Total Complaints
2 filings
CADILLAC CATERA · model year
2002 CADILLAC CATERA
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CADILLACCATERA carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 CATERA is vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2002 CATERA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090413EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SEALED HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE RESIDUE ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS THAT YOU CAN NOT REPLACE JUST THE BULBS. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THAT COST OVER 600.00 EACH. THIS WOULD BE ON A 2002 CADALLAC CATERA. *TR
20020402VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES COULD ALSO PRESS GAS AND VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT CURB. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT
Compare 2002CADILLACCATERA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE24011Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001EQClosed
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017Engineering AnalysisClosed
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 CADILLAC CATERA have?▼
The 2002 CADILLAC CATERA has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CADILLAC CATERA?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 CADILLAC CATERA is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 2002 CADILLAC CATERA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.