NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Cadillac STS Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Cadillac STS has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 7 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Cadillac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Cadillac STS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 Cadillac STS owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Cadillac STS, describing incidents dated February 3, 2003 to November 8, 2016.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 3 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10935327 · Filed December 14, 2016
104,000 MILES - TOTAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING ON STREET AT 35 MPH. MANAGED TO PULL OVER THEN GOT CAR TO GOODYEAR. BRAKE FLUID DRAINED OUT COMPLETELY BECAUSE OF BRAKE LINE TAPPING AGAINST TRANSMISSION CASING OVER TIME. CASING WAS DENTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. WAS 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM GETTING ON…
ODI #10633834 · Filed September 17, 2014
WHILE DRIVING EVERY SHUTS DOWN HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK TO RESTART CAR. *TR
ODI #10566171 · Filed February 26, 2014
I HAVE READ ABOUT THE GM RECALL. I HAD A 2002 CADILLAC. THE CAR DIED TWO DAYS IN A ROW WHILE I WAS DRIVING. COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. I CALLED GM. THEY SAID TAKE TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER "REPAIRED THE IGNITION". THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A…

Read all 7 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2002 Cadillac STS as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 Cadillac STS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Cadillac STS.

Service Brakes

ODI #10935327

Incident: November 8, 2016 · Filed: December 14, 2016

104,000 MILES - TOTAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING ON STREET AT 35 MPH. MANAGED TO PULL OVER THEN GOT CAR TO GOODYEAR. BRAKE FLUID DRAINED OUT COMPLETELY BECAUSE OF BRAKE LINE TAPPING AGAINST TRANSMISSION CASING OVER TIME. CASING WAS DENTED IN SEVERAL PLACES. WAS 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM GETTING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. SEE THIS SAME DESIGN FLAW OF THE LINE PLACEMENT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS. GOD IS GOOD AND WAS WATCHING OVER ME FOR SURE. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10633834

Incident: September 3, 2014 · Filed: September 17, 2014

WHILE DRIVING EVERY SHUTS DOWN HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK TO RESTART CAR. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10566171

Incident: February 3, 2003 · Filed: February 26, 2014

I HAVE READ ABOUT THE GM RECALL. I HAD A 2002 CADILLAC. THE CAR DIED TWO DAYS IN A ROW WHILE I WAS DRIVING. COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. I CALLED GM. THEY SAID TAKE TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER "REPAIRED THE IGNITION". THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY SAID THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MINE HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED BUT THEY SAID IT COULD HAVE HAPPEN ANYTIME. I NO LONGER HAVE THE CAR. *TR

Steering; Suspension; Wheels

ODI #10475538

Incident: March 28, 2012 · Filed: September 16, 2012

CAR STARTS TO SHAKES IN FRONTEND OF CAR AT 50 TO 70 MPH. SYSTEM STABILITY NOTIFICATION COMES ON. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND MECHANICS CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NEW TIRES AND CALIBRATION DOES NOT HELP. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10305857

Incident: January 15, 2010 · Filed: February 4, 2010

I HAVE A 2002 CAD. STS WITH 81,000 MILES. ABOUT 2WEEKS AGO THE WARNING LIGHT STATING CHECK BRAKE FLUID. I CHECKED IT AND ADDED SOME. IT DID IT AGAIN A WEEK LATER BUT THE BRAKES ALMOST FAILED. I TOOK IT TO A GMC DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE BRAKE LINE BROKE BECAUSE IT WAS RUBBING ON THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOLD ME HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO WORKED AS SERVICE MANAGER FOR A GMC DEALER AND HE STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN. HE GAVE ME A PHONE AT GMC TO CALL. THE # 800-458-8006 THEY GAVE ME A SERVICE #. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM 866-790-5700 X21073. AFTER 2 DAYS THE MAN TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP ME CAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND HAD 81,000 MILES. THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10276725

Incident: July 12, 2009 · Filed: July 14, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC FOUND HOLES IN THE BRAKE LINE THAT WERE THREE INCHES APART, WHICH RUBBED AGAINST THE HOUSING FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE MUST TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO CONFIRM THAT THE FAILURE EXISTED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF SHE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. SHE BELIEVES THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,700.

Engine and Engine Cooling; Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10265356

Incident: April 14, 2009 · Filed: April 14, 2009

NORTHSTAR ENGINE BLOCK IS LEAKING OIL. POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRE VIA ENGINE OIL DRIP TO EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TR

Other Cadillac STS model years

Check your 2002 Cadillac STS VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Cadillac STS at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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