Most common 2002 Cadillac STS problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac STS complaints by model year
Best STS years: 2002, 1999, 2003. Years to avoid: 2006, 2005, 2008, 2007. Compare all years →
What 2002 Cadillac STS owners say
Brakes
104,000 miles - total brake line failure when driving on street at 35 MPH. Managed to pull over then got car to Goodyear. Brake fluid drained out completely because of brake line tapping against transmission casing over time. Casing was dented in several places. Was 5 minutes away from getting on freeway at 70 MPH. Could have been deadly. See this same design flaw of the line placement has been reported by others. God is good and was watching over me for sure.
I have a 2002 cad. STS with 81,000 miles. About 2weeks ago the warning light stating check brake fluid. I checked it and added some. It did it again a week later but the brakes almost failed. I took it to a GMC dealer who told me the brake line broke because it was rubbing on the transmission. He told me he had never seen this happen before. I also have a friend who worked as service manager for a GMC dealer and he stated he had never seen that happen. He gave me a phone at GMC to call. The # [phone] they gave me a service #. I received a call back from [phone] x21073. After 2 days the man told me they could not help me cause the vehicle was 8 years old and had 81,000 miles. They were not concerned about the safety issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Cadillac STS a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 STS rates better than average: 55% fewer complaints than a typical year of the STS at the same age. It is one of the best STS years by this measure. 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 2002 Cadillac STS?
The brakes — 3 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Next are the engine & cooling (1) and fuel & propulsion system (1).
How many recalls does the 2002 Cadillac STS have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Cadillac STS. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac STS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 1999 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2005, 2008 and 2007. See the full Cadillac STS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Cadillac STS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 0% 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.