8.2

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,435 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Cadillac Catera suspension problems

suspension problem

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1997 Cadillac Catera Owner Comments

problem #17

Mar 262004

(reported on)

Catera

  • 75,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving steering wheel had to be steered to the left to avoid vehicle from going automatically to the right. Took vehicle to the dealer, and dealer determined that something in the front end was bent.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #16

Aug 132002

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Consumer states that the ball joint along with other front suspension components failed and were replaced.

- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA

problem #15

May 042001

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Would be driving and tires would feelunevenly. All tires were wearing out excessively. Was having trouble with alignment. Had taken vehicle to dealership, and twice to an independent mechanic.also, had other problems with vehicle.

- Abbeville, AL, USA

problem #14

Oct 132000

Catera

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car was making a grinding sound under hood. Was told timing chain tensioner was almost broken. Dlr replaced tensioner, timing chain, and idler pulley. Car has had 6 alignments since 10/13/00. Car still pulls to left and wears out tires prematurely. Car has 47,000 miles on itand has 3rd set of tires on it. Car had a oil leak on valve cover gaskets. Dlr repaired and replaced. Car hesitates and surges forward. Dlr has not found problem. Car has abnormal shift patterns. Sometimes shift down to a lower gear causing car to lose power and speed, then shifts back to overdrive without depressing accelerator. Dlr has not found a problem. There is a sound from rear of car. Sounds like bad shocks. Dlr replaced frame support bushings and lower control arms. Noise still there. There are too many problems to report here. Car has serious problems and has been to dealership for extensive warranty work 9 times within our 7 months of ownership. The last visit, the sealership had the car for 15 days trying to repair the car, and now, most of the same things that were suppose to be repaired are still faulty. Today, the heating system went out. There is no heat in the car now. We will be returning back to dealership this morning. We have written the manufacturer and will be sending that letter off today also.

- Knightdale, NC, USA

problem #13

Jan 011998

Catera

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Excessive wear of tires due to poor alignment from manufacturer. Manufacturer is aware of problem, nothing is being done to correct it. Steel belts were showing through, and could cause greater damage. The manufacturer's service representative acknowledges that the vehicle had engineering design flaw.

- Weatherford, TX, USA

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problem #12

Oct 122000

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Front end alignment and suspension problem caused extremely premature wear of the tires (flat spots and cupping) and vibrations which at times are violent. Nlm

- Culleoka, TN, USA

problem #11

Oct 122000

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Front end alignment and suspension problem caused extremely premature wear of the tires (flat spots and cupping) and vibrations which at times are violent. Nlm

- Culleoka, TN, USA

problem #10

Oct 022000

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Goodyear tires were replaced many times due to the premature wear caused by the alignment which also caused vibration, vehicle was sold to the customer with tires that had no tread.

- Culleoka, TN, USA

problem #9

Jul 212000

Catera

  • miles
When using cruise control and applying brakes, cruise control makes a loud clunking noise. Also, radio and poor reception problems, as well as front suspension causing the car to wobble and vibrate at certain speeds.

- Austell, GA, USA

problem #8

Mar 012000

Catera

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Outer tie rods failed, causing the vehicle to shimmy and pull to the left and right. This also caused premature wear of the tires. Dealer repaired problem.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #7

Jan 142000

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Constantly out of alignment. Steering pulls left, now notified on 1/1O/200 that "tires are bad" due to car being out of alignment ! dealer manager contacted. States he has no power to replace tires or to guarantee I will not be charged excessive wear at lease termination in 4 monthsmg acted and.

- Lilydale, MN, USA

problem #6

Jun 051999

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
This car has had ongoing problems with various electrical components. The dealer is often unable to replicate the problem while in the repair shop. The car has been serviced for electrical malfunctions of various nature 19 times, and in the repair shop 44 days. It has been out of the shop 2 days and again the door locks will not let us in the vehicle. This started with the rear door lock not letting us out of or into the car. The problem now affects all four doors. They cannot be locked or unlocked using the remote, the key, or manually. We therefore must exit and enter using the windows. The windows (all4) have also malfunctioned. The dash lights ABS, traction control, replace wiper fluid, illuminate when there is not a problem. The O2 sensor has been replaced. The alignment on the wheels has also caused repeated problems and I have replace 4 tires. The car intermittently dies while driving. The dealer is unable to replicate the problem and says Cadillac just do that sometimes! my daughter ended up in the median of 71 hwy after the car died at 70 miles per hr. The dealer has replaced the battery, the starter, many various doorlock parts and harness wiring, ABS wiring, traction control wiring, and worked on the ignition switch. The problems still occur. We now carry a hammer with us to break out of the car in an emergency should the doorlocks not work.( dot number: Tire size: Fits cater )

- Bentonville, AR, USA

problem #5

Nov 251998

Catera

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle out of alignment causing tires to wear permaturely.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 101997

Catera

  • miles
Loss of steering control/hydroplaning on wet roads, consumer believes this problem has caused excessive wear to tires.

- San Antoni, TX, USA

problem #3

Jan 011999

Catera

  • miles
Front end alignment problems causing excessive wear of the tire edges.

- Lewisburg, WV, USA

problem #2

Jan 271999

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Improper front end alignment setting on vehicle caused tires to wear on the inner shoulder.

- Lewisburg, WV, USA

problem #1

Dec 011997

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
When coming to a stop and turning the wheel, the vehicle pulls to the right. The dealer has been notified.

- Bronx, NY, USA

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