2008 Cadillac STS Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2008 model year most often report air bag warning lights, and in some crashes air bags that did not deploy. Engine stalls and power loss, tire pressure warning problems, unintended acceleration, and premature timing chain wear are also described. Reports are trending down in the data, and the engine stall reports mostly involve cars at or above 80,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and air bags that do not deploy

   • 11 complaints (22%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe an air bag warning message or light that appears while driving, sometimes goes off and then returns, or stays on when a passenger sits in the seat. A complaint says the dealer replaced the entire seat without resolving the light, and later said nothing was wrong. A few owners report that air bags did not deploy in a crash, including a head-on impact at about 35 mph and a frontal impact after the brakes failed on a hill. Another owner was quoted a repair cost of over $1,000 for a passenger-side air bag light. Mileage ranges from about 10,000 to 190,000 miles, and most warning-light reports that list mileage fall between about 44,000 and 80,000.

   What to check: Turn the key on and confirm that the air bag light goes out after the self-check, then ask for diagnostic records of any air bag light repairs. Ask whether the air bag system was inspected after any crash repair on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The information window under my speedometer warned me to check the driver side air bag. It then went off about 2 days later. I warned me again in the middle of april, beginning of may and may 22nd. I did not drive my car today (5/23) so I don't know if the warning is still on. If it is I will write again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10721164, filed 2015-05, 45,000 miles

   “My airbag light is on and it remains on the passenger side and they want to charge me over a $1000.00 to fix it. This occurs while in motion and stationery. My car does a hard jerk when stopping on brakes it jerks from the rear end.”

   NHTSA complaint #11140583, filed 2018-10, 190,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 11 complaints (22%)
   • median 89,500 mi at 9.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2019

   Owners describe the engine shutting off or stalling while driving, sometimes at highway speed, and sometimes while waiting at a traffic light. Some say the car restarted and ran normally afterward, but the failure came back several times. Others describe reduced power or surging, including a surge to about 3 mph from a stop and a car that could not exceed about 25 mph. Several complaints say the dealer could not duplicate or diagnose the problem, and the timing chain was named in some reports. Mileage is mostly at or above 80,000 miles, ranging from about 18,000 to 150,000.

   What to check: Ask whether the check engine light has been on, and ask for any stored codes and timing chain repair records. On a test drive, check for warning lights and any loss of power under acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall.I am an active duty sailor and missing several notices of the intial recall.....engine reduction of power in the middle of the interstate...premature timing chain wear reprogram engine control module...while driving the car completely lost power and would not go over 15mph....this happened on a busy I-10 interstate...is there away to reopen this recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11024670, filed 2017-09, 130,000 miles

   “Purchased vehicle 11- 2011 (65,498) 10-(2012) first ck engine light issue and every year since then I've taken it back to the dealership service for ck engine light last three years 2014-thry-16 now 17 the vehicle shuts off while I'm driving or sitting waiting for the traffic light to change this is a issue for me because I'm worried about getting rear ended my vehicle is in the kerbeck Cadillac service dealer since 1/19/2017 for the same issue check engine light came on and park to shift I've complain to GM customer service and case number …”

   NHTSA complaint #10945231, filed 2017-01, 121,361 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Tire pressure monitor warning light problems

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2022

   Owners describe the tire pressure warning light or service message coming on while driving, sometimes intermittently. Some say the system showed normal pressure while the tires were actually low. Repairs described in complaints include replacing and reprogramming sensors and replacing all the tires, but the warning persisted. According to complaints, the vehicle was not included in the tire pressure recall even though the symptoms were similar. Reports that list mileage fall between about 57,000 and 80,000 miles, and several describe the light coming on at various speeds while driving.

   Recall 08V1080001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle's VIN falls within the tire pressure recall and whether the dealer confirmed the sensor programming. Ask whether the tire pressure monitor software update described in a service bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10692521, filed 2015-03, 80,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Service TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) sensor message and TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the sensor was replaced and reprogrammed on multiple occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V108000 (Exterior Lighting). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11470831, filed 2022-06, 57,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration, including while braking

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2015

   Owners describe the vehicle accelerating on its own, including while the brake pedal was pressed at highway speed, and an accelerator pedal that stuck to the floor at low speed. In a passing maneuver, a complaint describes sudden acceleration to high speed with the brake pedal stuck to the floor, and owners say they stopped the car with the ignition button or a kill switch. According to complaints, the problem recurred and was not diagnosed or repaired, and a promised manufacturer visit did not follow. Reported between about 8,500 and 30,000 miles, at speeds from about 13 to 50 mph.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the engine returns to idle when the accelerator is released and that the brake pedal stays firm during acceleration. Ask for records of any throttle, pedal, or speed control repairs, and any manufacturer or dealer investigation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac STS. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle kept accelerating while the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10713602, filed 2015-04, 30,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac STS. The contact stated that as he was driving 13 MPH his accelerator pedal stuck to the floor and the vehicle accelerated to a higher speed. The contact had to use his kill switch to turn to stop the acceleration and turn the vehicle off. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home after the failure occurred and he notified the manufacturer. He was told that they would send a representative to check into the failure but no one has called him. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10311775, filed 2010-02, 9,354 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Premature timing chain wear

   Mentioned in 4 of 49 sampled complaints

   Owners describe premature timing chain wear, often with a check engine light or service engine light coming on first. Some say the chain malfunctioned and the car lost power or could not go faster than low speeds, and that repair was delayed. A complaint says a manufacturer letter described an extended engine warranty, but the dealer refused to extend it further. Another complaint says the dealer should have replaced the timing chain before a used sale, and that the owner paid for repairs after the warranty period. Mileage appears in the reports at about 80,000 and 130,000 miles, while the other reports leave mileage blank.

   What to check: Ask whether any engine warranty extension or recall work for timing chain wear applies to the vehicle, and ask for repair records. During a test drive, check for engine warning lights and any stored codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dealership had ownership of car and should have replaced the timing chain before selling car to me, which they did not and after time for repairs to be done before time ran out, I had to pay for repairs, causing me be be out $3000+ dollars for repairs should have been covered by the warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11669621, filed 2025-06

   “The contact owns a 2008 Cadillac STS. While driving 65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle stalled and the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact went to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be diagnosed; however, they turned off the check engine indicator. The contact also stated that the timing chain malfunctioned and the vehicle could not exceed 25 MPH. The failure produced error codes 08, 09, 16, 17, 18, and 19. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11180212, filed 2019-02, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Buyers may want to confirm that the air bag and tire pressure warning lights go out after startup, and ask whether the tire pressure system and any timing chain work were checked. Ask for service records of stalls, power loss, or unintended acceleration, and check brake and throttle response on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 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.