2001 Cadillac CATERA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 30 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 13.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Tires: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2001: 3; 2002: 7; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10029815 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED GOODYEAR, EAGLE TIRES, SIZE# P255/55R16, DOT UNKNOWN BLEW OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO SET OF TIRES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057740 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT WHEELS WAS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD AT AN ANGLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK BASED FROM INVOICE FROM DEALER, THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE CATERA ARE DESIGNED TO PITCHED SLIGHTLY INWARD, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR FASTER. ALSO, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT TIRES HAVE TO BE ROTATED REGULARLY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090805 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
NO MONEY HAS CHANGED HANDS YET. 2001 CADILLAC CATERRA IS UNDER WARANTY. FUEL LINE RUPTURED FROM HIGHWAY DEBRIS. PARTS WERE DIFFICULT TO GET. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY SCHOOLING AND PROFESSION. THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINE IS OF A BAD DESIGN, EXPOSED TO HIGHWAY DEBRIS. IT IS NOT COMPLETELY ARMORED OR SHIELDED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, I WAS OUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS. SHE WAS NOT SURE WHAT SHE HIT, BUT SMELLED GASOLINE IMMEDIATELY, PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. APPROX. 1/2 TANK FULL OF GAS WAS QUICKLY PUMPED TO ATMOSPHERE AND TO THE GROUND, DUE TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103086 · 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)
FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES ON 3 OCCASIONS. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40,501MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE 1% NEGATIVE CAMBER WHICH INVOLVED THE ALIGNMENT WAS CAUSING THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE INNER TIRES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120773 · 2005-05-12 (May 12, 2005)
MY VEHICLE'S SPORT SHIFTING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MY CAR WOULD REFUSE TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR UNTIL I DROVE IT FOR A FEW MILES AND/OR TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I WAS IN A LOCAL TOWN WHEN THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHUDDER AND MAKE NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO STATED THE SENDING UNIT FOR THE FLUID FAILED AND IT HAD BURNED OUT THE FIRST GEAR. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I CONTACTED GM HEADQUARTERS AND WAS REFUSED ANY HELP IN FIXING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135829 · 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)
ON 8/20/05, I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT (FILE # 1-357-445-124) WITH CADILLAC CUSTOMER RELATIONS, IN ORDER TO REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR OF TWO SAFETY-RELATED ISSUES AND ONE SERVICE-RELATED ISSUE THAT HAVE COME TO MY KNOWLEDGE RECENTLY. I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES DID NOT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT AND HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING PRIOR TO THE EXPIRING OF THE WARRANTY IN DECEMBER 2004. CAR HAS ONLY 35K MILES AND IS DRIVEN AVG OF 4K MILES PER YEAR. COMPLAINT IS AS FOLLOWS: 1) DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL FACTORY CHROME RIMS: AS PER TIRES PLUS AND LINDSAY CADILLAC SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169576 · 2006-09-29 (September 29, 2006)
PURCHASED 2001 CATERA NEW FROM SIOUX FALLS CAD., SIOUX FALLS, SD. WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON CAR, TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN. CAD. REPLACED TIRES, ALIGNED THE WHEELS WHICH WERE WITHIN CAD. GUIDE. WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON THE REPLACED TIRES, TIRES WERE IRREGULARLY WORN OUT, REPLACED AT HAMIL MOTORS OF SHELDON, IA. WHICH I PAID FOR. CAR ALIGNED AND ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN CAD. GUIDE. BOTH ALIGNMENTS WERE COMPLETED BY CAD. DEALERS. REPLACED TIRES WORE OUT WITHIN 15,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED BY ME FROM OK ONE STOP IN HOSPERS, IA. CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181960 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
TL*- WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 CADILLAC CATERA WITH 76000 MILES FAILURE FOR 15 MILES HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR A HALF HOUR WHEN HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF BECAUSE IT FELT HOT AND HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER'S COAT WAS BURNED, AND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD A BLACK BURN MARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT, NEAR THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT IT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURR…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181960 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.