The Lemon Index
200720091st generation
Not enough data. Only 16 complaints in its first 3 years: too few to score.
16 owner complaints, first 3 years 18 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2008 Audi A32008 Lexus IS 592008 Cadillac CTS 72
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 11 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 14V355000 (electrical), 10V240000 (electrical) and 08V441000 (electrical) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Do all the seat belts latch and retract?
- Cadillac sent dealers 916 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Check engine light on p2444; the cause may be the engine harness is chafing and shorting on…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Cadillac's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 16 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 34K miles (0K to 55K km) on the car (11 of all 16 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
2008 Cadillac DTS - problem with dash board lights not being reset to bright when in sunlight.
2008 Cadillac DTS owner · NHTSA complaint 10390199
More owner reports
Email forwarded about concerns on gm cadillacs, the turn signal will not turn off unless the vehicle makes a 90 degree turn, was told by dealer that this problem can not be repaired.
NHTSA complaint 10214984
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 6.8M views · 2006–2011 Cadillac DTS
Most-watched topics
- Cooling system170K views
2008 Cadillac dts water pump removal SPOILER ALERT ITS A NIGHTMAREWatch Jeremy Work · 84K views · 4 videos - Steering & suspension168K views
2006-2011 Cadillac DTS repair service suspension messagehome Donald Trump all day · 65K views · 5 videos - Spark plugs & ignition coils144K views
2006 Cadillac DTS - How to replace spark plugsFroztinc · 73K views · 3 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door105K views
How to Replace Temperature Blend Door Actuator 2006-2011 Cadillac DTSTRQ · 61K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors101K views
How to Replace Bank 1 Sensor 1 Upstream O2 Oxygen Sensor 2006-2011 Cadillac DTSTRQ · 47K views · 5 videos - Brakes & ABS77K views
How to Replace High Mount Third Brake Light 2006-2011 Cadillac DTSTRQ · 24K views · 4 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors74K views
How To Replace Window Regulator 2006-2011 Cadillac DTSTRQ · 32K views · 3 videos - Starter, alternator & belts54K views
How to Replace Serpentine Belt Tensioner 2006-2011 Cadillac DTSTRQ · 29K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Cadillac DTS Sedan 1st Generation 2006-20111A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 278K views
2007 CADILLAC DTS 4.6L (LD8), CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS (VERY EASY)PAULY'S AUTO · 9K views
2011 Cadillac DTS Hearse (Halloween Special) Start Up, Exhaust, and In Depth ReviewSaabkyle04 · 448K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2008 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Cadillac told dealers about
Cadillac sent dealers 916 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Check engine light on p2444; the cause may be the engine harness is chafing and shorting on…
- Check engine light on p2444; dtc p2444 is stored in the engine control module
- Pontiac/saturn/buick/gmc/chevrolet/cadillac/hummer: vehicle start and stalls after theft…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- Electrical · recall issued 2014
In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may caus.
- Electrical · recall issued 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALAN…
- Electrical · recall issued 2008
GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON X…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedNon-crash engine compartment fires2008
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,350 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 4.6L 8-cyl.
Every Cadillac DTS year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 4 Cadillac DTS years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2008 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/cadillac-dts/?y=2008" title="Cadillac DTS reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/cadillac-dts/2008/">Lemon Index</a> (2008 Cadillac DTS reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2008 Cadillac DTS reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 16 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2008 Cadillac DTS problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (38%), lights (19%) and seat belts (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Cadillac DTS have?
3 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Cadillac DTS get?
18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2008 Cadillac DTS have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2008 Cadillac DTS cost in fuel a year?
About $3,350 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Cadillac DTS have?
4.6L 8-cyl.
What Cadillac DTS year is better than the 2008?
Nearby, the 2007 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (a bit under half as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works