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U.S. public vehicle records

Cadillac CATERA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

397 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

61,790 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 136 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 397 complaints (14.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5313.4%
Engine operation4711.8%
Steering behavior369.1%
Electrical and battery issues276.8%
Transmission and shifting164.0%
Fuel system concerns71.8%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
59
Tires
39
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
38
Engine And Engine Cooling
36
Electrical System
31
Suspension:Front
29
Unknown Or Other
21
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
19
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine59
Tires39
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline38
Engine And Engine Cooling36
Electrical System31
Suspension:Front29
Unknown Or Other21
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System19

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 59; Tires: 39; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 38; Engine And Engine Cooling: 36; Electrical System: 31; Suspension:Front: 29; Unknown Or Other: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 19

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
31
50,000 to 74,999
52
75,000 to 99,999
26
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,99931
50,000 to 74,99952
75,000 to 99,99926
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 261 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.

2000
58
2001
64
2002
85
2003
49
2004
44
2005
20
2006
19
2007
12
2008
8
2009
11
2010
11
2011
1
2012
8
2013
1
2014
3
2016
2
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200058
200164
200285
200349
200444
200520
200619
200712
20088
200911
201011
20111
20128
20131
20143
20162
20181

2000: 58; 2001: 64; 2002: 85; 2003: 49; 2004: 44; 2005: 20; 2006: 19; 2007: 12; 2008: 8; 2009: 11; 2010: 11; 2011: 1; 2012: 8; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2016: 2; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 47 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 36 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 10003913 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING: THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING/THERE'S A LOUD TAPPING SOUND, THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE POWER LOCKS AT TIMES WON'T UNLOCK/MUST PLAY WITH THE FLOOR SHIFTER, AND THE CLOCK WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, IN REFERENCE TO THE ENGINE. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003913 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10054381 · 2004-01-18 (January 18, 2004)

THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 CADILLAC CATERA IN KINGSPORT, TN DURING A SNOWSTORM. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UN-DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT WITH REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER MODULE AND VALVE/PUMP HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054381 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088743 · 2004-08-28 (August 28, 2004)

-MY 97 CADILAC CATERA STALLED 7/3/04 . -7/6/04 CALLED TRENOR MOTOR COMPANY (SPRINGFIELD, OH). SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO LOOK AT CAR. -7/7/04 IT APPEARED AS THOUGH A RECALL ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY HAD NOT BEEN DONE. PULLED RECORD ON CAR AND FOUND THAT THE RECALL INVOLVING THE TENSIONER PULLEY WORK WAS IN FACT ISSUED (AND PAID FOR) BY GENERAL MOTORS TO TRENOR.-7/17/04 DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER APPROVED TEAR DOWN TIME AT JEFF WYLER, SPRINGFIELD, OH, TO SEE FOR CERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL HAD EVEN BEEN DONE WITH THE STIPULATION THAT IF THE RECA…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,511 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088743 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 567173 · 2002-08-21 (August 21, 2002)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567173 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10065044 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE STEERED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID VEHICLE FROM GOING AUTOMATICALLY TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END WAS BENT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 75,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065044 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10558736 · 2014-01-07 (January 7, 2014)

I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE AND DRIVING OUT OF MY COMPLEX WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TURN IT FOR TWO DAYS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 82,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558736 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016925 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)

I PURCHASED A 1997 CADILLAC CATERA ON JAN 31, 2001 FROM UNITED AUTOMAX IN MEMPHIS, TN. FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. BEGINNING WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY, HEATER CORE REPLACED, ROTORS REPLACED AND WEARING OUT AGAIN WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME. FUSES HAVE BLOWN, RADIATOR FAN ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS. NUMEROUS RECALLS AND ETC. ON APRIL 14, 2003 I TOOK MY CAR TO BUD DAVIS CADILLAC IN MEMPHIS AND REPORTED THAT I COULD SMELL OIL B…

Owner-reported narrative. 65,074 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016925 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032843 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)

ELECTRICAL SMOLDERING FIRE WITHIN THE DASH HARNESS P/N90493373 OF MY 1997 CADILLAC CATERA VIN #[XXX]. NO ACTUAL FLAMES WERE SEEN BEFORE THE 80 AMP MAIN FUSE OPENED. I DID SEE THE ACTUAL HARNESS AT THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP AND MOST IF NOT ALL THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS HAD THEIR SHIELDING MELTED CLEAN AWAY ABOUT 1/2". THE EXPOSED WIRES SHORTED TOGETHER TO CAUSE THE FUSE TO OPEN. I WAS TOLD THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY PEOPLE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING FAILURE BUT THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ACTUALLY ABLE TO MAKE THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 49,343 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032843 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005525 · 2003-02-08 (February 8, 2003)

AT 85,263 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. DEALERSHIP ANALYSIS WAS "TRANSMISSION COMING APART INTERNALLY". NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2997.86. THERE IS NO WAY A TRANSMISSION SHOULD COME APART WITH ONLY 85,000 MILES ON IT. 2ND MAJOR EVENT FOR THIS CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 85,263 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 566232 · 2002-06-24 (June 24, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566232 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10017429 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)

DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP CAUSED VEHICLE TO BECOME DISABLED. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017429 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 751086 · 2001-08-24 (August 24, 2001)

BRAKE INSP.BRAKE REPLACED3/9/00;CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 5/12/00-FUEL INJECTOR DIRTY, REPLACE SENSOR; LEFT WINDOW SLOW IN OPERATION - 6/23/00;INGINTION REMOTE KEY NOT WORKING- TWO REPLACEMENT 6/23/00;CAR JERKING IN SPORT MODE, PRBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS, SUNROOF SLIDES BACK AN FORTH WITHOUT TURNING DIAL,RECALL ON ENGINE CHECK PULLEY 7/05/000; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CAR STALLS7/31/00; VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR BUT TIRES, REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES, I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE TIRE RODS. I ASK FOR A REA SUSP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751086 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19970
19980
19990
20000
20010
20020
20030

1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0

Year-by-year records

Cadillac CATERA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
19971220Not available
19989700
19997600
20006700
20013000
2002200
2003300