My airbags did not deploy and my traction control failed. The airbag light remains on and there is a faulty code. The vehicle lost ability to control it to turn. I went straight into the fence. The airbags were not addressed by the body shop or repair shop.
2009 Cadillac STS airbags problems
severe 4 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 4 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Cadillac STS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Of the 5 model years of Cadillac STS we track for airbags problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (4).
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Takata recall. Passenger seat, passenger detect sensor (pps) stopped working. No physical damage. Passenger present light says, passenger air bag off. Air bag dash light always on. I checked wiring under the seat and can not visually see any damage to the wiring going to the seat cushion sensor or the seat buckle sensor.
Since may 2015, going down the road the air bag light comes on, then again in june 2015 going down the road the light comes on again and stays on. Once again , in july lights comes back on and stays on has not gone out as of 21 july 2015.. We brought the car in 2014 with only 19,000 miles, the car now only has 32,500 odd miles on it. We need to know if it has a recall , do not feel safe driving…
Started car to pull out of garage airbag light came on. Took to dealer who said airbags are disabled and new module needs changing at cost of $900.00.
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Cadillac STS?
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 airbags problem on the 2009 Cadillac STS?
It's a meaningful issue. 4 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 78,625 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2009/Cadillac/STS.
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.