IllustrationVEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
163 reports1997 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)
INCIDENTDATE OF PROBLEMDATE OF RETURNINVOICE #ROADSIDE CASE#PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE IT WILL JUMP INTO NEXT LANE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM CAUSED EXTREMELY PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES (FLAT SPOTS AND CUPPING) AND VIBRATIONS WHICH AT TIMES ARE VIOLENT. NLM
BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING & THE BRAKES WOULD GIVE. DEALER HAD CHECKED VEHICLE COUPLE OF TIMES & NEVER MENTIONEDANYTHING ABOUT ROTORS BEING REPLACED. DEALER WAS BLAMING IT ON WEAR & TEAR. ROTORS & PADS WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY AT 13,000 MILES. LATER, THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK
GOODYEAR 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
THE TIE ROD FAILED, IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN A STRESS FRACTURE (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
THE TIE ROD FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
THE BACK OF THE MAIN ENGINE BLOCK IS LEAKING OIL. * ET
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.