2005 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

Oil leaks from unknown location. Also make a grinding noise when accelerating.

I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2019 AND IT WENT DOWN IN LATE APRIL OR EARLY MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW DAYS THEN IT WOULD GO OFF FOR A FEW DAYS. THE ENGINE WOULD RATTLE WHEN FIRST CRANKED AND THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD CONSTANTLY KEEP TRYING TO CRANK BUT NEVER WOULD AND NOW IT IS COMPLETELY OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO PUT 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN IT BUT I HAD THE OIL CHANGED A MONTH BEFORE THE CAR DIED. THEY SAY THE OIL IS GOING SOMEWHERE BUT WHERE? I WAS ALSO TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT CAN CAUSE THE PISTONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO FAIL WITH THE ENGINE. IT WILL COST ME OVER $2000 TO GET REPAIRED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. CADILLIAC MAKES EVERYTHING SO EXPENSIVE SO I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND GETTING ONE UNLESS YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY AFFORD IT AND NOT BE IN DEBT BEHIND IT. I WAS IN LOVE WITH THIS CAR BUT THIS IS HORRIBLE. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED AND NOW I'M DONE.

TIMING CHAIN JUMPED TIME. MECHANICS WORKING ON IT STATE THEY HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS BUT STATE NO RECALL WILL BE PUBLISHED UNLESS SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 58 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING OIL PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA 10043857 -- 2005 CTS ERROR CODE P0016 ENGINE TIMING CHAINS. CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND ENGINE THAT IS IN TECH BULLETIN SB-11340. 86,176 MILES ON ENGINE WHEN TESTED FOR THIS PROBLEM BY GM DEALERSHIP. I HAD CAR REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP EARLIER THIS MONTH AND HAVE SUBMITTED RECEIPTS TO CADILLAC FOR REIMBURSEMENT. CURRENTLY I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK REGARDING THE STATUS ON THIS CLAIM. CADILLAC SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER IS 8-1628649320. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF MY CAR IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD BUT I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE DESIGN AND CAR REPAIR TOOK 3 DAYS AT THE GM REPAIR FACILITY. THIS IS NOT A MINOR REPAIR OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DURING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THE TECH BULLETIN AND YOUR REFERENCE NUMBERS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. FORTUNATELY FOR ME THIS CHAIN DID NOT FAIL DURING OPERATION.

THE CAR HAS UNBELIEVABLE OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS TRAVELING FROM ILLINOIS TO IOWA TO VISIT MY FATHER. DURING THE FIRST 4 HOURS, I HAD TO ADD 4 QUARTS OF OIL. THAN 20 MINUTES FROM OUR DESTINATION, WE HEAR A POP, THE CAR STOPS RUNNING, NO BRAKES AND I AM DOING 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE WITH NO POWER STEERING. I LUCKILY GET THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOW IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE. UPON RESEARCHING ANY ISSUES WITH CTS, I FIND NUMEROUS BLOGS WITH CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME CAR AND ISSUES. MANY OF WHO COMPLAINED TO CADILLAC. WHY HAS THE MANUFACTURER NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS, NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND PREVENT ANY INJURIES OR WORST A POTENTIAL DEATH. WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? THEY KNOW ABOUT THE BLOGS BECAUSE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE WAS ON THERE AFTER SOMEONE SUGGESTED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TRYING TO DEFUSE THE SITUATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP DISCHARGED INTO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE OIL AND ENGINE BEARINGS TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 14V542000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DRIVING FROM A SIDE ROAD ONTO THE 505 FREEWAY, VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP ON THE SLOW LANE. WAS TOWED TO A CADILLAC DEALER. 1/6/14. REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 1/27/2014. DRIVING ONTO I-80. EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED AND WAS TOWED TO SAME CADILLAC DEALER. DEALER ADJUSTED THROTTLE BODY. AM CONCERNED IF PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED.. *TR

ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT ANY WARNING (NOISE, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT) GOING 55MPH DOWN HIGHWAY. ENGINE IS RUINED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND KEPT IT FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS. I HAD ALL ROUTINE AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE DONE BY DEALER. I SOLD THIS TO MY FRIEND WHO THIS HAPPENED TO. I HAVE DETERMINED THIS WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE GM RECOMMENDED 10,000 MILES OIL CHANGE. ENGINE FAILURES APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME TIME ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET AND GM OR MY DEALERSHIP NEVER ONCE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED SOONER OR WARNED ME ABOUT THIS. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IF I WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY WHERE I NORMALLY DO TO BLEND INTO 70 MPH TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO PLACE TO PULL OVER AND COAST TO A STOP AS THERE ISN'T A SHOULDER FOR SEVERAL YARDS. I COULD HAVE VERY WELL BEEN HIT FROM THE REAR AND A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT WITH POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

A FEW WEEKS AFTER MY LATEST OIL CHANGE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SEMI CROWDED CONDITIONS WHEN THE CAR STARTED BUCKING. THE CAR SLOWED AND I HAD TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND ALMOST WAS HIT AS THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND, WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT WHEN I CALLED THE MECHANIC HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS RIGHT AWAY, HE SAID CHECK YOUR OIL AND I DID AND IT WAS NEAR EMPTY. NO OIL IN MY GARAGE, NO OIL IN MY WORK PARKING SPOT, NO VISIBLE LEAKS, BUT ALL THE OIL GONE. IT JUST HAPPENED FOR A SECOND TIME AND WHEN I LOOKED FOR COMPLAINTS ON THE CAR IT IS THE SAME ISSUE TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HOW IS CADILLAC NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. HOW MANY MUST DIE BEFORE IT IS RECALLED? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED HOWEVER, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF TWENTY QUARTS PER MONTH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL AT A NORMAL RATE. THERE WERE NO OIL LEAKS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED PERFORMING AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, BUT THE TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT VISIBLY LOCATE A LEAK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ADVISED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE TWO HOLES IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $6000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO FILED A CLAIM ON BEHALF OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED AND SHUT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HE SMELLED AN UNUSUAL CHEMICAL ODOR WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL ASSISTED WITH EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE IT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

THIS CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL ISSUES THE NEWEST BEING IT STARTED USING EXCESSIVE OIL JUST AFTER THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE PROPER TIMES AND NEVER USED A DROP OF OIL. WHEN IT STARTED USING OIL IT USED FIVE LITERS OF OIL IN JUST 24 DAYS OR 2000 MILES. IT CONTINUES TO USE A LITER EVERY TWO DAYS. DEALER HAS KNOW IDEA WHY THIS IS HAPPENING BUT THE CAR IS BURNING IT, THE WHITE EXHAUST IS VERY EVIDENT. *TR

MY 2005 CADILLAC CTS JUST HIT 63,000 MILES STARTED TO HEAR A CHATTER UNDER THE HOOD WENT TO GO GET A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID TIMING CHAIN AND CRANKSHAFT BALANCER NEED TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE AIRBAG BAG SENSOR WENT BAD CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO KEEP POPPING UP ON DISPLAY AND NOW NEEDS REPLACED. I'M HOPING WE GET ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS FILE A COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO GET A RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 CADILLAC CTS WITH 67,000 MILES. SINCE ABOUT 65,000 MILES CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A RATTLING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE GIVEN THE CAR A TUNE UP, OIL CHANGE AND THE CAR HAS OTHER FLUIDS ARE AT LEVEL. ONCE MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED AND THE GEARS HAVE CHANGED (I.E, SECOND GEAR) THE RATTLING SOUNDS STOPS..THE NOISE IS CONTINUOUS AND ONLY HAPPENS AT ACCELERATION, NOT WHILE IDLING. IN ADDITION EVERY NOW AND AGAIN WHEN A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER GETS IN THE CAR THE AIRBAG SENSOR/LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. UPON DOING MY RESEARCH FOR BOTH THESE ISSUES I FIND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM...HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL BE DONE SO THAT GM CAN ADDRESS THESE SERIOUS ISSUES WITHOUT HAVING THE CONSUMER/OWNERS HAVING TO PAY AN ARM AND A LEG. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS PERTAINING TO THE 2005 CADILLAC CTS 3.6L V6. THE PROBLEM PERTAINS TO THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE OF SAID CAR AT AROUND 80,000 MILES. HAVING DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE COME ACROSS MANY OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS SPANNING THE 2004-2007 MODEL YEARS, WITH COMMON FAILURE RATES SPANNING 20,000, TO 80,000 MILES. THIS HAS COST ME PERSONALLY OVER $1,000 IN PARTS PLUS MY OWN LABOR. IT HAS ALSO COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT GM HAS ISSUED MULTIPLE TSB REPORTS PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL HOWEVER NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. THE COMPANY STILL INSIST THAT THIS VEHICLE(SPECIFIC ENGINE) IS SERVICE FREE UP TO 100,000 MILES, AND MAKES NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER THAT ROUTINE SERVICE (OIL & FILTER). THIS BEING SAID I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA PERFORM AN INQUIRY IN THE FREQUENCY OF THESE PROBLEM AND ENCOURAGES GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS ACCORDINGLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ALL OF THE SAFETY LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.