IllustrationVEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR PERMATURELY. *YC
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 reportsANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT FAILED. *YC
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. MJS
DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ON COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE HAD TO GET WARM BEFORE DOOR WOULD CLOSE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
IMPROPER FRONT END ALIGNMENT SETTING ON VEHICLE CAUSED TIRES TO WEAR ON THE INNER SHOULDER.
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.
WHILE PARKING THE PULLEY ON THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED.
WHEN CONSUMER GETS INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND TRIES TO START IT, IT WON'T START. SO CONSUMER TRIED TO JUMP START IT, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED.
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.