1997 Cadillac Catera problems
The 1997 Cadillac Catera has 269 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (25%) concerns engine. Next are electrical system (11%) and suspension (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 269 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 25% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 16 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 64,000 miles 37 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 9 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 37 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 64,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 68,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 16 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Cadillac Catera with enough data (157 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
Tensioner pulley locked up. The tensioner stopped turning. As a result of this, the drive belt shredded like spaghetti and then melted. I avoided an accident by applying brakes and then having the car towed. Total repair cost: $729.
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.