IllustrationTHIS IS A SERIOUSLY UNSAFE VEHICLE . NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *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 reportsBRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT. *CJ
THE DASHBOARD AND LOWER CONSOLE LIGHTS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS (INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATED), THE LOWER CONSOLE LIGHTS WILL BECOME DIM AND TAKES TEN MINUTES TO BECOME NORMAL, DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY CAME OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER.AUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CAR WAS IN TO DEALER ON 5/25/1999 (MILEAGE 7876) WHEN I COMPLAINED OF ENGINE SQUEAL, NOTHING DONE
COOLANT FAN. SENSOR IN COOLANT TANK TOO SENSITIVE?
ENGINE FUEL PUMP.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE; TENSIONER PULLEY DISINTEGRATED; FOG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE
THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE T0 THE ENGINE. NLM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. NLM
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.