The known timing chain issue GM done a warranty for to fix it but won't fix it now. My car is running sluggish because of it and had numerous times that it wouldn't go up to the speed limit almost caused accidents because of it and I'm afraid to even drive it anymore knowing that it's a time bomb waiting to happen that could blow up on the highway that can cause accidents.
Engine & cooling
2009 Cadillac STS Engine problems
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2009 Cadillac STS's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 13% of all its complaints, most recently on April 20, 2026. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Engine complaints
Vehicle detects fault and displays message to service stability control system. Specific problem not yet diagnosed. Within a few moments, the display states that engine power is reduced. This causes a very unsafe condition as the vehicle slows to 10-15 mph. Pressing gas pedal causes transmission to downshift to lower gear slowing vehicle further. Cannot safely maneuver in traffic, brakes require much higher pedal pressure due to low vacuum boost after engine power reduced. Insufficient warning that this is...
Read the full complaint
happening. Problem is not with engine or powertrain, but engine power is cut (engine runs very rough as a result) in response to detected stability system error. Engine runs fine if turned off and restarted. No overheating, oil level is fine, gasoline is good, no external problems. After restarting car drives fine initially, event recurs within 1 mile. Very difficult to try to justify this kind of intentional vehicle control behavior. Extremely poor design that causes an unsafe condition when a stability system error is detected.
Cadillac STS engine complaints by year
STS engine problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data