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1997 Cadillac Catera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Catera years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Cadillac Catera are substantially higher than the model-year median of 67.

About this comparison →
163Owner complaints

Model-year median: 67

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
163
1997123
199880
199967
2000
Compare all Catera years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
75Electrical System
24Suspension
21Service Brakes, Hydraulic
18Exterior Lighting
16
All reported categories
Steering
14Visibility
12Air Bags
11Power Train
10Tires
10Structure
8Vehicle Speed Control
8Unknown Or Other
7Equipment
6Fuel System, Gasoline
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Seats
2Interior Lighting
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 25 of 163 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

1997-1999 CADILLAC CATERA DOOR LATCH FAILURES. PER THE YAHOO GROUP WEB SITE I BELONG TO, CATERA OWNERS, THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS CHRONIC DOOR LATCH FAILURES, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE OR NOT LATCHING. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY OWN VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THIS DEFECT. THE LATCHES HAVE PLASTIC THAT BREAKS AND JAMS…

Read full complaint

1997-1999 CADILLAC CATERA DOOR LATCH FAILURES. PER THE YAHOO GROUP WEB SITE I BELONG TO, CATERA OWNERS, THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS CHRONIC DOOR LATCH FAILURES, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE OR NOT LATCHING. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY OWN VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED THIS DEFECT. THE LATCHES HAVE PLASTIC THAT BREAKS AND JAMS THE MECHANISM. OR SIMPLY FAIL TO LATCH OR UNLATCH. I HAVE HAD BOTH SITUATIONS. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN OR WILL NOT CLOSE (LATCH). I FEEL THIS DEFECT HAS BY PURE LUCK NOT CAUSED (ANY KNOWN) FATALITIES, BUT, ONLY A MATTER OF TIME AND WARRANTS A LOOK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161420

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesFire

1997 CADILLAC CATERA PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES IN THE 6 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, RIGHT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, LEFT SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY OUT, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON BELTWAY (INSURANCE ESTIMATE A TOTAL LOSS)

NHTSA ODI #737277

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.