, bend or fold.If this flexing causes the connections in the mat to break, the passenger…
Rear drivetrain component failure
In July of 2007 the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe07-037 to investigate allegations that the rear differential May fail causing a loss of motive power, and in some instances a loss of control, in model year (my) 2004 through 2006 Cadillac cts, cts-v, and sts vehicles.as a result of that investigation GM issued recall 07v-589 to correct a leaking pinion seal problem.ea07-017 was opened to investigate…
What 2005 Cadillac CTS owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 82 →
Transmission cooler line fittings have dissimilar metals causing the threads inside the radiator transcooler to strip and dump coolant into Transmission lines and on road along with what was the transmission fluid as well as steam rolling out blocking vision through my windshield going uphill on a dangerously busy road crossing.This is a well known manufacturing defect that has yet to be handled. This could have gotten me and my 3 year old son seriously hurt by sudden loss of power and slick roadways not being able to avoid or brake properly or even steer away from on coming collision. The dissimilar metals are aluminum nut with a mild steel washer backed by a stainless steel washer before it contacts the radiator. This car has 101k miles and has been babied it's entire life. And when I see the 4 brake lines are about to rust out after all the repairs that have already been done. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked backward and would not accelerate. The contact shut off the vehicle and once restarted, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the key would become stuck in the ignition switch or would be difficult to remove. The power windows also failed and would open and close independently, as well as the radio becoming inoperable. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission and the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The ignition switch was replaced but not the transmission. The contact later discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V394000 (electrical system) the manufacturer was notified of the failures. …
Air bags all 74 →
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that failure was intermittent at first but became persistent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed passenger occupant sensor. The contact was informed that the passenger occupant sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he was concerned because his fianc e was expecting a child and normally occupied the seat. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced an undisclosed recall repair however, the contact was informed that the recall repair had expired. …
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown module under the passenger's side front seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V644000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was 138,404.
Electrical system all 39 →
The contact owns a 2005 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V394000 (Electrical System). The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Per report tje suspension system and aorbag recall. When I purchased vehicle, information was warrant to me. I total loss my car due to suspension and axle malfuntion. It caused me to hit a curb. I could not gain control.
2005 Cadillac CTS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 21 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Cadillac CTS a good car?
Based on 277 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 CTS rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the CTS at the same age. It is one of the CTS years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Cadillac CTS?
The transmission & drivetrain — 82 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline › differential unit. Next are the air bags (74) and electrical system (39).
How many recalls does the 2005 Cadillac CTS have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2005 Cadillac CTS, the most recent from September 9, 2014 (fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac CTS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2019 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2005, 2007 and 2003. See the full Cadillac CTS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Cadillac CTS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.