VIBRATION OR BUZZ FELT IN ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDAL.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Cadillac DTS cruise control problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
When does it fail?
Of the 11 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Cadillac DTS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Cadillac DTS shows a pattern of cruise-control failures across 11 complaints. The most consistent issue is downhill speed control: owners report the cruise control routinely allows speed to climb 15–20 mph beyond the set point on modest grades, forcing continuous braking. One owner documented hitting 85 mph while the system was set for 70 mph. Dealers and GM acknowledge this as design-related and offer no mechanical fix.
A second pattern involves unexpected acceleration when re-engaging cruise control after deceleration — the vehicle overshoots the preset speed by 5–10 mph instead of smoothly returning to target.
Separate complaints describe engine RPM failing to drop after throttle release, staying at 1800–2300 rpm instead of returning to idle, particularly on freeway exit ramps. One owner's adaptive cruise control falsely detected a vehicle ahead when exposed to police radar, triggering emergency braking three times near police cruisers.
In hilly driving, several owners report the engine surging forward (600–700 rpm increase) with the throttle off, particularly around 20–25 mph, forcing continual brake application. Dealers tested vehicles multiple times but found no faults and advised working around the behavior rather than fixing it.
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise-control speed overshoot on downhill grades
The cruise control fails to hold the set speed when descending grades. Instead of maintaining the target speed, the vehicle accelerates beyond it — sometimes 15-20 mph over the set point — and requires excessive braking to regain control. Owners report the car freewheels as fast as gravity allows on downgrades. The dealer's documented position in at least one case was that this is by design.
When: Occurs on downhill grades of 3% or greater, repeatedly during normal driving in hilly areas
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle continues accelerating on downhill while cruise control engaged; Speed exceeds set point by 15-20 mph on mild grades; Driver must apply excessive braking to control speed; Vehicle downshifts abruptly in attempt to slow; Unsafe driving condition created
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer response documented: 'This is the way it is' and 'due to the vehicle's design.' One dealer advised turning off cruise control on hills and using brakes instead. No mechanical fix offered by GM.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Cadillac confirmed no fix available for this issue. Dealer diagnostics found nothing wrong; attributed to design.
Cruise-control unintended acceleration on re-engagement
When cruise control is re-engaged after being disengaged at a lower speed, the vehicle accelerates abruptly and excessively instead of smoothly returning to the previously set speed. The vehicle may overshoot the target speed by 5-10 mph before settling, and sometimes downshifts unexpectedly during this event.
When: Occurs randomly when re-engaging cruise control after deceleration; cannot be consistently reproduced
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt acceleration when re-engaging cruise control; Speed overshoots preset value by 5-10 mph (e.g., 40 mph set point reaches 45-50 mph); Unexpected downshifting during acceleration; Violent or jerky acceleration sensation; Unpredictable nature makes it hazardous
Engine idle/RPM control failure after accelerator release
The engine speed does not drop normally after the driver removes their foot from the accelerator. RPM stays elevated at 1800-2300 range instead of returning to idle. This occurred on freeway exit ramps (4 times) and in city traffic (2 times). Dealer inspected for floor mat interference and found none, but still incorrectly blamed the floor mat.
When: Occurred 6 times total; primarily on freeway exit ramps after braking; also in city traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM remains at 1800-2300 after throttle released; Normal deceleration does not occur; Vehicle maintains elevated engine speed on exit ramps and city streets; Slow deceleration when coasting
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer incorrectly blamed floor mat; owner confirmed floor mat was not interfering.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed checks but concluded floor mat was cause, despite owner verification otherwise.
Adaptive cruise control radar interference false trigger
The adaptive cruise control radar detects an object immediately in front of the vehicle when none is actually present, triggered by police radar units. The system sounds a proximity alarm and applies brakes as strongly as possible. Owner reported three episodes with Florida State Police and Hillsborough County Police radar units — both when following a police cruiser at a distance and when passing a parked police car perpendicular to the road.
When: Occurred 3 times near police radar units; documented near police cruisers at 200+ feet away and when passing parked cruisers
Symptoms owners cite: False proximity warning alarm sounds; Unexpected emergency braking applied; Indicates car immediately ahead when none is present; Occurs near active police radar units; System re-engages as owner passes through radar cone
Repairs/costs cited: Owner was able to disengage cruise control and manually accelerate to regain speed and avoid rear-end collision.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer tested unit and validated alignment; unit tested error free per dealer diagnostics. No acknowledgment of radar interference issue.
Unexpected surging during low-speed downhill driving
When driving downhill or in low-speed curves (20-25 mph), the vehicle surges forward with the throttle off, applying gas on its own. This happens regardless of gear selection (1st, 2nd, or overdrive). Owner lives in hilly area where this occurs on nearly every drive. Occurs even when parking and attempting low-speed maneuvering.
When: Every time owner drives in hilly terrain; occurs at 20-25 mph in curves and on hills; also observed in parking lot
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward with foot off throttle; Engine RPM increases 600-700 RPM unexpectedly; Occurs around 25 mph or 1000 RPM threshold; Happens in 1st, 2nd, and overdrive gears; Driver must continually apply brakes to maintain safe speed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer technician (Rich Tretheway, Weaver Dealership) could reproduce one surging problem but not the parking-lot version. Recommended solution: always drive in overdrive and use brakes instead of engine braking/downshifting.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Cadillac stated 'no fix for this problem.' Dealer tested vehicle twice over several days with no resolution offered. No mechanical repair available from GM.
Cruise control failure to hold speed on extended downhill
During prolonged downhill descent, the cruise control does not maintain the set speed and allows the vehicle to accelerate excessively. Owner engaged cruise at 70 mph, began downhill, and speed increased to 85 mph without slowing despite continuous braking. Vehicle also exhibits very slow deceleration on flat roads after throttle is released.
When: Occurred on steep downhill gradient on I-88; also exhibits slow deceleration on flat roads after throttle release
Symptoms owners cite: Speed increases on steep downhill with cruise engaged; Vehicle reaches 85 mph when set for 70 mph; Cruise control does not apply downhill braking; Very slow deceleration when foot removed from gas on flat roads (takes 3/10 mile to begin slowing); Driver must use brake pedal continuously on downgrades
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My 2006 Cadillac dts has adaptive cruise control. I have experienced 3 episodes of police radar interference with this feature. The symptom is that the cc indicates that a car is immediately in front of the vehicle. It sounds the alarm and applies the brakes as strongly as the feature allows. The workaround is to immediately hit the gas or kill the cc to get back up to spped and avoid a rear…
Cruise control fails to hold set speed at downgrades of 3% or greater. Vehicle continues to increase speed, causing unsafe driving condition. Driver must provide excessive braking to control vehicle speed on downgrades. *nm
An example of the cruise control concern is as follows; if the cruise control has been engaged at some speed,lets say 40 MPH and then disengaged and the car decelerates to say about 30mph then engage the cruise control again instead of smoothly accelerating back up to the previously set 40 MPH the car abruptly accelerates and sometimes downshifts and the speed can go up to 45 or 50 MPH before it…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Cadillac DTS?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Cadillac DTS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 35,990 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Cadillac/DTS.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.