1997 CADILLAC CATERA

269 complaints filed with NHTSA.

269
Complaints
16
Crashes
5
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE33
SUSPENSION:FRONT17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE16
TIRES8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH5

Recent Complaints

20070503FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 58,600

20051215STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

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

Mileage: 45,000

20030814FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

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 THA

Mileage: 49,343

20020906CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20010323CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBIL

20010323CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBIL

20010323CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBIL

20010323CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBIL

20010323CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBIL

20010323CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBIL

20001213FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

1997 CADILLAC CATERA PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES IN THE 6 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, RIGHT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, LEFT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY OUT, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON BELTWAY (INSURANCE ESTIMATE A TOTAL LOSS)

20001213FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

1997 CADILLAC CATERA PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES IN THE 6 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, RIGHT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, LEFT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY OUT, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON BELTWAY (INSURANCE ESTIMATE A TOTAL LOSS)

20001213FireLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

1997 CADILLAC CATERA PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES IN THE 6 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, RIGHT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, LEFT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY OUT, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON BELTWAY (INSURANCE ESTIMATE A TOTAL LOSS)

20001115CrashSTEERING

WHEN VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE IT WILL JUMP INTO NEXT LANE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

19990614CrashAIR BAGS

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURY WHEN CONSUMER'S CHEST STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. MJS

19990609CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

19990609CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

19990609CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SLID AND LOST CONTROL, HITTING A TREE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

19990609CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SLID AND LOST CONTROL, HITTING A TREE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

19990320VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

LAST YEAR WHILE ON A TRIP TO NORTH CAROLINA THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOULDING BLEW OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVE THE DAMAGE WHICH WAS MINIMAL. I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP, AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME THE OUTER MOULDING WAS REPLACED BY THE NOW OUT-OF-BUSINESS WARNER ROBINS OLDS CADILLAC. TODAY WHILE ON MY WAY HOME FROM MACON, GA THE MOULDING BLEW OFF AGAIN, THIS TIME FLYING IN THE OPEN WINDOW, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE AND KNOCKING OFF MY GLASSES. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS L