2009 Cadillac STS
Showing the 2009 STS L. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
- Fuel economy
- 17–20 mpgcombined; city 15–17, highway 22–26; every version of this model year
- Five years of fuel
- $16,240–$23,670U.S. average; Ohio $14,510–$22,310 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
- Recall campaigns
- 0none on file
- Owner complaints
- 15filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales
Trims
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2009 STS. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Problems owners report
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 STS. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
| Part | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Traction control system | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 more part
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
Recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 STS. NHTSA's recall lookup checks a specific VIN.
Service bulletins and investigations
Carmakers sent NHTSA 1,081 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2009 STS, the latest on Sep 9, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (492), electrical system (219), engine and engine cooling (127), engine (96), power train (93).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2009 STS.
Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. Each version EPA tested:
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City / hwy / comb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STS Rear-Wheel Drive | 3.6 L, 6 cyl | Automatic (S6) | Regular Gasoline | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| STS 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 3.6 L, 6 cyl | Automatic (S6) | Regular Gasoline | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| STS Rear-Wheel Drive | 4.6 L, 8 cyl | Automatic (S6) | Premium Gasoline | 15 / 24 / 18 |
| STS 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 4.6 L, 8 cyl | Automatic (S6) | Premium Gasoline | 15 / 22 / 17 |
Sources and dates
- U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
- NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data