RoadVitals

1997 Cadillac Catera Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jan 7, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 163 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Cadillac Catera submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2014

I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE AND DRIVING OUT OF MY COMPLEX WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TURN IT FOR TWO DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558736
Incident
Jan 4, 2014
Mileage
82,300 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 5, 2002

WHEN BRAKING, CONSUMER STATES' THERES A LOT OF VIBRATION IN VEHICLES AND STEERING WHEEL AND IN THE BODY OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATES' CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8022200
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, THE WATER PUMP EXPERIENCED AN INTERNAL FAILURE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VALVES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
567108
Incident
May 12, 2002
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed May 9, 2002

ON JANUARY 30, 2001 NAPOLI MOTORS HAD TO REPLACED LEFT & RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, INNER TIE ROD END,CENTER LINK AND BOTH OUTER STABILZER END, ON AUGUST 20, 2001 AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I95 SOUTH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME WHILE ON THE MIDDLE LANE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BEEN THAT I COULD NOT TURNED EITHER WAY, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN BY ROGER'S IN MILFORD TECHNICIANS THERE AT NAPOLI MOTORS COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE WHEN I CALLED THE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR SAME PROBLEMS, THEY HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT RUNNING RUFF. ON OCTOBER 31, 2001 VEHICLE WAS BACK AT NAPOLI, NOVEMBER 15, 2001,ON FEBRUARY 19, 2002 I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE AT A RED LIGHT WHERE THE OTHER PERSON DAMAGE THE WHOLE REAR OF VEHICLE NEITHER AIR BAG DRIVER OR PASSENGER CAME OUT ALL LIGHTS IN VEHICLE WERE ON AND KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, ON MARCH 22, 2002 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO NAPOLI FOR THE KEY PROBLEM AND REMOTES. ON MAY 6, 2002 VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NAPOLI WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE WHAT VEHICLE HAD THIS TIME WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT BROKE AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK ON ME AGAIN. TO BE HONEST I WON'T EVEN GO FAR WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM THIS DEPARTMENT SOON. *AK

NHTSA ID
761710
Incident
May 6, 2002
Steering
Filed Feb 12, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IDLER PULLEY TENSIONER BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003933
Incident
Nov 21, 2001
Steering
Filed Nov 15, 2000
Crash reported

WHEN VEHICLE HITS A POTHOLE IT WILL JUMP INTO NEXT LANE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
875035
Steering
Filed Sep 21, 2000

THE TIE ROD FAILED, IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN A STRESS FRACTURE (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM

NHTSA ID
554919
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2000

THE TIE ROD FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM

NHTSA ID
553871
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 19, 2000

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. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
862173
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Body & structureInterior & seatsExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Dec 28, 1999

THE DASHBOARD AND LOWER CONSOLE LIGHTS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS (INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATED), THE LOWER CONSOLE LIGHTS WILL BECOME DIM AND TAKES TEN MINUTES TO BECOME NORMAL, DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT. *MJS

NHTSA ID
784377
EngineSteering
Filed Feb 1, 1999

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA ID
608735
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 1, 1999

REPLACED LOWER STEERING SHAFT CAUSING NOISE. *YC

NHTSA ID
607502
Incident
Nov 25, 1998
Steering
Filed Apr 24, 1998
1 injury reported

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 TO 40 MPH.

NHTSA ID
780912
Steering
Filed Oct 22, 1997

ALARMING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHEN GOING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT 60MPH.

NHTSA ID
523757
Incident
Oct 10, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine75Brakes21Suspension21Electrical21Exterior lighting14Visibility12Airbags11Tires & wheels10Transmission9Body & structure8Driver assistance8Interior & seats8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .