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1998 Cadillac Catera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Cadillac Catera do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 67.

About this comparison →
123Owner complaints

Model-year median: 67

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
163
1997123
199880
199967
200030
2001
Compare all Catera years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
56Suspension
22Tires
19Electrical System
17Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
All reported categories
Air Bags
9Power Train
9Fuel System, Gasoline
8Steering
8Visibility
8Seats
7Structure
7Exterior Lighting
6Equipment
5Latches/locks/linkages
5Unknown Or Other
5Vehicle Speed Control
3Wheels
3Service Brakes, Air
2Service Brakes, Electric
2Electronic Stability Control
1Fuel System, Other
1Seat Belts
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

39 reports with mileage · 84 unknown

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 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

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 T…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10350460

59,942 miles · Jun 5, 2006
Air Bags

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BEFORE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 7/3/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159035

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2003
Air Bags

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH AND WITH NO WARNING BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024573

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. $7,440.00 DAMAGE MY VEHICLE. OTHER VEHICLE (2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM) WAS TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760458

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WATER VALVE FAILED RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED VALVE AND REFILLED SYSTEM, OIL COOLER LINE LEAKING, DEALER RESEALED HOUSING AND REPLACED COOLANT BRIDGE OIL LEVEL SENSOR SHORTED . NLM

NHTSA ODI #563665

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
Air Bags

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON. ON FOUR OCCASIONS VEHICLE VEHICLE BEEN IN /OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CAN NHTSA HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851132

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS ON AN EXIT RAMP AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH, WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL, DAMAGING THE FRONT AND SIDE OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836832

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Air BagsElectrical System

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 ODI #700464

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1998
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCEY BRAKES, BUT REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. IMPACT WAS DONE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. NEITHER AIR BAGS OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DEPOLYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828298

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.