2008 Cadillac DTS problems
NHTSA has received 121 complaints about the 2008 Cadillac DTS, and 32% of them involve electrical system. After that come engine (13%) and fuel system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 121 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 9
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 86,000 miles 98 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 9 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 32 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 98 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 86,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (28 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 9 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Cadillac DTS with enough data (41 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Air bag didn't deploy after head on collision traveling 23 miles per hour, on a city street, going straight. Car was considered totaled by usaa.
The cadillac was stopped in traffic on the highway and airbags failed to deploy when rear ended by semi-truck going possibly 40MPH causing the cadillac to crash into the car in front as well. The car was total loss, the speed of semi truck is unknown but seeing the cadillac was total loss and with serious damage to the front and back of the vehicle the airbag should have gone off and did not.
After parking my car in the garage,approximately 3 weeks later,I went to start my car,but it would not start,it would crank over good ,but would not start. I proceeded with my own assumptions and found a pin(#30)on the fuel pump relay was burnt,I had an electrical diagnosis performed on the wiring and the fuel pump,both passed okay,I was told the fuse block was bad,(which I suspected),which I had previously ordered from the cadillac dealer. On installing the new fuse block,the problem was solved.
Lower engine oil leak. I understand that this is a common problem dating back a number of years and cadillac has not rectified the problem and has not issued a recall. I am forced to install a new engine because the problem is so costly to resolve. Approximately $4,500. Is there any class action against cadillac or is there any relief available.