Does anyone else have a problem with their rear door handles?

The handles are the SAME as the front in that when they are lifted they move two levers.

Problem is, on the rear doors the only lever that counts is the one that is closest to the rear of the vehicle. If i or anybody else does not lift the handle close to the rear of the vehicle, the damn door doesnt open!

Countless people have told me "unlock the door!" and i say "it is!"

Its so annoying it takes a couple of tries to open the damn door.

The dealer said its a common problem that cannot be fixed.

Did Cadillac really cut a huge corner so that all four door handles were the same even if the back ones did not work so good?

I'd expect this from a Kia or Tata not a 55,000USD car! A cadillac nonetheless

Do me a favor and please unlock your DTS and lift up on the left side of your back door handles and tell me if you can duplicate the effect.

Thank you!

Thats the first time I have heard of THAT problem.

Just went and checked mine.
Could not duplicate your problem.

I use the back doors several times a week.
I have never had a problem opening them.

To see if this is REALLY a COMMON PROBLEM as your dealer states.... check some of the cars that are on the lot. Se if they also have this COMMON PROBLEM. I don't think they will.

If he can't (or won't) fix it... find another dealer or call Cadillac.

Texas Jim

I had the same problem with my 07 DTS had it back to the dealer once. It still acts up some but it is not a major problem.

Didn't have the problem with the rear door in my '08, but the drivers door was a, ah, witch to open from the outside. The dealer said the latch mechanism was out of tolerance and though he could shim it so that it was easier to open, the real solution was a new latch assembly, which he ordered and installed. No problems since.

Same problem here. its kind of annoying, i have not took it to the dealer yet. It happens often, didnt know there was more of us.:banghead:

Thanks for your replies.

Yeah i was surprised when i came on this forum and ran a search about it and found no threads about it thus far.

It really makes me mad. My 94 is a near perfect cadillac besides the electric locks breaking if someone is holding the handle up while its being unlocked. :banghead:

yeah good idea Superjim i didnt even think of trying to other DTS's on the lot.

Both doors on my '06 and '08 have this problem, but I rarely have anyone or anything in the backseat so I've never been that concerned. I just assumed it was a quirk particular to my car until the same thing occurred on my '08. If my rear doors were in constant use, I can see where it would be a definite annoyance!

I find it very interesting.... how many are having problems with the rear doors.

With RobsDeville's first post, I assumed (and we all know what THAT does)... that it was just a problem with his particular car.

But with all the other posts... I see it is much more common and spread over 2006,2007 and 2008.

I will keep an eye on mine and if it malfunctions, and I find a fix... will post it.
I will also try pulling on the handle different ways... to try to MAKE it malfunction. :)


Texas JIm

I had the same problem with my 2008 Lux III. The dealer replaced both rear door handles and the problem was solved.

i dont know if i made it clear but its the exact same problem on both rear doors as if they were purposefully/ignorantly made that way. And as far as i know those problems with the doors have been like that since the car was brand new so its not some quirky odd problem. Its clearly exactly the same on both rear doors.

Im not really sure what replacing both of them would do but it seems to have worked with BlackDeVille.

Thanks guys

I too have/had a problem with my 2007 DTS rear passenger side door not opening when unlocked. It would sporatically stick and was very frustrating. I just took it to the dealership and they found that the door striker was out of adjustment and said they readjusted it. Too soon to really tell if it resolved the problem but I have my fingers crossed.