1997 Cadillac Catera Brakes Problems

THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 2/8/04 FOR RECALL 2041, 1037. TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND IT WAS OVER ONE INCH BELOW FULL, HE ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVEWAY FOR ANY ANTIFREEZE AND CHECKED WHERE YOU PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF EXTERNAL LEAKS, BUT A WHITE MILKY SUBSTANCE UNDER THE OIL CAP. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE. I EMAILED GM ABOUT THIS. THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE! WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR DAN HEMM CADILLAC, MR. CHARLIE CAROLL. HE IS AWARE OF YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE COOLANT LEVEL FOR THE 1997 CADILLAC CATERA. HE IS WILLING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE CONCERN IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL 02041, AND THEY WILL NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY. HE HAS ALSO INFORMED US THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THE RECALL, THEY DID REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT HIM. IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO CONTACT US IN THE FUTURE, SIMPLY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE OR CALL OUR CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-8006. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. BE SURE TO REFER TO YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER 1-226247104 IN ALL FUTURE COMMUNICATION. IF I RETURN THIS CAR, LET THE DEALER TOW IT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE TOLD THAT THE REASON MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE IS MY FAULT, AND WILL BE HANDED A BILL FOR TOWING AND WHATEVER OTHER CHARGES FOR THEM LOOKING AT IT! I HAD THE CAR BACK TWO DAYS, A TOTAL OF 374 MILES. THE CAR HAS 34867 MILES; I HAVE HAD A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HEADLIGHT AIMERS, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH'S, HEADLIGHT SWITCH, IGNITION COIL PACK, AIR BAG SYSTEM. EVEN WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WENT WRONG, I AT LEAST COULD DRIVE IT, UNTIL I RETURNED IT FOR A RECALL! *JB

NHTSA ID

10078836

Incident

Feb 11, 2004

Mileage

34,879 mi

THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 CADILLAC CATERA IN KINGSPORT, TN DURING A SNOWSTORM. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UN-DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT WITH REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER MODULE AND VALVE/PUMP HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10054381

Incident

Jan 6, 2004

Mileage

82,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 1997 CADILLAC CATERA ON JAN 31, 2001 FROM UNITED AUTOMAX IN MEMPHIS, TN. FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. BEGINNING WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY, HEATER CORE REPLACED, ROTORS REPLACED AND WEARING OUT AGAIN WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME. FUSES HAVE BLOWN, RADIATOR FAN ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS. NUMEROUS RECALLS AND ETC. ON APRIL 14, 2003 I TOOK MY CAR TO BUD DAVIS CADILLAC IN MEMPHIS AND REPORTED THAT I COULD SMELL OIL BURNING. THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED VALVE COVERS RESEALED AND TO REPLACE REAR MAIN SEAL. (THE WORK WAS DONE THRU MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY). I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END. THEY IN RETURN REPLACED RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR FROM DEALER I NOTICED THAT THE NOISE STILL EXISTED AND INFORMED SERVICE AGENT BEFORE I LEFT THE DEALER'S LOT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD STRUT LINK TO WHICH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER. AFTER DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH ANOTHER MACHANIC (NOT DEALER), HE STATED THAT THE NAME OF THE PART WAS A STABILIZER NOT STRUT. AND NOT ONLY DID THE NOISE EXIST IN THE FRONT END, BUT THERE WAS A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND STAY ON. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE HISSING NOISE CAME FROM A PART THAT WAS PROBABLY DAMAGED BY BUD DAVIS CADILLAC WHEN REPAIRING VALVES AND SEALS. I THEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT MY WARRANTY COMPANY DID COVER THE STABILIZER LINKAGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE SERVICE AGENT USED THE WRONG TERMINOLOGY. THEY AGREED TO FIX IT AND DID, BUT REFUSED TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF THE HISSING SOUND WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT. IT SEEMS THAT EACH WEEK OR MONTH THERE ARE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NEEDED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10016925

Incident

Apr 22, 2003

Mileage

65,074 mi

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING: THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING/THERE'S A LOUD TAPPING SOUND, THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE POWER LOCKS AT TIMES WON'T UNLOCK/MUST PLAY WITH THE FLOOR SHIFTER, AND THE CLOCK WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, IN REFERENCE TO THE ENGINE. SCC

NHTSA ID

10003913

Incident

May 30, 2001

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. $145 TO REPAIR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL. SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE AND LR OXYGEN SENSOR BAD CAUSING "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON. $345 TO REPAIR THIS ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL. HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF ABNORMAL WEAR TO THE INSIDE OF TIRES. DT

NHTSA ID

770738

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SLOW START WHEN BEING STARTED IN THE MORNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE BATTERY FAILED FOUR TIMES IN THREE DAYS. NLM THE VEHICLE STALLED (IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROARED FOR A WHILE), AND MAY HAVE DERIVED FROM THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT DRIVE TIMING BELT, IDLER, TENSIONER PULLEYS, AND THE WATER PUMP. SCC

NHTSA ID

567173

ATTACHMENT TO VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) - VIN # [XXX]. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

761316

Incident

Apr 29, 2002

CONSUMER CAN HEAR GRINDING AND LOUD NOISES IN THE BRAKES, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY NOISE OR GRINDING IN THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. SINCE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING LOUD NOISES AND GRINDING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TT CONSUMER STATES THE CAR WAS BEING SERVICED FOR A LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT. *YD

NHTSA ID

8005693

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

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 ID

747619

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO JUMP START. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. BATTERY WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 06/03/99. OIL LIGHT ABOVE OIL PRESSIRE GAUGE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE MOVED UP AND DOWN ERRATICALLY. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. BATTERY COVER AND WAS BURNT/WAS BRITTLE AND HAD A WHITE ASHEY LOOK TO IT. ENGINE PRODUCES A LOT OF HEAT. DEALER REPLACED COVER AND TRAY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED IPC FOR TEMP GAUGE. TEMP GAUGE STILL READS THE SAME AS BEFORE. TICKING SOUNDS FROM LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF DASH WHEN HEAT IS ON. DEALER REPLACED FAN MOTOR TWICE. TICKING SOUNDS STILL THERE AND NOW THERE IS NO HEAT. DISC BRAKE PAD INDICATOR LAMP DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PADS NEEDED REPLACING. HAD TO HAVE FRONT BRAKE JOB AND REPLACE SENSORS FOR INDICATOR LAMP. DEALERSHIP SAID SENSORS GOT DAMAGED WHEN PADS WERE WORN DOWN PAST THE SENSORS.

NHTSA ID

743034

Incident

Feb 9, 2001

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG FAILING TO DEPLOY. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. CONSUMER STATES KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNTION ON NUMERIOUS OCCASIONS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

884043

Incident

Feb 27, 2001

BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING & THE BRAKES WOULD GIVE. DEALER HAD CHECKED VEHICLE COUPLE OF TIMES & NEVER MENTIONEDANYTHING ABOUT ROTORS BEING REPLACED. DEALER WAS BLAMING IT ON WEAR & TEAR. ROTORS & PADS WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY AT 13,000 MILES. LATER, THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

872286

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

THIS IS A SERIOUSLY UNSAFE VEHICLE . NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

716779

Incident

Oct 28, 1998

BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT. *CJ

NHTSA ID

558668

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SLID AND LOST CONTROL, HITTING A TREE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

839147

Incident

Jun 7, 1999

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 CADILLACS 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. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: FITS CATER )

NHTSA ID

707235

TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HOWEVER SHUT OFF WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

NHTSA ID

543927

ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

607499

Incident

Oct 29, 1997

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY, IT APPEARS TO BE SKIPPING BEFORE IT STOPS. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND CONDITION CANNOT BE RESOLVED. ALSO, AT THIS TIME THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF A COMPLETE BRAKE OVERHAUL, AND THE COST WOULD GO TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

826703

Incident

Aug 11, 1998

ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

526076

Incident

Nov 23, 1997

VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE SQUEALING AND IF BRAKING HARD VEHICLE VILL PULL TO THE RIGHT. BRAKES WERE MADE IN GERMANY.

NHTSA ID

812171

Incident

Apr 25, 1997