The steering wheel became uncontrollable while idle and can't turn the steering wheel without picking up speed. While stopped you can't turn the steering wheel, it's like trying to turn it while the engine is off.
Vehicle safety record
2011 Cadillac STS Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2011 Cadillac STS with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (3) and the brakes (2). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 2 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2010 has 4.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical STS year, for its age
#216 most complained-about 2011 vehicle
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2011 Cadillac STS problems
Share of all 7 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 2011 Cadillac STS
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Cadillac STS. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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7 complaints about the 2011 Cadillac STS
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
We own a 2011 cadillac sts. Recently my wife was leaving for work and all of a sudden I felt the house shake. My wife was reversing out of the driveway when she applied the brakes. The pedal was so hard she could not press the pedal down. To avoid a crash she put the car into drive to keep it from going into the street. Once she was able to keep the vehicle out of the street she put the car in neutral, but the brakes were still not responding. Thats when our home became our car stopper. I drove the car afterwards...
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and the brake pedal was still hard and would not hold the car from moving when it was put into gear. I contacted the local dealership who informed me that it would take at least 3 to 4 hours labor to diagnose the problem. That at $149.99 Per hour. He also informed me that they had a vehicle in earlier saying the same thing and they pretty much replaced all of the braking system on the car at the cost of over $3900.00. That is crazy to me so I went through the car myself. I replaced all brakes and rotors, replaced the brake fluid and bleed the whole brake system. All that for the next day the same thing happened. I have since traced the electrical side and have found that the vacuum brake assist fuse under the hood was blown. I have replaced the fuse but as soon as you hit the brake it blows the fuse again.
2011 Cadillac sts. Consumer writes in regards to cruise control activated on its own. *Smd updated 09/17/15*lj updated 09/21/15.*Jb updated 09/22/15*jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 cadillac sts. While driving at 40 mph, all the instrument panel lights failed to illuminate, the navigation system failed to function, and the back up sensors chimed without any object behind the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000. The vin was unavailable. Updated 7/29/15*cn updated 10/17/2017*cn
When I backed out of my carport and applied my brakes it wouldn't stop. I took it to the dealership and they couldn't make the car do it again. The brakes when I back up still does not stop my car intermittently, until I step on brakes 3 or 4 times. This is frightening. The dealership wouldn't even take a look at my brakes. *Tr
Dash lights fail to come up upon start - sporadic in march 2013, chronic in november to present back up sensors malfunctioning - january 2014 to present power windows go up and down - sporadic jan 2014 cd/radio volume exceptionally high and then re-adjusts itself headlights turn off when they should be on - 2 occurrences - february 2014 2 emission warning from onstar denied by dealer - jan - 03/2014 alarm coming through rear-view mirror assembly - very, very loud and persistent - february 2014 I reported...
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several occurrences in 2013. Dealership said they could not duplicate reported chronic occurrences again in november, december and january and february - told could not diagnose complained to corporate who offered to have car diagnosed for 99.00; Then charged assigned were 99.00 Per symptom - great way to deter a customer told by corporate this past week that they did not say that and that the car was unfixable. Also told I was out of warranty and any charges were now on me. Can't fix something no one can/will acknowledge exists if consumer doesn't have the money to pursue the matter. Refusal to offer any other support from corporate. I have sent in 3 letters to corporate. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 cadillac cts. While traveling approximately 48 mph, the driver crashed into the front passenger's side of another vehicle. The front passenger seat belt and shoulder attachment device separated which caused the occupant to move forward into the deployed air bag. The passenger sustained a broken right ankle. The vehicle was completely damaged and towed to a savage facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The failure mileage was unavailable. ...Updated 01/23/13...
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*bf....Updated 01/30/13 *bf an investigator with the california highway patrol submitted this complaint form, not the owner of the vehicle. Updated 2/4/2013 *js updated 2/7/2013 *js
Cadillac STS: every year compared
All STS years2011 Cadillac STS vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Cadillac STS | 7 | 0 | B | |
| 2011 Cadillac SRX | 447 | 7 | D | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac CTS | 108 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade | 65 | 6 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV | 62 | 5 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT | 52 | 4 | B | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid | 49 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Cadillac DTS | 16 | 2 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2011 Cadillac STS
Does the 2011 Cadillac STS have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Cadillac STS right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Cadillac STS?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (3), brakes (2), lights (1).
How many complaints has the 2011 Cadillac STS had?
7 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 11, 2013 and the latest on January 4, 2025. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2011 Cadillac STS a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 67 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Cadillac STS year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Cadillac STS years have the most complaints?
2006 (141), 2005 (101), 2007 (53). See every Cadillac STS year compared.
What should I do if my 2011 Cadillac STS has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: 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