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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Cadillac STS2005–2011

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚗 SEDAN
Cadillac STS
2005–2011
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
3
Recalls
0
Complaints
2006
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2006
7
Years Analyzed
3
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Cadillac STS Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2006

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2007

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2008

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the STS became recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 11, 2026.

Cadillac STS — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
201100——
82
39
67
Excellent
201000——
82
39
67
Excellent
200900——
82
39
67
Excellent
200810——
57
39
51
Avoid
200710——
57
39
51
Avoid
200610——
57
39
51
Avoid
200500——
82
39
67
Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the STS compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older STS models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
2005 · 672009 · 672010 · 672011 · 672006 · 512007 · 512008 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year STS to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every STS model year.

Which STS years have the most problems?+

The 2006, 2007, 2008 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2006 STS leads with 1 recalls and 0 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 STS problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Cadillac STS.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sedan vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every STS year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →