2006 Cadillac DTS Electrical System Problems

Driving at night on I-29 South and headlights went off intermittently but not simultaneously. Headlamps continued intermittent cut-out until reached destination (approx 3 hours later). As a safety issue for driving while dark, had both assemblies replaced at Cadillac dealer for approx $3,950.00. Replacement was Cadillac recommendation as it was stated the electronics do fail in these headlight assemblies. After replacement and as a follow-up, new assemblies were installed and are not sealed against the elements. In February 2024, on a 5,000 mile trip, drove several hours during cold, snowy and raining conditions. Both headlight assemblies had a considerable amount of moisture inside the lens housings (see photo). Cadillac dealer did replace one of the new headlight assemblies due to moisture accumulation in assembly under parts warranty, but not both.

While driving at night in July, 2023 on [XXX] , both headlights began to go out intermittently but not simultaneously. Continued driving for approximately 3 hours to final destination. Took to local Cadillac dealer for diagnostics (Invoice [XXX]) and after dialogue with dealer had both assemblies replaced as was informed the electronics have been noted to fail in these assemblies. I replaced both assemblies for approximately $2,950.00 (Invoice [XXX}). As a follow-up, during a recent 5,000 mile trip during February 2024, driving in cold, rain, snow and road spray conditions for days, both headlight assemblies accumulated a significant amount of moisture (see photo) behind the lenses. Cadillac dealer did replace left assembly (drivers side) under parts warranty but not the right side. Both headlight assemblies are operating without incident since replacement, except as noted above on assemblies not sealed against environment/elements. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2006 Cadillac DTS. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start as needed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic however, no failure was found. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and no failure was found. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated there was a button on the radio that was stuck, causing the battery power to be drained. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 78,000.

PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER CHECKING ALTERNATOR, CURRENT WHILE REMOVING FUSES, CURRENT WHILE IN 'SLEEP' MODE, AND REPLACING BATTERY THREE TIMES THE CAR WILL RUN FOR TWO DAYS, ON THE THIRD DAY IT WILL NOT CRANK AND THE BATTERY IS TOTALLY DEAD. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT SHUTS OFF AND ON OR FLICKERS - MOST NOTICEABLE DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. OUR DEALER, ED SHULTS CHEVROLET, ADVISED US THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF THE CADILLAC CTS WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. WE WANTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY WHEN ALL OF THE TESTIMONIALS FROM OTHER 2006 CADILLAC OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY DEALER STATED IT HAD TO DO WITH WHERE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THE TOTAL CHARGE TO US WAS $901.80 TO REPLACE THE LIGHT + LABOR. THIS WAS PROBABLY HAPPENING ALL THE TIME WE WERE DRIVING BUT WE ONLY BEGAN TO NOTICE IT DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, MOST ESPECIALLY DRIVING BACK FROM THE BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE THRUWAY. WE LIVE IN THE CITY OF JAMESTOWN, NY SO IT WASN'T REALLY NOTICEABLE BECAUSE OF THE CITY LIGHTS. AFTER THAT, WE WERE MORE DILIGENT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND DISCOVERED0 IT WAS ON A DAILY THING. THAT WAS VERY SCARY.

I HAVE 70.000 MILES AND NOT ONLY JUST HAVE TO GET NEW AIR CONDITIONING NOW I AM BACK IN SHOP AND MY CAR IS NOW MISFIRING ON 3 PISTONS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR AND 70,000 MILES I HAVE BABIES I HIS CAR WITH MOST EXCEPT ENDIVE HAS AND OIL CHANGES PER R COMMENDED MILEAGE. I HAVE ANOTHER CAR AT DEALERSHIP TOO AND WOULD HATE TO THINK IT IS DEALERSHIP BUT BETWEEN THE 2 I HAVE SPENT OVER 15,999 IN REPAIRS AND THE DENELLLI NOW ALSO HAS ISSUE WITH AIR. THAT TOO IS 2006 AND 70,000 MILES.

HEADLIGHT BALLAST FAILURE DUE TO POOR HEADLIGHT DESIGN WITH HOUSING ETC... CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO SHUT OF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO MOISTURE. HAPPENED AT NIGHT. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND CURIOUS AS TO WHY NO RECALLS?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP FLICKERED AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. BENNETT CHEVROLET (6721 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESET THE LIGHT SWITCH BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH FOR THE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A BULB OR WIRE CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT NOT WORKING.

HEATED SEAT ELEMENT NOT WORKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOBIK AND IGNITION KEY FAILED TO OPEN THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY FOBIK BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GAUGES FAILED TO OPERATE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND ALL OF THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATED 03/10/16*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEYS COULD BE REMOVED OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE IN THE ON POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN MOVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, ALSO CAUSES MOTOR TO RUN ROUGH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT DOING 70 MPH...BEGINS FLICKERING, AND THEN OUT. HAVE READ 2006 CADILLAC COMPLAINT FORUMS AND THEY ARE NUMEROUS..BOUGHT CAR USED FROM DEALER...PREVIOUS ONE-OWNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,700.

HEATED/COOL SEATS STOP WORKING. *TR

2006 CADILLAC DTS. IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. TWO IGNITION KEYS MODIFIED. *MW THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TWO REPLACEMENT KEYS FOR HIS AUTOMOBILE OR SEND MODIFICATION PARTS. *JB