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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

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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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

ENGINE FAILED GOING ABOUY 70 MILES AN HOUR TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAR REPAIRED BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS, DEALER CAUSED ADDITONAL PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING REPAIR BROKE BOLT IN ENGINE COST TO REPAIR 800 DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR OIL LEAK ON VALVE COVER GASKET AGAIN D…

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ENGINE FAILED GOING ABOUY 70 MILES AN HOUR TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAR REPAIRED BUT STILL HAS PROBLEMS, DEALER CAUSED ADDITONAL PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING REPAIR BROKE BOLT IN ENGINE COST TO REPAIR 800 DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR OIL LEAK ON VALVE COVER GASKET AGAIN DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR ALL THOUGH COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. CADILLAC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEMS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND ON CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE CAR WAS OUT FOR 5 WEEKS AT DEALER, CAR HAS SEVERE VIBRATIONS WHEN IDLED DUE TO REPAIR NEW DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM OR MAKE REPAIR, HEADLAMPS ALSO FAILED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES REPLACEMENT COST $1,000 TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST

NHTSA ODI #762260

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM WATER PUMP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8009919

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLED AT 5 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER DETERMINED TIMING BELT PULLEY HAD SEIZED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8009783

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension

ON JANUARY 30, 2001 NAPOLI MOTORS HAD TO REPLACED LEFT & RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, INNER TIE ROD END,CENTER LINK AND BOTH OUTER STABILZER END, ON AUGUST 20, 2001 AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I95 SOUTH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME WHILE ON THE MIDDLE LANE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BEEN THAT I COULD NOT TURNED EITHER WAY, V…

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ON JANUARY 30, 2001 NAPOLI MOTORS HAD TO REPLACED LEFT & RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, INNER TIE ROD END,CENTER LINK AND BOTH OUTER STABILZER END, ON AUGUST 20, 2001 AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I95 SOUTH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME WHILE ON THE MIDDLE LANE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BEEN THAT I COULD NOT TURNED EITHER WAY, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN BY ROGER'S IN MILFORD TECHNICIANS THERE AT NAPOLI MOTORS COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE WHEN I CALLED THE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR SAME PROBLEMS, THEY HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT RUNNING RUFF. ON OCTOBER 31, 2001 VEHICLE WAS BACK AT NAPOLI, NOVEMBER 15, 2001,ON FEBRUARY 19, 2002 I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE AT A RED LIGHT WHERE THE OTHER PERSON DAMAGE THE WHOLE REAR OF VEHICLE NEITHER AIR BAG DRIVER OR PASSENGER CAME OUT ALL LIGHTS IN VEHICLE WERE ON AND KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, ON MARCH 22, 2002 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO NAPOLI FOR THE KEY PROBLEM AND REMOTES. ON MAY 6, 2002 VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NAPOLI WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE WHAT VEHICLE HAD THIS TIME WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT BROKE AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK ON ME AGAIN. TO BE HONEST I WON'T EVEN GO FAR WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM THIS DEPARTMENT SOON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #761710

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ATTACHMENT TO VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) - VIN # [XXX]. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #761316

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A BAD TIMING BELT TENSIONER THAT CAUSED TIMING BELT TO COME OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY STOP IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-75 GOING GOING 75 MPH. THE RESULTS OF THIS WAS BENT INTAKE VALVES, THEREFORE MAKING THE HEADS NOT REPLACEABLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I'VE ALSO HAVE FOUND OUT THAT CADILLAC IS W…

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ENGINE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A BAD TIMING BELT TENSIONER THAT CAUSED TIMING BELT TO COME OFF CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY STOP IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-75 GOING GOING 75 MPH. THE RESULTS OF THIS WAS BENT INTAKE VALVES, THEREFORE MAKING THE HEADS NOT REPLACEABLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I'VE ALSO HAVE FOUND OUT THAT CADILLAC IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECASUE THAY NOW HAVE A KIT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF THEY KNEW THAY HAD A PROBLEM WHAY DIDN'T THEY ISSUE A RECALL. GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR AND SUDDENLY LOSING ALL POWER ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. MY FATHER AND I WERE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD A SERIOUS WRECK IN THE LEFT LANE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST CADILLAC ON THIS ISSUE. THE COST OF THIS FAULTY PART OF GM/\CADILLAC HAS COST ME $5826. PLUS A WEEK WITHOUT A VEHICLE.C00. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760157

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

PURSHASED CAR WITH 69961 MILES FOR $9935. SECOND DAY OF PURSHASE IN SHOP FOR OVERHEATING. 32 DAYS AFTER PURSHASE IN SHOP FOR WATERPUMP AT A COST OF $420. 3 MONTH AFTER PURSHASE IN SHOP FOR $1400 FOR FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS TO GET LINE UP. AFTER DRIVING 14300 MILES TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE, AN ESTIMATE OF $8…

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PURSHASED CAR WITH 69961 MILES FOR $9935. SECOND DAY OF PURSHASE IN SHOP FOR OVERHEATING. 32 DAYS AFTER PURSHASE IN SHOP FOR WATERPUMP AT A COST OF $420. 3 MONTH AFTER PURSHASE IN SHOP FOR $1400 FOR FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS TO GET LINE UP. AFTER DRIVING 14300 MILES TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE, AN ESTIMATE OF $8000 FOR REPAIR. NOW A LAWN ORNAMENT. CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR. THE DEALER (FERRIS AUTO CENTER), CADILLAC, AND GM WHICH IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAR DON'T CARE!

NHTSA ODI #759801

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS SEEMS TO BE BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CADILLAC WILL NOT ADDRESS. I HAVE COUNTED AT LEAST 15 FAILURES REPORTED TO THE NHTSA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759404

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED CAR FELT FUNNY. AS CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES ALL POWER WAS GONE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED. DEALER FOUND TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE CAUSING THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BLOW. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE …

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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED CAR FELT FUNNY. AS CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES ALL POWER WAS GONE, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED. DEALER FOUND TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE CAUSING THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BLOW. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THE TIMING BELT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGE FOR 100,000 MILES OR 96 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #564739

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER CAN HEAR GRINDING AND LOUD NOISES IN THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY NOISE OR GRINDING IN THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. SINCE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENC…

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CONSUMER CAN HEAR GRINDING AND LOUD NOISES IN THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY NOISE OR GRINDING IN THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. SINCE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING LOUD NOISES AND GRINDING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TT CONSUMER STATES THE CAR WAS BEING SERVICED FOR A LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT. *YD

NHTSA ODI #8005693

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.