1999 Cadillac CATERA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
76 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 76 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 13 | 17.1% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 15.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Tires: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Steering: 7; Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2000: 14; 2001: 12; 2002: 15; 2003: 12; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2010: 1; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10027084 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN ERROR CODE.*AK THE DEALERSHIP WANTED THE CONSUMER TO INFORM THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AGAIN. THEY WANTED HIM/HER TO LEAVE IT WHEREVER IT BROKE DOWN SO THEY COULD GET AND RESOLVE THE "ERROR CODE". ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CODE WAS DELETED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162469 · 2006-07-15 (July 15, 2006)
ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED BECAUSE OF QUICK DRIVERS REACTION. URGENT ATTENTION REQUESTED. ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START UNTIL AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 86,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002078 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING . PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003359 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THIS CAR WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. FIRST LEFT, THEN RIGHT. WE HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS WITHIN SPECS BUT WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM. TWO DEALERS HAVE NOW TOLD US THAT THIS IS HOW THEY DRIVE. I FEAR THAT IT WILL BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, AND AM ACTUALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT FOR ANY DISTANCE. YOU MUST HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT AND WITH BOTH HANDS AT ALL TIMES OR IT JUST SEEMS TO LEAP FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070309 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND OTHER REPAIRS THAT THANKFULLY WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS WE SPEAK THE CAR IS BEING REPAIR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045138 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
TRANSMISSION CODE AND CLICKING AT 61,000 MILES. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125205 · 2005-06-14 (June 14, 2005)
WHERE DO I EVEN START WITH THE 1999 CATERA THAT I JUST HAD TO TRADE IN THIS WEEKEND DUE TO SO MANY THINGS THAT HAD WENT WRONG WITH THAT CAR. 1ST, WHEN FILLING THE CAR UP WITH GAS, IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. DEALER FIXED 1ST TIME, BUT MESSED UP THE GAS GAUGE. IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER. YOU COULD NOT KEEP A SET OF TIRES ON THE CAR NO MATTER HOW MANY ALIGNMENTS THAT YOU HAD PERFORMED. THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT OPEN MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU TRIED TO OPEN IT, BUT IT WOULD OPEN ON IT'S OWN AT RANDOM. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH TW…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027086 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORKED ON THE FAST SETTING, AND FAILED TO DISENGAGE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF.*AK WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *TS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBELM WAS ELECTRICAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457147 · 2012-05-02 (May 2, 2012)
THE RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I WAS IN HARMS WAY IN THE RAIN AND HAD TO TAKE THE CARE 70 MORE MILES, WHILE I COULD GET OUT OF THE BUFFALO AREA TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR THE NIGHT. THE LIGHTS NEVER WENT OFF TILL THE BATTERY WAS EXHAUSTED. WHEN RECHARGED THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON AGAIN, UNABLE TO BE TURNED OFF. WHEN I MANAGED TO EXCHANGE A RELAY, THE NEXT PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DID RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT NHTSA HAS DIRECTED TO BE FIXED WITHOUT COST, DUE TO I…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 769461 · 2002-11-08 (November 8, 2002)
THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FROM FUEL TANK FILLER DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN TANK IS FILLED AND THE AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLAGE IS DANGEROUS. ALARM AND DOORS DO NOT RESPOND TO KEYLESS REMOTE; CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN AFTER WHEEL ALIGNMENT. DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 769461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8015899 · 2002-08-08 (August 8, 2002)
AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF FROM FUEL TANK FILLER DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN TANK IS FILLED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. CONSUMER HAS HAD FUEL TANK REPLACED BY DEALER TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8015899 at NHTSA ↗