2011 Cadillac DTS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Cadillac DTS has 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 cadillac dts. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 14v355000 (electrical system); however, the parts needed for the repair were unavailable. when the contact removed the key fob from the ignition, the doors would fail to lock and unlock in.
19
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
6 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FOB FROM THE IGNITION, THE DOORS WOULD FAIL TO LOCK AND UNLOCK IN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A F
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FOB FROM THE IGNITION, THE DOORS WOULD FAIL TO LOCK AND UNLOCK IN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
5 complaints- • HIT A TRUCK PULLING A LOWBOY TRAILER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT.. DUE TO A CONCUSSION, I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD ENOUGH WITH MY FACE AND CHEST TO BEND THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED A SEVERE CONCUSSI
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EDDIE TOURELLE'S NORTHPARK HYUNDAI (953 HIGHWAY 190 N, COVINGTON, LA 70433, (985) 801-7000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED T
“HIT A TRUCK PULLING A LOWBOY TRAILER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT.. DUE TO A CONCUSSION, I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD ENOUGH WITH MY FACE AND CHEST TO BEND THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED A SEVERE CONCUSSI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
2 complaints- • THE POWER STEERING GEAR HAS BEGUN LEAKING, THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT BUT THERE IS A LEAK OF POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR
- • STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED IN THE MOST HIGHEST POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED TO ANY OTHER POSITION. *TR
“THE POWER STEERING GEAR HAS BEGUN LEAKING, THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT BUT THERE IS A LEAK OF POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MI
- • I WAS DRIVING SW ON DESIGN AND DID NOT SEE A STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF DRAGON, IN DALLAS, TEXAS. AS A RESULT, MY 2011 CADILLAC DTS COLLIDED INTO (T-BONED) A 1995 OR 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA. I WAS TRAVELING 25-30 MILES PER HOUR AT IMPACT AND NEVER SAW THE COLLISION COMING. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT,
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
2 complaints- • CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER A CHECK AND RESET. THE CAR HAS A LOST OF POWER AND RUNS REAL SLOW THAN ITS LIKE THE PROBLEM NEVER EXISTED. THIS IS THE CODE I KEEP GETTING. P0420 CODE BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER
- • Car power shut off while driving on the highway to church and almost got in an accident. Pulled to the side and smelled smoke. Lifted the back seat and opened the fuse box and looked. Lifted the fuel pump fuse and it was burnt. Me and my family got stuck on the side of the highway instead of church
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER A CHECK AND RESET. THE CAR HAS A LOST OF POWER AND RUNS REAL SLOW THAN ITS LIKE THE PROBLEM NEVER EXISTED. THIS IS THE CODE I KEEP GETTING. P0420 CODE BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 19 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FOB FROM THE IGNITION, THE DOORS WOULD FAIL TO LOCK AND UNLOCK IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: HIT A TRUCK PULLING A LOWBOY TRAILER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT.. DUE TO A CONCUSSION, I DO NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH. HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD ENOUGH WITH MY FACE AND CHEST TO BEND THE STEERING WHEEL. I RECEIVED A SEVERE CONCUSSI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: THE POWER STEERING GEAR HAS BEGUN LEAKING, THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPACT BUT THERE IS A LEAK OF POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Cadillac DTS — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 19
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Cadillac DTS