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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.

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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

56 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

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 …

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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 ODI #751086

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 3 TIMES; FIRST TIME AT 40 MPH VEHICLE SPUTTERED/ STALLED SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, AND THEN STARTED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE, TOLD CONSUMER HE COULD NOT FIND CAUSE, UNABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890086

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE TALKED WITH A PERSON A COLE VALLEY AND HE SAID THAT MY CAR AND OTHER LIKE MINE HAD THE SAME THING GO WRONG WITH IT IN ONE CASE SOME ONE HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE FOR A 1997 AND A 1998 DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE HE'S TALKING ABOUT BUT MY GUESS ITS UP THERE . *AK (TIRESIZE: 23540ZR18)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23540ZR18 )

NHTSA ODI #744930

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

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 VEHICL…

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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 ODI #880623

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED DUE TO A FAULTY TIMING BELT. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #870928

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF RECALL NOTICE FOR ENGIINE PROBLEM-WAS NOT ADVISED OF ANY IMMINENT DANGER-LOST POWER STEERING-CAR OVERHEATED & ENGINE FAILURE, BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAL INTERMITTENTLY, STEERING PULLS TO SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #731256

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesSuspension

THE REAR DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #551893

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2000
Electronic Stability ControlEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

FRONT END MISALIGNMENT CAUSED PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. YH

NHTSA ODI #551815

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

POWER STEERING FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #550824

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO MALFUNCTION. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854678

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.