Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac dts. While driving at various speeds, a strong odor of smoke was present in the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that oil was leaking from the engine gaskets and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown.…
2007 Cadillac DTS engine problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 12 engine complaints filed for the 2007 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
Among the 6 model years of Cadillac DTS in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Cadillac DTS has a well-documented oil leak problem affecting the engine gaskets and seals starting around 55,000 miles and costing $1,000–$3,800 to repair; oil loss can be severe enough to risk engine damage. Additionally, some owners report water pump failure leading to blown head gaskets, unexplained stalling, and at least one case of pulley bracket failure at very low mileage.
Owners of the 2007 Cadillac DTS report two major engine problems. The first and most common is oil leaks from the engine lower end, oil pan gasket, crankcase, and engine seals. Leaks start as early as 5,200 miles but typically appear between 55,000 and 190,000 miles. Owners describe oil pooling under the vehicle, coating the rear quarter panels and trunk lid, and burning off on hot engine parts—producing strong burning odors inside the cabin and visible smoke from under the hood. One owner reported losing a quart every 100 miles. Repair estimates run $1,000–$3,800 for oil pan gasket replacement, master kit gasket replacement, or full engine resealing. At least one owner had the gaskets replaced but the leak recurred.
The second failure mode involves cooling system breakdown and head gasket failure. One owner's water pump leaked, allowing coolant and antifreeze to mix and blow the head gasket, causing the engine to overheat while stopped and stall without warning at 117,000 miles. A third failure is serpentine belt/pulley bracket failure at very low mileage (5,200 miles), where bolts holding the bracket and pulley broke, causing the belt to fall off and leaving the vehicle undriveable.
A fourth report involves an injector control circuit issue at 92,109 miles where spilled oil contaminated fuel injector 8.
Same Cadillac DTS engine reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Oil pan gasket and engine seal leaks
Oil leaks from oil pan gasket, crankcase, and engine lower end seals causing persistent drips underneath vehicle and burning of oil on hot engine surfaces.
When: 55,000–190,000 miles; one case at 5,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pooling under vehicle; Oil film on rear quarter panels and trunk lid; Burning oil odor in cabin (stronger in summer); Smoke from under hood; Oil level warning light illumination; Visible drippy coating of oil underneath car
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pan gasket replacement, master kit gasket replacement, or full engine resealing. Repair estimates: $1,000–$3,800. At least one gasket replacement did not hold; leak recurred.
Water pump leak and head gasket failure
Water pump develops leak allowing coolant and antifreeze to mix inside engine, resulting in blown head gasket and engine overheating.
When: 117,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature gauge spike while stopped; Engine overheat indicator illumination; Temperature gauge normalizing after restart; Vehicle stalling without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump was replaced; blown head gasket was diagnosed but not repaired.
Serpentine belt pulley bracket failure
Bolts securing serpentine belt bracket and pulley break, causing belt to fall off and loss of engine accessory drive.
When: 5,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering (inability to turn wheel); Serpentine belt laying alongside engine; Vehicle becomes undriveable
Repairs/costs cited: Broken bolts on bracket and pulley identified; vehicle required tow.
Fuel injector control circuit oil contamination
Oil spills into fuel injector 8 control circuit from engine seal leakage, causing driveability issues and smoke.
When: 92,109 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shake while driving 25 mph; Light flicker; Fuel odor; Smoke under hood
Codes mentioned: Injector 8 control circuit
Repairs/costs cited: Oil-contaminated injector 8 circuit repaired at dealer.
Unexplained stalling and limp-mode drivability
Engine stalls in traffic without warning and will only operate at 2–3 mph until reset via dealer computer intervention. Issue reoccurs multiple times.
When: Undetermined
Symptoms owners cite: Stalling in mid-traffic; Vehicle limited to 2–3 mph after restart; Problem reoccurs after dealer 'resets something in computer system'
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed computer system reset; root cause not identified or explained.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac dts. The contact could not turn the steering wheel while attempting to pull into a parking space at 5 MPH. He was eventually able to park the vehicle and immediately called the dealer. A mechanic arrived at the scene and found the serpentine belt laying alongside the engine. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The bolts that hold the bracket and pulley…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac dts. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started to shake and the lights flickered. The contact started to smell a fuel odor and noticed smoke under the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the injector 8 control circuit spilled oil into the injector and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Cadillac dts. The contact stated that was smoke around the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that oil was leaking onto the manifold producing the abnormal odor. In addition, the technician stated that the engine needed to be resealed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Had engine trouble with your 2007 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 engine problem on the 2007 Cadillac DTS?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 55,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 92,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2007/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.