AI DamageCadillac Catera: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Cadillac Catera across 7 model years: 468 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 12% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 187 complaints (40% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 81 complaints (17% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Tires: 54 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 52 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 49 complaints (10% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1997–2001
- automatic, 4-speed 1997–2001
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 468 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 187 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 81 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 54 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 49 | 6 | 0 |
| Steering | 38 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 34 | 14 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 17 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My wife sustained some injuries however because she was wearing her seat belt she was released from the hospital 4 days later!
My husband was driving home from work when the accelerator "took over" and went all the way to the floor. He applied the brakes but they did not work. At some point the front wheel of the vehicle sheared off and flew off the car causing complete loss of control.
While driving down the highway at approx. 55 mph, came upon driver moving slow, had to brake, then began to pass, front end made a loud, horrible noise, and within seconds the front wheel flew off the vehicle, catera struck another person's trailer and the catera was a total loss.
Dt: there was a problem with the airbag warning light coming on. When the consumer took vehicle to the dealership they told him the airbag had to be replaced because it was defective. He had the airbag replaced by an authorized dealership.
While driving the vehicle, the car stalled without cause. When we attempted to stop the car due to the car stall the car spun out and was hit by an oncoming vehicle. This car has been subject to several stallouts while driving at various speeds since purchased in 2002.
All four passengers were wearing seat belts, but none of the four air bags deployed. Police arrived on the scene and no one was cited.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.