Most common 2009 Cadillac DTS problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac DTS complaints by model year
Best DTS years: 2004, 2005, 2011. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Compare all years →
2009 Cadillac DTS recalls (2)
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 23, 2014.
Electrical system
GM is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Buick, lucerne; Cadillac dts; Hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 Buick enclave; Cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; Saturn outlook; and model year 2009…
Remedy: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently…
What 2009 Cadillac DTS owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac DTS. The contact was driving at 55mph on the highway and the vehicle slowed down independently and the screens went blank. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was shut off but would not restart. The contact called the police and the officer called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic on 3 occasions replaced the same relay fuse however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Cadillac DTS. While driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off. On several occasions, the engine could not be restarted. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear fuse box located under the backseat was very hot and a burning odor was present. The contact replaced the fuel pump relay and the vehicle operated normally for several days; however, the failure recurred. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (gerry lane Cadillac, 10945 reiger rd, baton rouge, la) were notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 105,000. Consumer stated burning fuel rear fuel box under rear seat is causing car to shut off anytime.
Brakes
When traveling on highway my cruise control kept turning itself off and on. A driver traveling behind me let me know that my brake lights were staying on as if I were riding the brake (which I was not) and then would go off again - this kept repeating. It seemed this was why the cruise control was not working, as it would go off when it seemed like the brake was on & back on when the brake went off. I have since seen reports on line of this happening with other cadillacs and is a problem with the brake light switch. This is a safety problem as vehicles behind me do not know when I am actually braking. I feel there should be a recall but have not been notified of one, nor have I found one when searching on line. I have since learned that other vehicles (GM, but not cadillacs) have had safety recalls for this same problem.
The brake lines in my 2009 Cadillac DTS are completly corroded,to the point that they are leaking and need to be replaced. I never expected to see plain steel brake lines in a Cadillac, they should have been stainless steel at a minimum. In my opinion this is a safety hazard and should be addressed. The exhaust system is stainless steel and is not needed to stop the car. I bet Honda has stainless steel brake lines. No wonder that more and more people are buying foreign cars.
Seats
Front seat head restraints cause a very large obstruction in trying to see a vehicle you are passing, so as to know when to get back in to the travel lane. Also the head restraints pose a large blind spot when trying to merge in traffic.
We have a 2010 Cadillac DTS. I am 5 feet 5 inches tall and the headrest on the passenger side leans so far forward that I could not ride comfortably in the car. The headrest is tilted forward and I could not sit all the way back in the seat as the headrest would be pushing on my head. I tried adjusting the seat's position to no avail. I had to sit with my back not resting on the seatback. The dealer's answer to fixing the problem was to turn the headrest backwards but now it is not secured in its holder. The back seatbelts were so poorly designed that only a skinny person could fasten them. We discovedred that most of our friends found it very difficult to fasten those seatbelts. After struggling to fasten the seatbelts some friends just decided to leave the seatbelts unfastened. The dealer's answer to this was to give us black seatbelt extenders to fasten to the tan seatbelts. …
2009 Cadillac DTS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Cadillac DTS a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 DTS rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the DTS at the same age. It is one of the DTS 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 2009 Cadillac DTS?
The electrical system — 12 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about wiring › fuses and circuit breakers. Next are the brakes (6) and seats (5).
How many recalls does the 2009 Cadillac DTS have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2009 Cadillac DTS, the most recent from June 23, 2014 (ignition). 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 DTS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2005 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. See the full Cadillac DTS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Cadillac DTS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 48% 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.