IllustrationTHE HEATING ELEMENT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE LEATHER TO MELT. *JB
1998 Cadillac Catera
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Cadillac Catera do not stand out strongly from 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
50–25K
625–50K
2050–75K
275–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
39 reports with mileage · 84 unknown
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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
123 reportsCONSUMER NOTICE UNUSUAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICE INDEPENDENT FRONT NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, THE MANUFACTURER HAD A PROGRAM TO REPAIR 1998 CATERA'S BUT SINCE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS RELEASED FROM ANY RESPONSI…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, THE MANUFACTURER HAD A PROGRAM TO REPAIR 1998 CATERA'S BUT SINCE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS RELEASED FROM ANY RESPONSIBLITY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT NO COST.*AK *NLM
AFTER REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AND EXITING VEHICLE, VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACK INTO A PLAYGROUND AREA. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED IN ANY GEAR. CONSUMER ADDS THAT IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 45" TO 20" FOR KEY TO CYCLE ON THE IGNITION. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST, …
Read full complaint
AFTER REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AND EXITING VEHICLE, VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACK INTO A PLAYGROUND AREA. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED IN ANY GEAR. CONSUMER ADDS THAT IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 45" TO 20" FOR KEY TO CYCLE ON THE IGNITION. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST, ALSO THIS PROBLEM DID CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *TT
CONSUMER RECEIVED LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER WARNING HIM THAT CAMSHAFT/TIMING BELT IDLER ,AND PULLEY COULD FAIL, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLS AND SURGES, INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND CRANK SENSOR AS THE PROBLEMS. *YD
ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND RESURFACED TO FREQUENTLY.*AK
DUE TO A DEFECT IN FRONT ALIGMENT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES PULSATE, SQUEAK AND GO TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING OUT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE…
Read full complaint
DUE TO A DEFECT IN FRONT ALIGMENT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES PULSATE, SQUEAK AND GO TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING OUT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR HINGE WAS UNSTABLE, ALSO THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK STICKS. THE WIPERS SCRUB. THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES NOISE. THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT SHINES TOO HIGH. *YH
TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON REAR MORE THAN OTHERS. ALSO, FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT DEALER INSTALLED 4 NEW TIRES, HOWEVER THE TIRES WORE OUT IN 10,000 MILES. DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING MORE REGARDING THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH VEHICLE, POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TT
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.