IllustrationFRONT END ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM CAUSED EXTREMELY PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES (FLAT SPOTS AND CUPPING) AND VIBRATIONS WHICH AT TIMES ARE VIOLENT. NLM
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Catera years →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
Suspension complaints
21 reportsGOODYEAR TIRES WERE REPLACED MANY TIMES DUE TO THE PREMATURE WEAR CAUSED BY THE ALIGNMENT WHICH ALSO CAUSED VIBRATION, VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO THE CUSTOMER WITH TIRES THAT HAD NO TREAD. *SLC
WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL AND APPLYING BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. ALSO, RADIO AND POOR RECEPTION PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSING THE CAR TO WOBBLE AND VIBRATE AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. *AK
OUTER TIE RODS FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND PULL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS ALSO CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM. *AK *ML
CONSTANTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. STEERING PULLS LEFT, NOW NOTIFIED ON 1/1O/200 THAT "TIRES ARE BAD" DUE TO CAR BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT ! DEALER MANAGER CONTACTED. STATES HE HAS NO POWER TO REPLACE TIRES OR TO GUARANTEE I WILL NOT BE CHARGED EXCESSIVE WEAR AT LEASE TERMINATION IN 4 MONTHSMG ACTED AND. *AK
THIS CAR HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE DEALER IS OFTEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS NATURE 19 TIMES, AND IN THE REPAIR SHOP 44 DAYS. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF THE SHOP 2 DAYS AND AGAIN THE DOOR LOCKS WILL …
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THIS CAR HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE DEALER IS OFTEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS NATURE 19 TIMES, AND IN THE REPAIR SHOP 44 DAYS. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF THE SHOP 2 DAYS AND AGAIN THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LET US IN THE VEHICLE. THIS STARTED WITH THE REAR DOOR LOCK NOT LETTING US OUT OF OR INTO THE CAR. THE PROBLEM NOW AFFECTS ALL FOUR DOORS. THEY CANNOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED USING THE REMOTE, THE KEY, OR MANUALLY. WE THEREFORE MUST EXIT AND ENTER USING THE WINDOWS. THE WINDOWS (ALL4) HAVE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE DASH LIGHTS ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, REPLACE WIPER FLUID, ILLUMINATE WHEN THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE O2 SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE ALIGNMENT ON THE WHEELS HAS ALSO CAUSED REPEATED PROBLEMS AND I HAVE REPLACE 4 TIRES. THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DIES WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAYS CADILLACS JUST DO THAT SOMETIMES! MY DAUGHTER ENDED UP IN THE MEDIAN OF 71 HWY AFTER THE CAR DIED AT 70 MILES PER HR. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE STARTER, MANY VARIOUS DOORLOCK PARTS AND HARNESS WIRING, ABS WIRING, TRACTION CONTROL WIRING, AND WORKED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PROBLEMS STILL OCCUR. WE NOW CARRY A HAMMER WITH US TO BREAK OUT OF THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY SHOULD THE DOORLOCKS NOT WORK. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: FITS CATER )
FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRE EDGES.
VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR PERMATURELY. *YC
IMPROPER FRONT END ALIGNMENT SETTING ON VEHICLE CAUSED TIRES TO WEAR ON THE INNER SHOULDER.
WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TURNING THE WHEEL, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.