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 · Nov 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 75,000 MILE CHECK UP AND ADVISED DEALERSHIP I WAS HEARING A NOISE. THEY ADVISED CAR WAS FINE. I PAID $200 FOR THE WORK. THE NEXT WEEK THE CAR WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BELT TENSIONER. I PAID $280 TO HAVE THAT FIXED. THE VERY N…
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I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 75,000 MILE CHECK UP AND ADVISED DEALERSHIP I WAS HEARING A NOISE. THEY ADVISED CAR WAS FINE. I PAID $200 FOR THE WORK. THE NEXT WEEK THE CAR WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE BELT TENSIONER. I PAID $280 TO HAVE THAT FIXED. THE VERY NEXT WEEK, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HOV LANE TO TAKE MY BABY TO DAYCARE, THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WENT DEAD WHILE I WAS GOING 65MPH. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY THEN ADVISED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE RUINING THE ENTIRE ENGINE AT THE COST OF $8000. I THEN BEGAN DOING RESEARCH AND FOUND 6 OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE ON MSN CARPOINT AND ABOUT 3 ON THE NHTSA SITE. I BELIEVE GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS AND SHOULD HAVE RECALLED IT AND MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE MY CHILD AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. GM NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INADEQUACIES OF THEIR VEHICLES. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN?
NHTSA ODI #754780
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAULTY TIMING BELT CAUSED MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER ON THE ROAD. *JG
NHTSA ODI #785775
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE PULLEYS CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO COME OFF ITS TRACK. BENT VALVES DO NOT ALLOW PROPER COMPRESSION TO GIVE THE VEHICLE POWER SO IT WILL NOT START OR RUN. VISUAL SIGNS OF WEAR ON THE PULLEYS SHOW APPARENTLY BAD CRAFTMANSHIP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753957
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #897228
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING BELT FAILED DUE TO FAULTY WATER PUMP, AND RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE VALVE TRAIN DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY. *YH
NHTSA ODI #785682
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED @ 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY. WHEN TENSIONER PULLEY LET GO PROCEEDED TO BEND VALVES; DAMAGE AND BREAK PISTONS CAUSING ONE PISTON TO BECOME IMBEDDED IN THE ENGINE HEAD. ENGINE IS A LOSS. NEW ENGINE COST 9500. WE BEGAN TO COAST IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN THE SPEED LANE POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORNATELY THERE WAS …
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TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED @ 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY. WHEN TENSIONER PULLEY LET GO PROCEEDED TO BEND VALVES; DAMAGE AND BREAK PISTONS CAUSING ONE PISTON TO BECOME IMBEDDED IN THE ENGINE HEAD. ENGINE IS A LOSS. NEW ENGINE COST 9500. WE BEGAN TO COAST IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN THE SPEED LANE POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORNATELY THERE WAS NONE. CONTACTED DEALER. NO RESPONSE NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. CONTACTED CADILLAC CUST SERV. THEY SAID COULD NOT ASSIST ME THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE TIMING SERVICED @ 60K MILES PER MANUAL. WE NEVER RECIEVED A MANUAL WITH CAR.ONE WAS REQUESTED FROM CADILLAC CUST SERV WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS NEVER RECIEVED. NO NOTICE FOR SERVICE WAS SENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752388
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Electrical System
INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYING FAULTY READING. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #895793
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL NUMEROUS TIMES. ALWAYS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED ON ANY SURFACE. FAILURE ALSO OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING (WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM PARK). THE DEALER HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY, SIMPLY FIXING IT FOR A FEW WEEKS AT A TIME. THE ABS AND TRACTI…
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ABS SYSTEM AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL NUMEROUS TIMES. ALWAYS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED ON ANY SURFACE. FAILURE ALSO OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING (WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT FROM PARK). THE DEALER HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY, SIMPLY FIXING IT FOR A FEW WEEKS AT A TIME. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ALWAYS FAIL AT PRECISELY THE SAME TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747619
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER TIMING BELT WENT BAD VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #890986
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING BELT BOLTS HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK A NEW TENSIONER WAS INSALLED, HOWEVER THE RESULTS ARE STILL THE SAME. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #890921
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.
1997 Cadillac Catera Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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