VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Cadillac DTS2006–2011
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Cadillac DTS
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Cadillac DTS Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 178 complaints
13 reported injuries
Top issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2 recalls · 64 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 recalls · 58 complaints
5 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the DTS became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 16, 2026.
Cadillac DTS — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 9 | 4 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2010 | 3 | 12 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2009 | 1 | 28 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2008 | 2 | 58 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2007 | 2 | 64 | 3 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2006 | 2 | 178 | 13 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Cadillac DTS Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the DTS compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year DTS to buy?+
The 2009 Cadillac DTS scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 1 recall and 28 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which DTS years have the most problems?+
The 2006, 2007, 2008 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2006 DTS leads with 2 recalls and 178 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common DTS problems?+
The most frequently reported Cadillac DTS issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.