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1997 Cadillac Catera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Catera years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Cadillac Catera are substantially higher than the model-year median of 67.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 25 of 163 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2004
Air Bags

WHILE STARTING PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083696

35,253 miles · Jul 3, 2004
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, STATING AIR BAG SYSTEM NOT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10079215

34,879 miles · Jun 26, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10078836

66,000 miles · Oct 24, 2002
Air Bags

CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE FAILED. *TS. CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE.*JB *DT

NHTSA ODI #8021534

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2002
Air BagsCrash

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

NHTSA ODI #8018027

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

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 AIRBAG…

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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 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG FAILING TO DEPLOY. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. CONSUMER STATES KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNTION ON NUMERIOUS OCCASIONS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #884043

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

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

NHTSA ODI #839147

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Air BagsCrash

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

NHTSA ODI #837941

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #546011

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1998
Air Bags

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #542968

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.