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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1997 Cadillac Catera.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,650 |
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1997 Cadillac Catera. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
No recalls found for the 1997 Cadillac Catera.
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
TENSIONER PULLEY LOCKED UP. THE TENSIONER STOPPED TURNING. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE DRIVE BELT SHREDDED LIKE SPAGHETTI AND THEN MELTED. I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY APPLYING BRAKES AND THEN HAVING THE CAR TOWED. TOTAL REPAIR COST: $729. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC CATERA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. ON MAY 2, 2007 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ANTIFREEZE LINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,100, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,600.*AK
1997-1999 CADILLAC CATERA DOOR LATCH FAILURES. PER THE YAHOO GROUP WEB SITE I BELONG TO, CATERA OWNERS, THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS CHRONIC DOOR LATCH FAILURES, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE OR NOT LATCHING. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY OWN VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THIS DEFECT. THE LATCHES HAVE PLASTIC THAT BREAKS AND JAMS THE MECHANISM. OR SIMPLY FAIL TO LATCH OR UNLATCH. I HAVE HAD BOTH SITUATIONS. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN OR WILL NOT CLOSE (LATCH). I FEEL THIS DEFECT HAS BY PURE LUCK NOT CAUSED (ANY KNOWN) FATALITIES, BUT, ONLY A MATTER OF TIME AND WARRANTS A LOOK. *NM
The 1997 Cadillac Catera has 0 NHTSA recalls and 189 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER OPENING THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE THE TRUNK FELL ON HIM. THE SUPPORTS THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO KEEP THE TRUNK IN THE OPEN POSITION FAILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE LIFT SUPPORTS. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUNK OR SIGNS OF RUST. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
MY VEHICLE IS A 97 CADILLAC CATERA AND HAS HAD THE STARTER REPLACED AND STILL WILL NOT START. TWO CAR LOTS HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP NOW AND THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THEY SAY THAT ITS THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR BUT STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET I'M WONDERING WHY CADILLAC HAS NOT NOTIFIED PEOPLE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I'M BEING TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CATERAS OF THEM NOT STARTING. *JB
DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ON, ALL THE GAUGES STARTED JUMPING AROUND, WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS PUSHED FORWARD THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR LONGER. ALSO, WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE CONTROL IS PULLED BACK THE HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY, THE AIR CONDITION CONTROLS DID NOT WORK, AND THE O2 SENSOR DID NOT RESPOND. THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES HAVD BEEN REPLACED. *AK
VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND PERFORMANCE IS STILL UNSATISFACTORY. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE REAR TAIL PIPE.*AK
-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 RECALL HAD BEEN DONE (IMPLYING THAT THE NEW RECALL PULLEY HAD BEEN PUT ON BUT WENT BAD) GENERAL MOTORS WOULD "STAND BEHIND" PRODUCT, PAYING TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. IF PULLEY HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED, "STOP" AND SEND BACK TO THE DEALER THAT WAS PAID TO PERFORM RECALL-- NUMBER 02041A (WHICH WOULD BE TRENOR). -7/20/04 TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER AT JEFF WYLER, CAME TO ME AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PULLEY HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. I WENT TO TRENOR TO SEE MR. ED TEHAN, WHO ADMITTED THAT IF THE PART WASN'T BAD, THE PART WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE TECHNICIAN IN A RECALL! HE ALSO REFUSED TO SHOW A PARTS STAMP ON ORIGINAL REPAIR ORDER. RECALL DIRECTIONS FROM DEALERWORLD.COM (GM'S WEBSITE FOR RECALLS AND VEHICLE HISTORY) STATE "IF TENSIONER PULLEY HAS BLACK BEARING SEAL, THEN REPLACE WITH A PULLEY HAVING BROWN SEALS [GIVEN IN PULLEY KIT FOR RECALL, NEW PART KIT NUMBER 55352000, AND ADDITIONAL PULLEY NEW NUMBER 90573616]". PART NUMBER ON PULLEY FOUND IN MY CAR HAS PART NUMBER 337092CA (THE SEAL IS ALSO NOT BROWN, AS THE NEW ONE SHOULD BE, IT IS BLACK) AND ACCORDING TO NATIONAL TRAFFIC SAFETY ADM. AND GENERAL MOTORS, SHOULD BE REPLACED. TRENOR MOTORS FAILED TO ACTUALLY PERFORM RECALL THEY WERE PAID TO DO. -I HAVE THE ACTUAL (ORIGINAL) PULLEY, PICTURES, NUMEROUS DOCUMENTS, TEN TECHNICIANS TO CORROBORATE ON THESE ISSUES. *JB
WHILE STARTING PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE AIMING MECHANISM ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1997 CADILLAC CATERA FAILED AND LEFT ME WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED AT THE GROUND AND UNABLE TO RE-AIM THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON ON THESE HEADLIGHTS, AND THERE IS NO FIX FROM GM EXCEPT TO BUY ENTIRE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT $500 EACH. THE REPLACEMENT UNITS ARE MADE ENTIRELY DIFFERENTLY (AND DO NOT FAIL) SO IT OBVIOUS GM KNOWS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. *NM
HEAD LIGHT AIMERS BROKE, CAN NOT ADJUST HEAD LAMPS. PLASTIC PARTS BROKE INSIDE HEAD LAMP CAPSULE.*AK
THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 2/8/04 FOR RECALL 2041, 1037. TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND IT WAS OVER ONE INCH BELOW FULL, HE ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVEWAY FOR ANY ANTIFREEZE AND CHECKED WHERE YOU PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF EXTERNAL LEAKS, BUT A WHITE MILKY SUBSTANCE UNDER THE OIL CAP. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE. I EMAILED GM ABOUT THIS. THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE! WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR DAN HEMM CADILLAC, MR. CHARLIE CAROLL. HE IS AWARE OF YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE COOLANT LEVEL FOR THE 1997 CADILLAC CATERA. HE IS WILLING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE CONCERN IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL 02041, AND THEY WILL NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY. HE HAS ALSO INFORMED US THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THE RECALL, THEY DID REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT HIM. IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO CONTACT US IN THE FUTURE, SIMPLY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE OR CALL OUR CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-8006. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. BE SURE TO REFER TO YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER 1-226247104 IN ALL FUTURE COMMUNICATION. IF I RETURN THIS CAR, LET THE DEALER TOW IT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE TOLD THAT THE REASON MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE IS MY FAULT, AND WILL BE HANDED A BILL FOR TOWING AND WHATEVER OTHER CHARGES FOR THEM LOOKING AT IT! I HAD THE CAR BACK TWO DAYS, A TOTAL OF 374 MILES. THE CAR HAS 34867 MILES; I HAVE HAD A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HEADLIGHT AIMERS, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH'S, HEADLIGHT SWITCH, IGNITION COIL PACK, AIR BAG SYSTEM. EVEN WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WENT WRONG, I AT LEAST COULD DRIVE IT, UNTIL I RETURNED IT FOR A RECALL! *JB
Showing 15 of 189 complaints