Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 123 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Cadillac Catera, most frequently naming the engine, suspension and tires & wheels categories. 56 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 30 |
| Apr 2000 | 2 | 32 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 33 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 34 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 35 |
| Sep 2000 | 4 | 39 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 40 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 41 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 42 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 44 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 45 |
| Apr 2001 | 2 | 47 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 48 |
| Jun 2001 | 2 | 50 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 51 |
| Aug 2001 | 3 | 54 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 55 |
| Oct 2001 | 3 | 58 |
| Nov 2001 | 2 | 60 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 61 |
| Apr 2002 | 3 | 64 |
| May 2002 | 2 | 66 |
| Jun 2002 | 3 | 69 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 70 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 71 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 72 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 73 |
| Mar 2003 | 3 | 76 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 78 |
| Jun 2003 | 2 | 80 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 82 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 83 |
| Oct 2003 | 3 | 86 |
| Jan 2004 | 3 | 89 |
| Apr 2004 | 4 | 93 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 94 |
| Aug 2004 | 3 | 97 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 98 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 99 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 101 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 102 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 103 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 104 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 105 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 106 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 107 |
| Aug 2006 | 2 | 109 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 110 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 111 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 112 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 113 |
| Jun 2008 | 2 | 115 |
| Jul 2008 | 1 | 116 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 117 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 118 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 119 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 120 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 121 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 122 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 123 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ENGINE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OIL PRESSURE THAT STAY BELOW MINIMUM AT IDLE WHEN ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMP. FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAIL WITH LESS THEN 90000 MILES. AUTO TRANSMISSION FAIL WITH LESS THEN 90000 MILES. HAVE ENGAGEMENT PROBLEMS AND SHIFTING PROBLEM. *TR
THE WATER PUMP GAVE OUT. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 CADILLAC CATERA WHEN ANOTHER CAR RAN A STOP SIGN FORCING MY WIFE'S CAR INTO A COLLISION T-BONING THE OTHER CAR. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED OF OUR CAR DURING THE IMPACT WAS AT LEAST THIRTY MILES PER HOUR. OUR CADILLAC WAS WRITTEN OFF IN THE ACCIDENT HOWEVER EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A HARD FRONT END COLLISION THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN OUR CAR. MY WIFE SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES HOWEVER BECAUSE SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT SHE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL 4 DAYS LATER! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC CATERA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE PCS LIGHT AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 06/03/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 06/07/10*JB
FAULTY BRAKING. *TR
THE TENSIONER PULLEY & TIMING BELT WAS A KNOW DEFECT FOR VEHICLE AND WAS RECALLED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I LOST ALL POWER & CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON AN DECLINE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC LOCATION IN A SERVER RAIN STORM. VEHICLE IS NOW DOA AND GM REFUSES TO REMEDY TUES EVENING 6/23 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, IN 30-45 SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING, EARLIER IN THE DAY I HEARD A KNOCK AND THOUGHT I RAN OVER SOMETHING AS ALL GAUGES INDICATED EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING NORMAL. HAD AAA TOW IT TO MY HOME AND NEXT DAY (WED.) TO THE CADDY DEALER. THEY CHARGE ME $109 TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM, THEN TELL ME THE TIMING BELT BROKE! IT WILL COST ANOTHER $600 LABOR FOR 5 HOURS OF INSPECTION TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND DEPENDING WHAT THEY FIND $$$$$$ TO FIX, DAAAAA! I CALL THE SERVICE MANAGER HE TELLS ME HE'LL CHECK IT OUT AND CALL ME BACK. OK SO NOW HE CALLS ME AND TELL ME THE REP MISS-QUOTED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. NOW IT'S THE TENSION PULLEY THAT FAILED CASING THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP, TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SET IS $699 + LABOR AND SUGGESTED I INVEST ANOTHER $150 TO CHANGE THE COOLANT PUMP AS IT'S SHOWING SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AT THE SAME TIME SO IT DOESN'T RUN ME ADDITIONAL COSTS LATER AS IT'S IN THE SAME PART OF THE ENGINE AS THE PULLEY AND BELT. GRAND TOTAL OF $1207 + TAX. "BUT" DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY REPLACE THE TENSIONER PULLEY & TIMING BELT THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL COST IF THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START. OK SO I TELL HIM TO GO AHEAD. I DECIDED TO GOGGLE THE PROBLEM TO SEE WHAT IT IS I AM PAYING FOR, HELLLLLLO! WHAT DO I FIND BUT A MAJOR RECALL BACK IN 9/2002 ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILURE CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP!!!!!!!!! & THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLANT PUMP. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OR ADVISED OF THIS RECALL. THEY NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I ONLY HAVE ONLY 20,654 MILES ON THE CAR, AS IT'S MY 2ND VEHICLE AND USE IT LOCALLY FOR SHOPPING. NORMAL REPLACEMENT FOR THE TIMING BELT & TENSIONER PULLEY IS 70K MI. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC CATERA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TENSION TIMING BELT PULLEY FAILED. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $1,200. AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS, THEY FOUND THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WILL RE-EXAMINE THE VEHICLE IN A THREE PART ORDER AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $6,000. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE RECALL WAS FOR SPECIFIC MANUFACTURING PLANTS; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT CLEAN THE WINDOW, THE VEHICLE HAD 4 BATTERIES, THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED
THE MOTOR IN THE CAR STARTED CUTTING OUT AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NEVER A KNOCKING SOUND. THERE WAS NO ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. FROM READING ABOUT THIS CAR ONLINE IT SOUNDS LIKE A TIMING ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD HE DID NOT WANT TO WORK ON THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JOB. FROM WHAT IM TOLD THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF THESE CARS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED!! WHY NOT! *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.