IllustrationWHEN 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
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 reportsVEHICLE HAS HAD EXCESSIVE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUALLY, RADIO, SUNROOF, HEADLIGHT SYSTEM, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING WOULD EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. *MJS
ORIGINAL TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. YH
NO SUMMARY
CAR NOT CRANKING, MIRRORS ARE NOT WORKING, SEAT BELT BUZZER WILL NOT ALWAYS SHUT OFF, TRANSMISSION STILL LABORING TO SHAFT, DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT IS NOT ADJUSTING, HEAD LIGHT ARE STILL NOT AIMED PROPERLY ON HIGH BEAM, REPLACED STATER AND BATTERY 3 TIME,
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
STEERING PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED AS OF 5/19/2000. SERVICING DEALER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED POPPING NOISE IN STEERING BUT TO DATE (05/19/2000) HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. SERVICING DEALER HAS RECOMMENDED WAITING UNTIL THE PROBLEM WORSENS WITH STEERING. ALL OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY SERVICING DEALERSHIP.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENLEY FAIL TO UNLOCK/OPEN AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION SWITCH. SOMETIMES CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 40-45 MINUTE BEFORE VEHICLE RELEASES THE DOOR LOCK. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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
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.