IllustrationWHILE 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
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 reportsWHILE 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
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURY WHEN CONSUMER'S CHEST STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. MJS
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 )
LAST YEAR WHILE ON A TRIP TO NORTH CAROLINA THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOULDING BLEW OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVE THE DAMAGE WHICH WAS MINIMAL. I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP, AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME THE OUTER MOULDING WAS REPLACED BY THE NOW OUT-OF-BUSINESS WARNER ROBINS OLDS CADILLAC. TODAY WHILE ON MY…
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LAST YEAR WHILE ON A TRIP TO NORTH CAROLINA THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOULDING BLEW OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVE THE DAMAGE WHICH WAS MINIMAL. I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP, AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME THE OUTER MOULDING WAS REPLACED BY THE NOW OUT-OF-BUSINESS WARNER ROBINS OLDS CADILLAC. TODAY WHILE ON MY WAY HOME FROM MACON, GA THE MOULDING BLEW OFF AGAIN, THIS TIME FLYING IN THE OPEN WINDOW, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE AND KNOCKING OFF MY GLASSES. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. IF I WERE GOING FASTER AND IF THE TRAFFIC WAS MORE CONGESTED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. I INTEND ON TAKING MY CAR TO THE NEW CADILLAC DEALERSHIP HERE IN WARNER ROBINS AND INSISTING THAT THE REPAIR BE DONE PROPERLY. *AK
WHILE WAITNG AT A STOP SIGN THE WITH FOOT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UPTO 15 TO 20 MPH, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER RUNNING INTO A WALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER . *AK
FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRE EDGES.
TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HOWEVER SHUT OFF WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ACCIDENT. YH
GAS TANK AND FUEL PUMP FAILED. MJS
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.