2007 Cadillac STS Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a passenger airbag or service airbag light that stays on, comes on while driving, or switches on and off, and many describe repeated sensor repairs. Stability control events that cut power or brake unexpectedly, engine or electrical shutdowns, unexpected speed increases and water in the headlights also appear repeatedly. Several owners say recalls covering other 2007 Cadillac models did not include the STS, and some shutdown and stability reports involve cars with very low mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag sensor or airbag warning light on

   • 14 complaints (27%)
   • median 81,975 mi at 10.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners describe a passenger airbag or service airbag light that stays on at startup, comes on while driving, or switches on and off. Some say the passenger sensor did not register an occupant, so the light stayed off with a passenger seated, and a complaint says the airbags were disabled while the sensor was faulty. According to complaints, dealers sometimes calibrated or replaced the sensor and the light later returned, and some repairs were quoted at a high cost or were not covered. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage to about 169,000 miles, and some describe the light returning after repairs.

   What to check: Have a technician scan for airbag system codes and check the passenger seat sensor and its wiring, and ask whether any previous airbag repairs are documented. Confirm the airbag warning light goes off normally at startup before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the car is started the service air bag light stays on. I have to shut the car off and exit the car re-enter re-seat myself and my passenger(wife) several times. Sometimes the error goes away and sometime it does not. This car has the same problems the 2007 Cadillac cts had and there was a recall. These cars may have the same air bags as the afore mentioned cts. The internet forums talk of this same problem for the STS. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10515284, filed 2013-06, 56,780 miles

   “. This is my first time owning a Cadillac and I must say I absolutely love it! It is a 2007 STS so it is older but in excellent condition with only around 65,000 miles on it. However I have been very recently disappointed by the service response from my airbag malfunction. I recently noticed my air bag light sensor was intermittently turning on and off and immediately brought it into earnhardt Cadillac of scottsdale for fear of a safety issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10959605, filed 2017-03, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine or electrical shutdown and no-start episodes

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 27,908 mi at 1.2 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2026

   Complaints describe the engine or electrical system shutting off while driving, sometimes at highway speeds, with the car unable to restart in some cases. Other complaints describe repeated towing for a refusal to turn over, and a dealer that could not reproduce an intermittent shutdown. According to complaints, a dealer confirmed an ignition problem, and some owners say a recall covering other 2007 Cadillac models did not include the STS. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage to about 105,000 miles, with several early failures on new or nearly new cars.

   What to check: Ask whether any ignition, battery or electrical fault codes are stored, and have a technician check the ignition switch and battery connections. On a test drive, confirm the engine restarts cleanly after being turned off and that no warning lights stay on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Cadillac STS - top of the line car. At 800 miles, I had to have a new engine put in the car and now at 4,000 miles, the electrical systems fail, with out any warning. The car's electrical system totally shuts down, the hydraulic sytems fails and the engine is obviously off. There was no indication of any failure or any warning, the car's electrical system simply shuts off - completely. Emergency flashers do not work, there is no access to the trunk for safety material. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10212704, filed 2007-12, 4,100 miles

   “On many occasions, my 2007 Cadillac STS experienced the exact same ignition problem as other more popular models of the 2007 Cadillac. This problem causes the engine to suddenly quit while driving causing serious danger to being hit by the car behind me. It does not matter whether you are driving at 20 MPH or 65 MPH. It randomly causes the engine to die. An ignition recall has been issued on many (or all) models of the 2007 Cadillac except this STS model. The dealer, thompson Cadillac, confirmed that it is the ignition problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10626179, filed 2014-08, 72,000 miles
3. 3
   Electronic stability control

   Stability system cutting power or braking unexpectedly

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 19,820 mi at 1.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2014

   Owners describe the stability control warning turning on during turns or on dry pavement, with the car losing power, slowing or braking unexpectedly for a short time. Some say the car sped up or stalled in an intersection after the system engaged, and others say the steering became hard to maneuver. According to complaints, a dealer diagnosed a wheel speed sensor and wiring, and a yaw sensor was replaced, but in some cases the problem returned. Where mileage is listed, these complaints range from very low mileage to about 50,000 miles, with some on nearly new cars.

   What to check: Ask whether any stability system repairs, such as sensor replacements, have been documented, and have a technician scan for stored wheel speed or yaw sensor codes. On a test drive, make several right-hand turns on dry pavement and note whether the warning or sudden slowing appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was leaving greenville, s.c.and the left side brakes lock and pulled me into the left lane of traffic and I took my foot off the gas and the car free rolled for a short distance while I got back in my lane. I reapplied the gas and got back up to twenty-five MPH and the right side brakes locked. I was only going approximately twenty five MPH when all of this occurred. I stopped in the emergency lane and got out of the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10231488, filed 2008-06, 20,500 miles

   “There actually is no incident yet. The date is bogus so I can process this. My car is equipped with cadilllac's stabilitrak system. Approximately 80% of the time when making right hand turns only the system engages. Approximately 50% the car decelerates. When trying to make a right hand turn into traffic this is a dangerous situation. When I am trying to turn and join traffic and the car decelerates I am liable to be hit one day. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10234098, filed 2008-07, 1,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Car speeds up unexpectedly when braking or shifting

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 27,910 mi at 3.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2016

   Owners describe the car accelerating or lurching forward when they meant to brake, including cases where the brakes were applied while shifting into drive. Some say the car kept speeding up after the stability system engaged, even without pressing the accelerator. Some describe the accelerator and brake pedals being too close together, and some crashes resulted, with airbags reportedly not deploying in some reports. Where mileage is listed, these complaints range from very low mileage to about 72,500 miles, and some occurred while pulling into a parking spot, a driveway or a gas station.

   What to check: Ask whether any throttle or brake system repairs have been documented, and have a technician scan for stored throttle or brake codes. On a test drive, check that the car slows normally when the brake is applied from a stop and when shifting into drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was at a complete stop. I started going up the driveway, I felt the car lurch foreward. I thought I was slamming on the brake, but hit the gas instead. The car crashed into the house moving the concrete block. The airbags did not deploy. I broke my neck at c4 and c5. I have seen 3 reports on this site detailing the same. All these cars were 2007 Cadillac STS. With all the problems with GM and airbags, could this be related?”

   NHTSA complaint #10597698, filed 2014-06, 61,000 miles

   “Making a right turn onto a road from a stopped position results in activation of stability control and complete loss of power for 1-2 seconds. Without any change in pressure on the accelerator, the vehicle speeds up. This has happened repeatedly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10255244, filed 2009-01, 19,820 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Water and fogging inside headlight assemblies

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners describe water or moisture collecting inside the headlight assemblies, causing heavy fogging and reduced light output. Some say a front light seal leaks, a headlamp stopped working, or a lamp works only on high beam. According to complaints, water has shorted out a light, and an owner was told the seal problem was a manufacturing issue. Where mileage is listed, these complaints range from about 30,000 to 155,000 miles, and several describe water after rain, car washes or condensation over time.

   What to check: Inspect both headlight assemblies for moisture, condensation or a failing seal, and check that both low and high beams work. Ask whether any headlight water problem has been repaired or documented, and look for fogging after rain or a car wash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “#1 the above mentioned vehicle was purchased in chicago on december 22, 2009. The odometer read 29,832 miles. When the car was driven back to maryland, a maryland vehicle inspection was required. The headlights failed the inspection. #2 over the past two years, condensation built up inside both the headlights. In the past month, I noticed there was one inch of water in the driver side headlight. The water has now shorted out the light. I believe this problem is a defect and I have read similar complaints on car forums on the internet. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10505058, filed 2013-03, 30,597 miles

   “My Cadillac STS left front light seal leaks water into it and now the headlight won't come on. This was notice upon purchasing the vehicle and was told it was a manufactures problem. Now my head lamp only works on brights.”

   NHTSA complaint #10860280, filed 2016-04

Buying note. When considering this model year, have the airbag warning light and passenger seat sensor checked, and ask whether any open recall applies to this specific vehicle by VIN. Test-drive the car through turns and at highway speed, and ask whether the stability, shutdown and headlight moisture concerns have been diagnosed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.