Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+2 more
Filed Mar 18, 2005
CADILLAC CATERA 1998, DRIVER SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT THAT CONSUMER BACK WAS BURNED. *BF THE CONSUMER FIRST HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT NOT HEATING WAS BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2000 WHICH WAS REPAIRED. ON PREVIOUS OCCASION THE CONSUMER HAD WORK DONE. THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS LOOSE, THE CONSUMER REPORTED A WOBBLE IN THE TIRE, ONE MONTH LATER THE CONSUMER HAD A FLAT TIRE, HE WAS THEN TOLD THE TIRES NEEDED TO REPLACED, THERE WAS STATIC FROM THE RADIO, THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10115604
- Incident
- Dec 26, 2000
- Mileage
- 27,191 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed May 6, 2004
LIKE ALL CADILLAC CATERA OWNERS WE KNOW, WE HAVE HAD AND ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE ENDLESS MAJOR REPAIR BILLS ON THE CATERA (98 MODEL). THE WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN HOT. THE WATER PUMP WAS ON RECALL. CADILLAC REPLACED THE PUMP BUT CHARGED FOR BELTS AND OTHER PARTS DAMAGED BY THE FAILURE. WE HAVE SPEND OVER $1,900 TRYING TO SOLVE A MORNING COLD START SKIPPING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. CADILLAC DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE AND CHARGED $953. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN A REPAIR SHOP CHARGED OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN THEY TOLD US IT HAD TO BE THE COIL PACK. WE SPENT OVER $300 ON THAT. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE CAR IN BACK AT THE CADILLAC DEALER'S SHOP YESTERDAY AND TODAY. SO FAR THEY CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. A CO-WORKER OF MY WIFE'S AT THE GEORGIA MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DEPARTMENT OWNES A CATERA. SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE SPENT OVER $9,000 ON THEIR CATERA IN THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR REPAIRS. THEY CANNOT KEEP TIRES ON THE CAR. THE CO-WORKER SAID THEY HAD THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM WITH THEIR CATERA. IT COST OVER $500 FOR A STARTER SWITCH PART. IT APPEARS CADILLAC THREW THE CAR TOGETHER FROM AN ENGINE FROM ENGLAND, A TRANSMISSION FROM FRANCE AND ASSEMBLED THE CAR IN GERMANY. I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR FOR CONSUMMERS TO HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR CADILLAC'S NEGLEGENCY IN NOT PROPERLY TESTING THE CAR PRIOR TO MARKETING. THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF CONSUMMER FRAUD. WE HAVE OWNED TWO CADILLAC SEVILLES, A DEVILLE, AND A SMALL CADILLAC BACK IN THE 80'S. WE PRESENTLY DRIVE A SEVILLE. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH CADILLAC PRODUCTS UNTIL THIS CATERA. IT IS NOT CADILLAC QUALITY AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MARKETED WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING OF MECHANICS IN THE FIELD IN SPITE OF GM'S CONSTANT ADVERTISEMENTS ABOUT THE EXCELLENCE OF "MR. GOOD WRENCH." CADILLAC SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THE CATERA DESIGN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10068390
- Incident
- May 4, 2004
- Mileage
- 64,600 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Apr 25, 2004
I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND THEY JUST KEEP PILING UP. I JUST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND VALVE COVER GASKETS A MONTH AGO AND NOW MY OIL PRESSURE IS FAILING. MY SERVICE WRITTER TELLS ME THIS CAR IS NOTORIUS FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, SPECIFICALLY THE WAY IT HANDLES OIL AND COOLING. I SENT A LETTER TO CADILLAC WHEN I HAD PROBLES A MONTH AGO BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10067764
- Incident
- Apr 25, 2004
Body & structureBrakesExterior lighting+3 more
Filed May 6, 2002
DUE TO A DEFECT IN FRONT ALIGMENT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES PULSATE, SQUEAK AND GO TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING OUT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR HINGE WAS UNSTABLE, ALSO THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK STICKS. THE WIPERS SCRUB. THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES NOISE. THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT SHINES TOO HIGH. *YH
- NHTSA ID
- 8009295
- Incident
- Aug 6, 2001
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+6 more
Filed Oct 10, 2001
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED INFLATOR MODULE. NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 563665
- Incident
- May 8, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Feb 17, 1999
TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH WHEN FRONT END & STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SNOW WAS LODGED IN WHEEL WELL & OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE UNBALANCED AND IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 834914
- Incident
- Jan 4, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999
REAR PASSANGER DOOR FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 608770
- Incident
- Jan 10, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999
ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 606368
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.