Cadillac STS loss of power problems

Filed Dec 13, 2021 · Engine · MA

The Cadillac Company sent me a letter several years ago informing me of a premature timing chain wear and the illumination of the Service Engine light. They knew about this defective engine problem but they did not recall the vehicle. Instead they extended the engine warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles. I have only 90,000 miles on my vehicle but I've owned it for over 10 years and now the check engine light is illuminated. The Cadillac dealer refuses to extend the warranty. This is a safety issue because if the engine were to fail the driver would also lose power steering and power brakes putting the safety of the vehicle occupants and others at risk. I believe that this vehicle and other GM vehicles with the 3.6 liter engine should be recalled and repaired at no cost to the vehicle owner.

Filed Dec 25, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · AR

When driving in rain the smallest amount of water will cause the reduced engine power to engage and it does not go off until the vehicle has sat for a long amount of time. Extremely dangerous. First the ABS light comes on and then you lose power. 3rd row LED taillight out... 400 to fix. Purchased in march of 2018 with 93k miles. Currently at 104k.

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 Sep 20, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 130,000 miles · TX

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.

Filed Jul 1, 2017 · Engine · 83,000 miles · CA

On thursday 18 may 2017, while driving north on interstate 405 in heavy traffic at normal speeds, the engine began to miss out; and the brakes lost power assist. The problems persisted and worsened, so I exited the freeway to surface streets and began the trip back south on interstate 405 to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis and repair. When stopped on surface streets (and on the freeway), it was necessary to shift to neutral and add fuel to the engine to keep it running. Also, it was necessary to apply extra strong pressure on the brake pedal because of the lack of power assist. After arriving at the dealer and shutting off the engine, the mechanic could not get the engine to restart. After extensive exposure of engine internal parts, dealer diagnosis was that a rocker arm had broken at one of the cylinders, resulting in debris falling through the valve opening into the cylinder and scoring the valve seat and the piston. The dealer recommended replacing the engine. -- at that time, the vehicle had accumulated 83,000 miles of moderate driving, and was only a little over 11 years old. The vehicle was purchased new from the dealer in december 2005, and had been maintained exclusively by that dealer since the vehicle was purchased. Subsequently, a new (remanufactured) engine was purchased from and installed by the dealer at a cost of $12,678.25. The vehicle was with the dealer for a total of six weeks to complete the repair and installation. -- clearly, had the engine completely failed while driving on the freeway, intensive action would have been required to safely exit the freeway and to bring the vehicle to a stop (especially because of loss of power assist on the brakes). This would have placed my passengers in very high danger and personal risk.

Filed May 17, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 60,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac sts. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an abnormal noise from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle also experienced a loss of power. The vehicle was able to be restarted after being shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the auto start was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2015 · Driver assistance, Steering · 140,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac sts. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power while the service stability warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the power steering failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

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).