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2011 Cadillac STS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 STS.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2011 Cadillac STS is a passenger car equipped with an automatic six-speed transmission and requires six quarts of 5W-30 engine oil, delivering EPA-rated fuel economy of 18 city, 27 highway, and 21 combined mpg. In the broader model history spanning 1998 through 2011, the 2011 model year recorded just seven total owner complaints — far below the 2006 peak of 141 and only slightly above the 1998 low of three — with steering identified as the top complaint area and zero recalls issued. This places the final STS model year among the most complaint-free iterations of the nameplate, suggesting a mature platform with minimal reported issues.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/27/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12577653. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12577653 alt 12687466
Engine air filter	25798271
Fuel filter	25763176
Spark plug	12681660
Battery	88866309
Front wiper blades	22840631 alt 22840632
Serpentine belt	12621991 alt 12578000
Thermostat	12582472 alt 12706566
Cabin air filter	19130403

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	196.5 in
Overall width	72.4 in
Overall height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in
Curb weight	4125 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 27 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	102 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the STS of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.0–6.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.00 sec — 2005 V8 Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2008	V6 Sedan 3.6L V6	6.20 sec	14.70 sec	302 hp	RWD
2008	V6 Sedan 3.6L V6	6.50 sec	14.90 sec	302 hp	RWD
2005	V8 Sedan 4.6L V8	6.00 sec	14.50 sec	320 hp	RWD
2005	V8 Sedan 4.6L V8	6.00 sec	14.60 sec	320 hp	RWD
2005	V8 Sedan 4.6L V8	6.10 sec	14.40 sec	320 hp	RWD
2005	V6 Sedan 3.6L V6	6.80 sec	15.00 sec	255 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.7
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	2.5 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.38 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.73 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	660 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194-225 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-100
Engine Compression	140
Engine Oil Pressure	18 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	2000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH RPO J56 / WITH RPO JE5 & JL9 / WITH FN3
Torque to Knuckle	96 ft-lbs / 88 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	44 ft-lbs / 24 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Brake Application	WITH RPO J56 / WITH RPO JE5 & JL9 / WITH FN3
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.259 in / 1.102 in / 10.23 in / 1.181 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 150

74 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 16

7 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 25,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record for the Cadillac STS shows a significant peak in complaints and recalls between 2005 and 2006, followed by a consistent decline in reported issues. The 2011 model year sits at the end of this downward arc, recording only 7 complaints and 0 recalls, which is a slight increase over the 4 complaints seen in 2010. While complaints have dropped, Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) have risen steadily throughout the generation, reaching a high of 1,236 for the 2011 model. Specific complaints for 2011 are minimal, with single reports involving steering, vehicle speed control, and electrical systems, as well as one reported crash. Given the low volume of complaints and the absence of recalls compared to earlier years, 2011 is a good year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1236

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Steering1

Electrical System,Service Brakes1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Electrical System1

Service Brakes1

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1

Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1236 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific STS. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12577653 Engine air filter 25798271 Fuel filter 25763176 Spark plug 12681660

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2011 STS take?

6 qt of 5W-30 MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 STS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the STS get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined mpg.