1998 Cadillac Catera Electrical Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10319026

Incident

Sep 8, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 CATERA. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON A CURVED ROAD THE ENGINE AND POWER CUT OFF . I LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD TO STRUGGLE TO STOP. THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CADDY DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE CRACK SENSOR WENT BAD. I REVIEWED THE INTERNET AND SAW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS NOT HURT, BUT I WAS VERY CONCERNED. IF MY SON WAS DRIVING I BELIEVE WE BOTH WOULD NOT BE HEAR AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHY WE CRASHED HEAD ON. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TOWED. THE VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING INTO THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND BURNING THE RUBBER BOOT. IT GOT SO HOT THE PLUG MELTED, CAUSING THE SMOKE TO COME OUT. ALSO, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS CAR NEEDED SOME IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. I WA TRYING TO GET RID OF THE CAR. IT DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193765

Incident

May 30, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

CAR OVER HEATING, SMOKING, STEAMING. TOOK TO MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE BLEW, LATER TO FIND OUT OIL COOLER WENT. ALSO JUST FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS OVER HAULED, NO WARNING, NO LEAKS. HEAT REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, IGNITION COIL HAS BEEN REPLACED, ALL WIRES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE HAS AND STILL DOES RUN TOO HOT, CAUSING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE PARTS. ETC. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001, PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT HAS SINCE WARE OUT. MY SUN ROOF DOES NOT WORK, MY KEYLESS ENTRY DOES NOT WORK, HERE IT IS 2005 AND THE CAR ONLY HAS OR AROUND 65,000 MILES ON IT, WHEN PURCHASED ONLY HAD 23,000, I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK AND BACK, AND TOO RUN ERRANDS. WHY AM I HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, I CAN'T EVEN GET A DEALER TO TAKE IT AS TRADE IN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139607

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

59,000 mi

1998 CATERA PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC PART MAL FUNCTION; ALTERNATOR FAILURE; BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES; HEATER AND A/C INOPERATIVE-BURNED HARNESS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT; DOOR HINGES FAILED; ENGINE OIL LEAK; VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START; PREMATURE TIRE WEAR; VEHICLE WANDERS; FRONT END ALIGNED 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR; WARPED DISC ROTORS TWICE IN TWO YEAR PERIOD; DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAK; VAOLTAGE METER AMBIGUOS READING; SIDEMARKERS INOPERATIVE AND CORRODED; HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURE; REMOTE KEYS FILED; REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST TO NIGHT DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10126748

Incident

Jan 20, 2000

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

CADILLAC CATER 1998 EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURE THAT CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE. *BF THE TRUNK LIGHT BULBS FAILED. THE TRUNK LIGHT BAR FAILED. THE KEY FOB FAILED. THE CD PLAYER FAILED. THE WINDOW WASHER HOSE FAILED. THE SWITCH FOR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BOTTOM GEAR OF THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FRONT AND REAR END HAD TO BE ALIGNED DUE TO THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CENTER LINK WAS ALSO REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10113275

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

67,000 mi

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

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

NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH 1998 CATERA. HAD TIMING BELT TENSIONER-PULLEYS/CAM DRIVE REPLACED LAST YEAR(3-2002) WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. "SERVICE CAMPAIGN" WAS ISSUED BY CADILLAC IN SEPT 2002 FOR CATERA'S TO HAVE CAME DRIVE IDLER/TENSIONER PULLEY/WATER PUMP REPLACED WITH NEW VERSION. GOT VEHICLE SERVICED TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT CAR HAD ANOTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED-OUT OF POCKET-COOLANT CROSSOVER LEAKING INTO OIL COOLER, AND VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING OIL.....THE CAR RUNS EXTREMELY HOT, HAS POOR PERFORMANCE, GETS TERRIBLE GAS MILLAGE, BATTERY HAS LOW VOLTAGE WHEN NOTHING IS LEFT ON BY MISTAKE, REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIME IN TWO YEARS, A/C HAD NEW COMPRESSOR REPLACED PAST SUMMER 2002 STILL NOT ABLE TO COOL CAR AND WHILE IN USE THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TRACTOR, BOGGS DOWN THE PERFROMANCE. HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED (COST OVER 800.00) AT 34,000, PURCHASED 4 SETS OF MICHELLAN MXV4 TIRES IN LAST 2 YEARS-INSIDE TREAD SEPERATION ON FRONT TIRES CAUSED BLOW OUT TWICE.

NHTSA ID

10036738

Incident

Aug 27, 2003

AFTER REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION AND EXITING VEHICLE, VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACK INTO A PLAYGROUND AREA. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED IN ANY GEAR. CONSUMER ADDS THAT IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 45" TO 20" FOR KEY TO CYCLE ON THE IGNITION. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST, ALSO THIS PROBLEM DID CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *TT

NHTSA ID

566415

Incident

Sep 5, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLS AND SURGES, INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND CRANK SENSOR AS THE PROBLEMS. *YD

NHTSA ID

786015

Incident

May 1, 2002

KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER CONFIRMED THAT LOCK AND UNLOCK SWITCH WERE BAD, CONSUMER SATED THE GEAR WAS IN PARK AND THE KEYS WERE IN HER PURSE, AND 5 TO 10 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A SMALL FENCE.*JB

NHTSA ID

8007008

Incident

Sep 5, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED INFLATOR MODULE. NLM

NHTSA ID

563665

Incident

May 8, 2001

BRAKE INSP.BRAKE REPLACED3/9/00;CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 5/12/00-FUEL INJECTOR DIRTY, REPLACE SENSOR; LEFT WINDOW SLOW IN OPERATION - 6/23/00;INGINTION REMOTE KEY NOT WORKING- TWO REPLACEMENT 6/23/00;CAR JERKING IN SPORT MODE, PRBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS, SUNROOF SLIDES BACK AN FORTH WITHOUT TURNING DIAL,RECALL ON ENGINE CHECK PULLEY 7/05/000; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CAR STALLS7/31/00; VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR BUT TIRES, REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES, I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE TIRE RODS. I ASK FOR A REA SUSP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT NECESSARY AND THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO IT THAT DAY. RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP OUT 3/01/01; LEFT HEAD LIGHT OUT 4/13/01;CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SUNROOF OPENS WHILE DRIVING W/O TURNING DIAL,5/24/01; REMOTE KEY NOT WORKING REPLACE KEY , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, 6/21/01; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON , SLOW PICKUP, REAR SUS. ROUGH RIDE HELP-RECALL EMISSION 7/26/01; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONTACT DEALER ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TO ADJUST THE KNOB ON THE GAS TANK BY TURNING IT SEVERAL TIMES. 8/6/01; CAR WILL NOT START BATTERY DEAD, SUNROOF NOT WORKING. CONTACT TOW SERVICE THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER. TOW SERVICE BOOST CAR BATTERY AND LEFT. SUNROOF REFUSE TO OPERATE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 8/13/01-CAR PARKED GOING ON VACATION; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON RETURN FROM VACATION 8/23/01-HELP- DOING THE FIRST YEAR OF 1999 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BREAKS THOSES DOCUMENTS WERE DESTROYED IN A HOUSE FIRE. MY HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 11/24/99.*AK (TIRESIZE: 14RHS)

NHTSA ID

751086

Incident

Jul 24, 2001

A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE: FOG LIGHTS BURNED OUT FAST/ RADIATOR LIGHTS CAME ON/STEERING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED, AND TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED A FEW TIMES. TREAD SEPARATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE TRYING TO REMEDY PROBLEM. CONSUMER WANTED DEALER/MANUFACTURWER TO BUY BACK VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

880623

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS PARKED OVERNIGHT IT WOULD FAIL TO RESTART AGAIN. WOULD HAVE TOW VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, 8 TIMES SO FAR. MECHANIC WOULD REPROGRAM KEY; REPLACED BATTERY/FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. GMC EPURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER, 1999 FOR THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE LESS $400.OO *AK

NHTSA ID

849840

Incident

Jul 6, 1999

KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. MJS

NHTSA ID

608042

THIS IS A NEW CAR. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ELECTICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR REPAIRS OVER AND OVER. I HAVE ASK CADILLAC TO REPLACE THIS CAR,BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA ID

700464

Incident

Aug 3, 1998