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1999 Cadillac Catera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 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

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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

20 reports with mileage · 60 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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

80 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL IS POURING INTO COOLANT. REPLACED ENGINE OIL COOLER-ENDED UP NOT BEING THE PROBLEM. SUNROOF WILL OPEN AND CLOSE BY ITSELF, AND WILL NOT WORK WHEN YOU TRY TO DO IT YOURSELF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10061856

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2004
Power Train

I HAVE A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. IT HAS BEEN THE MOST TROUBLE SOME CAR I HAVE EVER HAD. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND READS MUTIPLE CYLENDER MISFIRE. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MAIN SEAL AT 60,000 MILES. WHICH WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT COSTED ME $600.00 TO FIX IT. I ALSO HAVE ALOT OF BLOW BY IN OIL. ALSO THE CA…

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I HAVE A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. IT HAS BEEN THE MOST TROUBLE SOME CAR I HAVE EVER HAD. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND READS MUTIPLE CYLENDER MISFIRE. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MAIN SEAL AT 60,000 MILES. WHICH WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT COSTED ME $600.00 TO FIX IT. I ALSO HAVE ALOT OF BLOW BY IN OIL. ALSO THE CAMS ARE LEAKING A LITTEL BIT. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WHITEKER MURCUREY LINCON IN WEST ST.PAUL MN. I DID NOT EVEN GET A OWNERS MANUEL. I CALLED THEM AND ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS THE THIRTY DAY WARRENTY WAS UP AND THERE WAS NOTHEING THEY COULD DO. ALL I WANT IS A NICE RUNNING CAR NOT TO GET RIPED OFF. NOW I HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY JUST TO GET THE MISFIRE AWAY. IT STILL A NEW CAR BUT WITH TO MANY PROBLEMS IT WOULD BE NICE IF CADILLAC COULD GIVE ME A DEAL ON THE REPAIRS. REMEMBER I NOW HAVE HAD IT FOR ONLY 7/MO. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NOTHEING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE CATERA. TO LATE FOR WHO EVER OWNS ONE.

NHTSA ODI #10056976

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicTires

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR…

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I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND OTHER REPAIRS THAT THANKFULLY WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS WE SPEAK THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE THREE HOLES IN THE CAR THAT HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT, PLUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND. WHEN IT RAINED THE CAR LEAKED INSIDE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE FORGOTEN TO ROLL UP A WINDOW. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I KNEW BETTER AND TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ENTERPRISE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN I EXPERINCED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE I WENT TO INVESTGATE. THE REASON THAT I'M CONTACTING YOU IS THAT AFTER TALKING TO A REPERSENATIVE OF ENTERPRISE, AND INFORMING HIM OF THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I HAVE JUST INFORMED YOU OF; I WAS TREATED AS IF I'M SOME KIND OF INEPT PERSON WHO COULD NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLISTIC WORKINGS OF A VEHICLE SUCH AS FLAT TIRES WITH METAL THREADS SHOWING THROUGH, OR ABLE TO NOTICE THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD OR THE SOUNDS OF METAL RUBBING ON METAL. I WAS ASKED REPEATLY IF I KNEW FOR SURE THAT THE BRAKES WERE REALLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OR IF IT WAS SOME TYPE OF SCAM THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO GET EXTRA MONEY, OR IF I TOOK THE BRAKES HOME AS EVIDENCE. I DON'T KNOW OF TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO REQUEST THEIR OLD BRAKES FOR SOME TYPE OF EVIDENCE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF THIS TYPE OF INTEROGATION I ENDED THE CONVERSATION REALIZING THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10070309

61,000 miles · Oct 30, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CODE AND CLICKING AT 61,000 MILES. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045138

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2003
Steering

PROBLEMS WITH HANDLING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP ON 1999 CADILLAC CATERA.*MR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND ON ONE OCCASION THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE DRIVER PULLED ONTO A HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES THERE WAS A CRUNCHING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COIL. *N…

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PROBLEMS WITH HANDLING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP ON 1999 CADILLAC CATERA.*MR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND ON ONE OCCASION THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE DRIVER PULLED ONTO A HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES THERE WAS A CRUNCHING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COIL. *NLM *JB

NHTSA ODI #10037987

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN ERROR CODE.*AK THE DEALERSHIP WANTED THE CONSUMER TO INFORM THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AGAIN. THEY WANTED HIM/HER TO LEAVE IT WHEREVER IT BROKE DOWN SO THEY COULD GET AND RESOLVE THE "ERROR CODE". ONCE THE VEHICLE…

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INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE AN ERROR CODE.*AK THE DEALERSHIP WANTED THE CONSUMER TO INFORM THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AGAIN. THEY WANTED HIM/HER TO LEAVE IT WHEREVER IT BROKE DOWN SO THEY COULD GET AND RESOLVE THE "ERROR CODE". ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CODE WAS DELETED. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10027084

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

DEALER REPLACED CAMSHAFT AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032118

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER INSPECTED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032115

49,000 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Electrical SystemVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORKED ON THE FAST SETTING, AND FAILED TO DISENGAGE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF.*AK WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *TS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBELM WAS ELECTRICAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10027086

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2003
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022939

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.