2011 Cadillac DTS Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2011 Cadillac DTS, and owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2011 Cadillac DTS
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact…
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Cables (electrical system)
General motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 dts and buick lucerne vehicles equipped with v8 engines. The starter or alternator cable is in contact with the power steering return line. If either the starter or alternator cable is contacting the power steering return line, the cable could wear through the line, causing a…
Remedy: Dealers will secure and if necessary reroute the lines to prevent contact. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 19, 2010. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339,…
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2011 Cadillac DTS have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 67,174 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Airbags did not deploy in a rear end crash. Seat belts may have failed as well. Car is located at an offsite strorage facility for insurance purposes. I suffered head trauma and a concussion. Bruising”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 2, 2026 · Air bags
“Car power shut off while driving on the highway to church and almost got in an accident. Pulled to the side and smelled smoke. Lifted the back seat and opened the fuse box and looked. Lifted the fuel”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 20, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2011 Cadillac DTS. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15 / 23 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Large Cars |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Cadillac DTS model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac DTS model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Cadillac DTS | 0 | 7 |
| 2005 Cadillac DTS | 0 | 9 |
| 2006 Cadillac DTS | 4 | 255 |
| 2007 Cadillac DTS | 3 | 97 |
| 2008 Cadillac DTS | 3 | 86 |
| 2009 Cadillac DTS | 2 | 35 |
| 2010 Cadillac DTS | 3 | 22 |
| 2011 Cadillac DTS | 2 | 16 |
Checking a specific 2011 Cadillac DTS
How do I know if my 2011 Cadillac DTS has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2011 Cadillac DTS; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 10V553000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Cadillac models
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- CTS2,217 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- Escalade ESV533 complaints
- Catera468 complaints
- STS430 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.