YearToAvoid

2005 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

NHTSA has 40 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2005 Cadillac CTS, 14% of all 277 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest engine complaint count among 15 CTS model years. These complaints report 4 crashes, 2 fires, and 5 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 74,000 miles.

Engine complaints
40
14% of 277
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
74,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2005 Cadillac CTS engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 18, 2005, latest Apr 22, 2023.

2005 Cadillac CTS engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2005Jul 2008Nov 2010May 2012Jan 2014Nov 2015Mar 2018Mar 2021
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2005 to Apr 2023; peak Oct 2013 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2005 Cadillac CTS

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by CTS model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200540 (14%)
  2. 200645 (17%)
  3. 200736 (17%)
  4. 200843 (25%)
  5. 200960 (36%)
  6. 201014 (21%)
  7. 201119 (19%)
  8. 201212 (18%)
  9. 20139 (12%)
  10. 201410 (7%)
  11. 20159 (19%)
  12. 20164 (13%)
  13. 20172 (7%)
  14. 20181 (13%)
  15. 20193 (30%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Cadillac CTS have engine problems?
NHTSA has 40 owner complaints about the engine in the 2005 Cadillac CTS, 14% of all complaints for this model year, including 4 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 74,000 miles.
Which Cadillac CTS year has the most engine complaints?
The 2009 Cadillac CTS has the most engine complaints (60), compared with 40 for the 2005.
Is there a engine recall for the 2005 Cadillac CTS?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Cadillac CTS is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.