"How reliable is the 2009 Cadillac Sts?"

"Based on 23 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Cadillac Sts has a median complaint mileage of 77500 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Cadillac Sts?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Cadillac Sts is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 23 total complaints filed."

2009 Cadillac Sts: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 23 complaints

Total Complaints

77,500mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

47,000 25th Percentile

77,500 Median Mileage

140,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

STEERING

SERVICE BRAKES

EQUIPMENT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

POWER TRAIN

WHEELS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ENGINE

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ON SEPT 17, 2009 AS I ROLLED TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT, I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR, WHICH WAS FOUR FEET FROM A BRICK BUILDING, SUDDENLY LURCHED AHEAD. THE CAR HIT THE BRICK WALL, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RETURN TO IDLE UNTIL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS THIS: THE ..."

"2009 CADILLAC STS LOST ALL OR MOST BRAKE FLUID. THIS CAR HAS SLIGHTLY OVER 22000 MILES. MULTIPLE WARNINGS ON PANEL. DEALER FOUND THAT THE LEFT REARF BRAKE CALIPER WAS LEAKING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE AT THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE HOSE CONNECTS. CALIPER AND HOSE WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CONCER..."

"THE CAR SIMPLY MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STEER, BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. THE GEARS WERE CORRODED AND AS A RESULT THE GEAR SHIFT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 47,000 AND IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD THAT GM DID NOT PUT A SEALANT ON THE UNDER..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28