Problems with 2006 Cadillac DTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Shortly after purchasing my dts i began to notice a melting plastic/smoke smell whenever i would turn on the driver's side heated/ventilated seat heater. i took the car to the dealership and was advised this is a common wiring problem on the buick and cadillac models and that i should stop using the heated seat function because the wiring is undersized and can melt and burn. the dealership told me the new part has been revised to include larger wiring but the part has not been recalled at this time so there was nothing they could do for me. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac dts. the contact stated that the power steering assist and the washer pump sensors failed. the contact also mentioned the vehicle experienced a electrical wiring failure. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who diagnosed that the heated washer fluid module, the power steering gear inlet hose, and a wire harness needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 10v240000 (electrical system), nhtsa campaign number: 06v105000 (steering), or nhtsa campaign number: 08v441000 (electrical system). the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 160,000 and the current mileage was 185,000.

While driving my car the right headlight will go off. you can turn the switch to the off position and then on again and the lights will come back on. after that sometimes both headlights will go and that's a very scary. thing when you have the family that you love and care for in there with you...i have taken the car to the dealership and been told the balance controls are over heating, but in winter i can start the car in the drive way and the lights will flicker and go out both of them.....can gm stand behind there product so we can keep our hard earned dollars in america...... *tr

Tampa fl the headlights will flicker then one of them will shut off, turn the switch on and off the lights will comeback on and then the other will flicker and go off. this will happen while driving .i have replaced one bulb , it stopped for one day then the problem is ongoing,same as the other postings on this side, maybe a recall should be put in place,before somebody will get hurt do to this problem with the headlights shutting off while driving @ night. thank you. *tr

Headlights will go out randomly on either side. *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac dts. the contact stated the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and repaired for a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 10v240000 (electrical system). the contact disagreed with the remedy performed on the vehicle, which consisted of permanently removing the heated washer fluid module which was a safety feature equipped on the vehicle. the contact had concern of potential safety issues during inclement weather conditions. there had not been a failure related to the recall defect.

The right headlight started going on and off for no reason. it might go off while driving or sitting still. it might come back on in a few minutes or stay off for a full evening. sometimes turning lights from automatic to manual will make it work, but not always. it has been doing this since july 2010, or for about 33,000 miles. it is dangerous when driving, plus i have been pulled over by police and so far i have been able to convince them the light had just gone out that evening. now i have to limit my night driving near home, as i do not want the same officer to stop me. i have read many forums plus your site, and i see many, many people with the same problem. i have called the cadillac consumer complaint department and they just say they have never heard of such a problem. i told them to check the internet. today, i called the dealer that i bought it from, out of state, 15 months ago. i explained it and he said he has been selling them for 20 years and has never heard of such a problem. i told him to check the internet. i also asked him to try and get me a number for the cadillac area rep, so i can talk to him. please help before i get a ticket or worse yet hit while turning left at night. thank you *tr

Headlight failure began at approximately 90,000 miles. initially, it started with the interior instrument panel light growing dim and then bright at any given time. then, headlights started doing the same thing. soon thereafter, the right headlight started going out on a regular basis. it would initially flicker, then go totally out. after a few months, the left headlight started doing it. recently, about 18 months after the first incident, they both go out at the same time! during an 80 mile trip i make on a regular basis, at least twice a week, my headlights will go out between 8 and 20 times! i can get them back on by jiggling the on/off light switch. but, one or both will turn back off within a matter of a few minutes. i try to drive during daylight hours as much as possible, but this trip is usually just before dawn or after dusk. i have called the dealer where i purchased the car, and have been told they've not heard of this problem. i don't believe that... all they have to do is talk to other cadillac owners, as i have; or look on the internet. this has to be a widespread problem! in checking with another dealer, they told me it was a ballast problem, and would be between $1400 and $1800 to repair. this is a $7000 car. for cadillac to expect me to pay 20% plus of the car's value to have headlights that work, is way out of line. i purchased this car new at a cost of $44,000. i expect to have headlights that work!! this is a safety issue and cadillac should be responsible for providing a fix! *tr *js

06 cadillac dts has had serious electrical/computer system failures since new. vehicle will suddenly lose all electronics, instruments, lights but engine will still run. after dealer attempted repair, problems continue. headlights flicker and sometimes go out. gps goes to night screen during the day. auto headlight dimmer fails. power points, instruments, seats periodically fail. one day seat cooler will work, others it won't. windshield wipers automatic function, "rainsense" starts normally but then stops in heavy rain requiring manual operation. all items reported to dealer multiple times with the same result "unable to duplicate customer's problem." provided cell phone video of system failures but dealer still says they cannot duplicate. *tr

I have a periodic persistent stalling problem with my 2006 cadillac dts that the dealer has been unable to resolve from about 60,000 miles. the car sometimes just stalls out while at a red light or a stop. this is a dangerous situation with my 2006 cadillac dts. the dealer has been unable to resolve this issue since it began at about 60,000 miles. is this an unsafe manufacturer defect in these cars? *tr

While on a trip in wisconsin, i was traveling at night on a 4-lane highway with two friends in the car at a speed of 65 mph. both headlights went out with no indication of failure on the dash. thankfully, we were the only ones on the road. i slowed down and pulled to the side as best as i could see. upon stopping the car, i switched the light switch on and off several times until both headlights came on again. i pulled back on the road to proceed - again no indication on the dash that anything was wrong with the headlights. a few miles down the road, one headlight went out. i switched the headlights on-off several times and both came on again. i took the car to the dealer on 28sep2009 and they replaced both headlights under warranty. a few weeks later on 4dec2009, i returned the car to the dealer because the right headlight continued to go out with no indication on the dash. the dealer replaced the right headlamp and i had no further problems until recently. i returned the car to the dealer 8nov2013 because the left headlight would go out, come back on, go out, come back on, etc. with no warning or indication on the dash. this is a big safety issue!!!!! if you read some blogs on this problem on the internet, you will find that this is not a unique case - and there is no explanation why it occurs. if the headlights go out, you should get an indication on the dash that a lamp is bad. certainly, both lights should never go out at once while you are traveling. it is extremely expensive to replace headlamps in this car >$550 per light!!!!! more importantly, i cannot believe there is no investigation into this problem. *tr

2006 cadillac dts recall notice for washer fluid heater. consumer have questions about changes to the owners manual and how will the owner know if washer fluid heater will work after the repairs. *nj

2006 cadillac deville console design is faulty, cars slides when making sharp turn. the consumer stated while trying to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start and would not let him pull the key out of the ignition. the consumer stated that the console is in the way, it is located on the wrong side of the car , therefore making it difficult so that the right driving foot gets caught while operating the vehicle. the consumer stated the gas tank cap is difficult to open and the consumer being so tall he would have to bring an object along to close the door so he would not fall out of the vehicle. also, the consumer stated that the vehicle is sliding while making a slight turn and the leather seats get really hot while consumer is driving. *tr

I have a 2006 caddillac dts. there is an intermintent issue with the headlight and dashboard. they sometimes go into the nighttime mode in the daytime and it is very hard to see the dashboard when driving. i' searched google and found that other people have the same issue. gm told me they have no fix for this and it is not a big issue. since they only have few complaints.they di d fix this in the 2007 model but they say even though it is the same model and body they cannot do anything. you also cannot use the flash yo pass headlight in the daytime.it only works in the night mode. *tr

In less than a year this car has had the battery go dead. car wouldn't start. *tr

2006 cadillac dts has had several problems from day one. *nj the day the consumer drove the vehicle off the lot, the tire pressure monitor light illuminated. the vehicle would not start after sitting in the carport overnight. roadside assistance replaced the battery. 3 months later the vehicle failed to start again. the vehicle has been to the dealer seven times for braking problems. the consumer stated every time he applied the brakes, the entire vehicle vibrated/shimmied and when he released the brakes, the noise stopped. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 cadillac dts. the contact stated that her vehicle would occasionally fail to start. the failure has occurred numerous times and the battery has been changed twice. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, but the failure continues. the current and failure mileages were 1,000. updated 01-30-08. *kb updated 01/18/08 *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac dts. the vehicle was parked and the contact attempted to remove the key from the ignition but was unable to because the battery was dead. the contact stated that the battery would fail prematurely approximately every ten days. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the accessories on the vehicle were draining the battery prematurely. the battery was replaced but the failure persisted. the vehicle was not further repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 50.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac dts. the contact stated there is an intermintent issue with the headlight and dashboard instrument panel.they go into the nighttime mode in the daytime and it is very hard to see the dashboard when driving. the contact stated that the dashboard instrument panel goes into night mode when starting the engine as well. the contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer for diagnostic and testing twenty times, in regards to the exterior lighting and electrical system. the dealer was able to duplicate headlight failure, however no repairs had been made to the vehicle at the time of the complaint.the approximate failure mileage was 800. the approximate current mileage was 15000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 cadillac dts. while driving various speeds, the instrument panel and the global positioning system failed numerous times. the dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was unknown.

2006 cadillac dts has problems with the collision avoidance warning sensors. consumer states that the problems are ongoing and believe that gm should buy the vehicle back. *nj the consumer stated the warning sensors failed twice. the consumer stated the failure of the warning sensors, resulted in two minor accidents.*jb

Vehicle will not start. i have had the car since the end of november 2005 and on two occasions the car was dead. i did not buy the car to run everyday or in bad weather. *jb

This problem - the car dies and i lose all power assisted functions like steering and brakes - has happened multiple times, probably two dozen, over a period of time beginning some time in 2006, with model years 2000, 2001, and 2006 sedans. since 1995 i have driven only cadillac. it occurs only when i'm stopped, or rolling at a slow speed, and then begin to accelerate the car, such as has happened many times when i'm in a non-raised center median attempting a left turn against oncoming traffic (i have learned to left lots of room now). i hope i, or someone else in a cadillac, won't have to die or be seriously injured before they admit this problem in their flagship vehicle. i called gm's 'ignition switch recall' line and was told that this sounds exactly like the problem in the other vehicles. *tr