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Electrical systemPart report

2008 Cadillac DTS Electrical system Problems

Complaints
39about this part
Share
45%of 86 total for the year
Median mileage
88,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 39 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Cadillac DTS, 45% of the 86 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 88,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 4 a fire, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Took my vehicle in for safety recall 14299 nothing was done to the switch they just put something on the key and 2 small key rings and told me that nothing else was to be put on the key ring. In my opinion the repair was not done what is stopping the key switch from shutting off as a mechanic nothing was done.”

NHTSA complaint #10652415, filed 2014-11, 106,000 miles

“The car gives off false oil pressure information on cars message center. I replaced the sensor as discribed, verified my oil level, cleaned the connector to oil pressure sensor and still every 2 or 3 mintues I get engine oil pressure low, stop vehichle. When I stop the oil level is great and the oil is very clean. This has been going on for over 3 months. If the oil pressure was low the engine would have siezed up by now. This is ongoing issue with these 08 Cadillac DTS 4.7l northstar engines.”

NHTSA complaint #11338907, filed 2020-07, 138,000 miles

“Tried to start my car and it would turn over but not crank. Replaced the fuel pump and fuel pump relay. Car started and I drove about 10 miles and it cut off while driving. Since we replaced the relay my husband took out the back seat to check it to find the fuse box too hot to touch and smelled like burning wires. He disconnected the battery to avoid a fire. This could have been a disaster had he not had the forethought to check the fuel relay. It was just before causing a fire and we had two passengers in the back seat.”

NHTSA complaint #11113464, filed 2018-07, 160,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10680243, filed 2015-01, 84,000 miles

“I started to smell smoke in the car, I shut the engine, the smoke was coming from under the back seat. I removed the back seat, and smelled the fuse box, and opened the fuse box cover, and I found that two relays were very hot, and one of them was burned, and melted all the way into the bottom of the whole fuse box block. I had the whole fuse block replaced the part alone was $225.71 plus installation. A year later same exact thing happened, I went to the dealer, and I was told that there is no recall on this fuse block. …”

NHTSA complaint #10553559, filed 2013-11, 100,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2011638%
20101045%
20091234%
20083945%
20072829%
20067931%
2005111%
2004229%

Other parts of the 2008 Cadillac DTS

Engine
14 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Cadillac DTS

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology