CADILLAC STS · model year

2001 CADILLAC STS

17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001CADILLACSTS carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 STS is steering with 2 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist system (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2001 STS, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

17
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY1
PARKING BRAKE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20150203ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 12,000

20141120TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC STS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES, SIZE T125/70R/16 AND DOT: HYW6H5D2100E4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WHILE IN THE TRUNK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINE TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20110317FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SRS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING AND SWOOSHING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN. THE TECHNICIANS ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LETTER INDICATING THAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT DID NOT WANT TO PROVIDE THAT IN WRITING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.

Mileage: 50

20091118STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET. BRACKET IS A POT METAL PIECE AND IN MY ANECDOTAL RESEARCH, IT HAS FAILED WITH EXCESSIVE FREQUENCY. *TR

20080916VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL, SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER BEING SET. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

20080425ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT CUSHION ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S SERVICE MANUAL. THE PLASTIC REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME CRACKED AND FAILED NEAR THE CLIPS. THE DEALER ORDERED THE REAR SEAT FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS. THE REAR SEAT CANNOT BE USED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT, E-BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE UPPER COWL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE BODY PANEL OVER THE RADIATOR WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS THE PLASTICS FASTENERS ON THE LOWER FRONT DEFLECTOR OR SPLASH SHIELD. UPDATED 05/28/08

Mileage: 36,200

20080425SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT CUSHION ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S SERVICE MANUAL. THE PLASTIC REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME CRACKED AND FAILED NEAR THE CLIPS. THE DEALER ORDERED THE REAR SEAT FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS. THE REAR SEAT CANNOT BE USED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT, E-BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE UPPER COWL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE BODY PANEL OVER THE RADIATOR WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS THE PLASTICS FASTENERS ON THE LOWER FRONT DEFLECTOR OR SPLASH SHIELD. UPDATED 05/28/08

Mileage: 36,200

20080425STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT CUSHION ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S SERVICE MANUAL. THE PLASTIC REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME CRACKED AND FAILED NEAR THE CLIPS. THE DEALER ORDERED THE REAR SEAT FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS. THE REAR SEAT CANNOT BE USED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT, E-BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE UPPER COWL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE BODY PANEL OVER THE RADIATOR WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS THE PLASTICS FASTENERS ON THE LOWER FRONT DEFLECTOR OR SPLASH SHIELD. UPDATED 05/28/08

Mileage: 36,200

20080425PARKING BRAKE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT CUSHION ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S SERVICE MANUAL. THE PLASTIC REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME CRACKED AND FAILED NEAR THE CLIPS. THE DEALER ORDERED THE REAR SEAT FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS. THE REAR SEAT CANNOT BE USED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT, E-BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE UPPER COWL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE BODY PANEL OVER THE RADIATOR WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS THE PLASTICS FASTENERS ON THE LOWER FRONT DEFLECTOR OR SPLASH SHIELD. UPDATED 05/28/08

Mileage: 36,200

20080425ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT CUSHION ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S SERVICE MANUAL. THE PLASTIC REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME CRACKED AND FAILED NEAR THE CLIPS. THE DEALER ORDERED THE REAR SEAT FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS. THE REAR SEAT CANNOT BE USED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT, E-BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE UPPER COWL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE BODY PANEL OVER THE RADIATOR WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS THE PLASTICS FASTENERS ON THE LOWER FRONT DEFLECTOR OR SPLASH SHIELD. UPDATED 05/28/08

Mileage: 36,200

20080425STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. HE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT CUSHION ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTOR'S SERVICE MANUAL. THE PLASTIC REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME CRACKED AND FAILED NEAR THE CLIPS. THE DEALER ORDERED THE REAR SEAT FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS. THE REAR SEAT CANNOT BE USED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,200. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT, E-BRAKE WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE UPPER COWL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PLASTIC FASTENERS ON THE BODY PANEL OVER THE RADIATOR WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS THE PLASTICS FASTENERS ON THE LOWER FRONT DEFLECTOR OR SPLASH SHIELD. UPDATED 05/28/08

Mileage: 36,200

20070718ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

2001 CADILLAC STS WITH STABILITY SYSTEM CONCERNS CUSTOMER STATES THAT ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE THE PROBLEM STARTED**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

20060327STEERING

1.CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT END, CONTINUOUS PLAY IN FRONT END. 2.HIGH SPEED SHAKE OR VIBRATION. 3.REPEATED DEALER FIXES FAIL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 32,714

20060316EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER TRIED TO REPLACE THE BALLAST, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT FIT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER IS PLANNING TO MANUFACTURE A SPECIAL PART OF THEIR OWN DESIGN IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 4/06/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 63,426

20050927SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

DT: THE CALLER DOES NOT HAVE A DEFECT IN VEHICLE. HE HAS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BACK SEAT BELT. HE CALLER SAID THAT WHEN HE PUT GRANDCHILD, WHO IS HANDICAPPED, IN THE CHILD SEAT AND TRIED TO USE THE SEAT BELT IT WOULD NOT STAY TIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE BECAUSE THE CHILD WAS GETTING BIGGER AND HEAVIER. THE CALLER SAID IT WAS NOT A RATCHET SEAT BELT SYSTEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR FREE. HE WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT MAKE THE RATCHET SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 24,000

20041101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

20010131STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND POWER STEERING WENT ALL OUT. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT ABNORMAL.*AK

Compare 2001CADILLACSTS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 CADILLAC STS have?
The 2001 CADILLAC STS has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 CADILLAC STS?
The most-complained component for the 2001 CADILLAC STS is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 2001 CADILLAC STS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.