2005 Cadillac STS: sudden loss of power

6 of the 101 complaints about the 2005 Cadillac STS describe sudden loss of power.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 6%
typical mileage: 91,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 100 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Sudden loss of power by model year

2009
1
2008
3
2007
2
2006
5
2005
6
1999
1

What owners say

Filed Aug 19, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · 155,000 miles · MI

The vehicle intermittently loses engine/ electrical power while driving. When the power loss occurs, brakes and steering lose proper functionality creating a threat to the driver and passengers as well as other motorists. The vehicle then is unresponsive to the proper starting procedure. Restarting the vehicle is inconsistent. It may start immediately upon command or it may cause a theft procedure to initiate. The vehicles dic will possibly show the following prompts just before the shutdown failure occurs; service vehicle soon, service stability system soon, service A/C system soon. During the shutdown failure, no electrical components are operable but power is still available to the car allowing the dic to prompt 'no fob detected' or 'theft attempted' and the fob will intermittently allow you to send lock/ unlock commands during the shutdown failure. The failure happens in any scenario and is intermittent in the aspect of no failure occurs for a week or 5 failures occur in a day. I cannot determine when the failures began happening considering I purchased the vehicle used with 155000 miles and the failures have been happening since day 3 of my ownership. The vehicle is currently at a midland michigan cadillac dealership being diagnosed.

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Engine · 48,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac sts. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the engine lost power as the engine light illuminated. The contact merged the vehicle to side of the road safely, which was then towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the intake and exhaust manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

Filed Oct 3, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 91,000 miles · KY

While driving on the expressway( at night), going 70mph, the car completely shut down without warning. I lost all power, brakes, steering, lights. On dash message stated "accessory active" and then "shift to park." took the car to the dealer and they changed the throttle body and cam/crank shaft along with a couple other small things. Got the car back, and 1 week later, the problem began again but worse. It would do it repeatedly, at all different speeds. A couple of times right in the middle of an intersection! Took the car back to the dealer again and this time they changed the body control module. Got the car back and about a week later, the problem has returned!

Filed Jul 30, 2012 · Electrical · 99,130 miles · MO

Car shuts off without warning going down the freeway at 70 MPH. Must get out of harms way come to complete stop put in park and restart. When car shuts down loss of power steering, power brakes, radio, gauges and lights. This has happened seven times. Gm cadillac customer support is working on it case no [xxx]employee [xxx] phone 1‑866‑790‑5700 ext [xxx] however tec in detroit wanted to use a brand new switch replacement they overnighted to van cadillac in kansas city however[xxx] nor I can find out if they used it or a reconditioned one from stock as repairs were completed before shipment arrived. Service manager [xxx]phone 816‑454‑6666 will not return calls and I am afraid to have my wife drive it again unless it has been repaired according to the gm tech team in detroit. They will not tell me if this has happened before and is a recall problem. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 8, 2008 · Electrical · 61,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 cadillac sts. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost power and shut off. The hazard lights were inoperative. The dealer stated that the negative battery cable was loose. The vehicle is currently out of the shop; however, the contact is concerned about the issue and no longer wants the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 61,000.

Filed Nov 1, 2005 · Electrical · TX

2005 cadillac sts indicator illuminated on the dashboard stating "vehicle speed limited to 80 miles per hour". *ts ***no answer required*** the indicator illuminated two days after the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to identify the cause of the problem because no other trouble codes were triggered. The problem occurred several more times but the last time it happened the vehicle lost power to the engine while attempting to pass another vehicle. The indicator remained on until the consumer pulled over, shut the vehicle off then restarted it. After the vehicle was driven several more miles the light came on again and the vehicle continued to perform erratically. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but they still couldn't find any trouble codes. A software upgrade was performed but that did not fix the problem.