Should I buy a 2006 Cadillac DTS with documented steering problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented steering issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2006 Cadillac DTS steering problems

severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$700

4crashes

1fire

5injuries

When does it fail?

Of the 32 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Cadillac DTS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.

0-25k

0 (0%)

25-50k

0 (0%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

1 (100%)

100-125k

0 (0%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

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

Of the 4 model years of Cadillac DTS we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 32.

No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 06V105000 April 5, 2006

On certain vehicles equipped with a v8 engine,the power steering hose connectors may have been inadequately crimped which could result in a fluid leak

If this were to occur, power steering assist may be lost and increased steering effort would be required at low speeds. Also, if the power steering fluid were to contact hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could occur.

Fix: Dealers will replace the power steering gear inlet hose. The recall began on march 29, 2006. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.

Service Bulletin 03-00-91-001I Nov 2023

This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 120232002B Jun 2020

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin PI0671A Mar 2017

This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin PIC3278G Feb 2017

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone calls. Technician will need to determine what type of call the customer is having that is unwanted. The vehicle may receive an incoming call just like any other phone. Typically the customer will hear the phone ringing in the vehicle. This scenario also includes incoming Bluetooth calls. One type of unwanted call can be made if the key pad is faulty the OnStar system will try to make a blue button call for shorted voltage in the circuits. The OnStar module could have an internal fault and produce a ″Phone Unavaila

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 12-02-32-002A Jun 2013

This technical bulletin provides a revision for 12-02-32-002 to add the 2013-2014 model years, add noise as a possible condition and add a Note in the Instructions section.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2006 Cadillac DTS steering system generates two persistent complaint patterns. The first is power steering hose failure: owners report high-pressure hoses developing cracks or leaks at crimp points starting as early as 30,000 miles, spraying fluid onto hot engine parts and triggering smoke or burning smells. When steering assist is lost, drivers must fight the wheel manually at speed—a genuine safety hazard. The second is steering wheel lockup: the wheel suddenly becomes unmovable or requires engine restart to free up, sometimes occurring at highway speeds and occasionally paired with loss of brakes or exterior lighting.

Beyond those headline failures, owners document steering sensitivity issues (vehicle veering or drifting without driver input), a persistent front-end click or knock that dealers can't diagnose, and electrical wiring problems that short out the steering system. A critical frustration runs through these complaints: NHTSA Campaign 06V105000 exists for power steering hose defects, and Campaigns 06V105000 and 14V355000 cover related steering and electrical issues, but Cadillac excludes thousands of VINs that exhibit the same failures, forcing owners to pay $500–$650 out-of-pocket. Dealers have repeatedly told owners the repairs aren't covered despite the vehicle matching the recall criteria.

Failure modes owners describe

Power steering hose failure (leaks/rupture)

High-pressure power steering hose develops holes, cracks, or leaks at crimps, spraying fluid onto engine and causing loss of steering assist. Fluid contacts hot engine parts and smokes. Owners report this occurs across a wide mileage range and many reference NHTSA Campaign 06V105000 but claim their VINs were excluded despite having identical failures.

When: 30,000–160,000 miles; failures reported on early model year units (Feb–Mar 2006 build dates)

Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist or extremely difficult steering; Visible fluid leak under hood; Burning smell or smoke from engine compartment; Growling noise from steering column

Repairs/costs cited: Hose replacement costs owners $500–$650 out-of-pocket when not covered by recall. Owners cite TSB 03-06-01-027A mentioning oil pan gasket repairs requiring engine removal.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 06V105000 (Steering: Hydraulic Power Assist) exists but GM denies coverage for many VINs, claiming they fall outside the build-date window (Dec 2005–Feb 2006), even when owners' cars are from Mar 2006 or later and exhibit identical failures.

Steering wheel lockup/seizure

Steering wheel becomes unresponsive or locks completely, often coinciding with electrical faults. Multiple narratives describe this occurring while driving at highway speeds, sometimes paired with loss of braking or exterior lighting failure, creating dangerous loss-of-control events.

When: 35,000–154,000 miles; occurs at various speeds (25–60 mph) and sometimes at standstill

Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly seizes or becomes extremely stiff; Requires engine restart to restore steering function; Often accompanied by exterior lighting failure; Can occur without warning at speed

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced power steering pump, steering gear, and steering valve in some cases; repairs often unsuccessful. One owner reports electrical wiring worn due to loose engine bracket causing short circuit.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System) covers some of these vehicles; however, multiple owners report their VINs were excluded. No formal TSB or remedy offered for those outside recall scope.

Steering responsiveness/sensitivity issues

Steering exhibits excessive sensitivity, pulling to one side without corrective input, or requiring abnormal force to turn. Some owners report the vehicle veers or switches lanes on its own, particularly on wet roads or at highway speed.

When: 24,000–90,000+ miles

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls hard to right or left; Steering wheel oversensitive; minor input causes major direction change; Vehicle drifts or switches lanes without driver input; Steering wheel locks up when wet

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have performed multiple alignments without resolving the issue; one owner reports power steering pump replacement. Rack and pinion replacement recommended in at least one case but not completed.

Steering column click/knock at low speed

Distinct clicking or knocking sensation felt in steering wheel and front-end area, especially when turning slowly or at standstill. Present even at 23,000 miles and noted on multiple vehicles of the same model year. Dealers unable to identify source or remedy.

When: 23,000+ miles; affects multiple units of similar vintage

Symptoms owners cite: Audible and tactile click/knock in steering column or front wheels; Occurs during low-speed turns and standstill steering input; Can be felt through the wheel

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Dealers told owners to 'live with it' and found the same noise on other vehicles with higher mileage.

Power steering component wear/noise

Squeaking or growling sounds from steering system, sometimes requiring replacement of steering gear, steering valve, or power steering pump. Failures continue even after parts replacement.

When: 17,400–48,900 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Squeaking noise from steering wheel at low speed (approx. 15 mph); Growling/abnormal noise from steering; Persists at highway speeds in some cases

Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports steering valve and steering gear replaced after nine dealer visits; pump replaced in another case. Failures recurred after repairs.

Electrical wiring failure affecting power steering

Wiring to power steering system becomes worn, corroded, or damaged, leading to short circuits and loss of steering function. One owner documents loose engine bracket causing vibration that damaged steering wiring.

When: 35,000–160,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist fails without warning; Wiring shorts or burns out; Burning smell from electrical system

Repairs/costs cited: Heated washer fluid module, power steering gear inlet hose, and wire harness replacement needed in one documented case. Some repairs not completed due to recall exclusion.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reported not covered by Campaigns 10V240000, 06V105000, or 08V441000 despite matching symptoms.

Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 2 most recent

steering · filed 12/27/2012

Power steering is not in effect while turning steering wheel. Have to use extra effort while turning, especially in tight spacing or low speeds. *tr

steering · 90,932 mi · filed 12/16/2014

The power steering quit working while I was driving...then a few seconds later, the car shut off while I was still driving. I was only going about 35 MPH and I was able to turn onto a side street, though it was very difficult to turn the car because the power steering had quit working. I was later informed by a mechanic at aaa that a bracket that connects the engine to the car's frame had come…

Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2006 Cadillac DTS?

It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 45,000 and 116,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 116,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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.