1997 Cadillac CATERA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
64,414 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 122 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 13.9% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.5% |
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 | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Suspension:Front | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Suspension:Front: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 7; Electrical System: 6; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6
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 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 97 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 | 21 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 42 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 21; 2001: 23; 2002: 42; 2003: 15; 2004: 14; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000804 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
THEIR ARE TO MANY PROBLEMS AND TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO LIST!!! I EXPERIENCED FOUR RECALLS AT ONCE ON JULY 25TH, 2002. THE TECHNICIANS ARE OBVIOUSLY INCOMPENTENT OR HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO FIX THIS VEHICLE CORRECTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER GIVEN RUN AROUND. I SUFFERED A CATROSTROFIC ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF LOW COOLANT IN MY ENGINE WHEN FAILURES OCCURRED. LETTERS FROM GM STATE VEHICLES CAN SUFFER ENGINE DAMAGED OR ENGINE FAILURE AND THAT THEY WILL COVER THE LOSSES AND AT NO COST TO ME. I HAVE TO PAY FOR T…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,237 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000804 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10022053 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 3/9/03 ,AND IN APRIL STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE BEGUN TO SMOKE, SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHERE SHE PURCHASED IT, AND THEY COULD NOT TELL HER WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY SENT THE VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE HAS BEEN CUTTING OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN, VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT CUT OFF, AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022438 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER VALVE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027337 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DETERIORATED, WHICH CAUSED A MISALIGNMENT OF THE HEADLIGHTS. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CADILLAC REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF EACH HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029402 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
FOR THE LAST FOUR DAYS THE IGNITION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY LOCKED. THE KEY CANNOT TURN. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029402 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.