Cadillac›DTS›2010›Overview/cadillac/dts/2010/base/

2010 Cadillac DTS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 DTS.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2010 Cadillac DTS is a passenger car driven by a four-speed automatic transmission that returns an EPA-rated 15 city and 22 highway mpg, requiring a notable 7.5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil to maintain its operation. For the 2010 model year, the vehicle saw 22 total owner complaints primarily focused on the electrical system, alongside three separate recalls. Yet, when placed within the broader 2006–2011 complaint history of the model, this year represents a significantly improved, late-run iteration that sits far closer to the lowest-complaint year of 2011 than the problematic 2006 peak of 254 complaints.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 720 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. 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 94R · 720 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179
Engine air filter	22676970
Spark plug	12571535
Battery	88865934
Front wiper blades	15931976 alt 19388171
Serpentine belt	12588412 alt 12646194
Thermostat	12559807 alt 12574478
Cabin air filter	25906375

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	207.5 in
Overall width	74.8 in
Overall height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	115.4 in
Curb weight	4008 lb
Track (front / rear)	63 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	113 cu ft
Cargo volume	19 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 DTS of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.0–7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.00 sec — 2006 Performance Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2006	Performance Sedan 4.6L V8	7.00 sec	15.40 sec	291 hp	FWD
2006	Performance Sedan 4.6L V8	7.10 sec	15.40 sec	291 hp	FWD
2006	Luxury III Sedan 4.6L V8	7.70 sec	16.00 sec	275 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 7.5 qt of 5W-30 API 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 15.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	7.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.43 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	720 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	140
Engine Oil Pressure	35 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	2000 rpm

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH RPO J55 / WITH FN3
Torque Caliper to Bracket	46 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	120 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Brake Application	WITH RPO J55 / WITH FN3
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.787 in / 1.496 in / 1.181 in / 0.472 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

37 ft. lbs., step 2: 150

37 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 25,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Injection System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · 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 traces a steady generational improvement for the Cadillac DTS, with owner complaints plunging from 254 in 2006 to just 15 by 2011. The 2010 model sits near the end of this maturation arc with only 22 complaints—down from 35 in 2009 and 86 in 2008—alongside zero investigations and zero fire complaints. While recalls edged up slightly to three from 2009’s two, the data does not specify a root cause, and the total remains within the narrow range observed throughout the generation. Technical service bulletins reached their highest point yet at 1,118, and the top complaint area was the electrical system with seven entries, though the data does not specify underlying causes. Given its position as a late-production year with diminishing complaint volume and no federal investigations, the 2010 DTS is a comparatively sound used purchase provided buyers confirm the three recalls have been addressed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1118

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’06 ’07 ’08 ’09’10’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System7

Air Bags2

Engine2

Seats2

Steering,Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Fuel System, Gasoline,Electrical System1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Suspension,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V355000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 23/06/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on…

10V553000Electrical System:12V/24V/48V Battery:CablesReported 05/11/2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 DTS AND BUICK LUCERNE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE. IF EITHER THE STARTER… Remedy: DEALERS WILL SECURE AND IF NECESSARY REROUTE THE LINES TO PREVENT CONTACT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1118 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 DTS. 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 94R battery Vehicles taking 7.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 22676970 Spark plug 12571535 Battery 88865934

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 2010 DTS take?

7.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 DTS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the DTS get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.