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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

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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
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

Structure complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
27,191 miles · Mar 18, 2005
EquipmentSeatsService Brakes, HydraulicInjury

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…

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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 ODI #10115604

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

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 CADI…

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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 ODI #10067764

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Exterior LightingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

DUE TO A DEFECT IN FRONT ALIGMENT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES PULSATE, SQUEAK AND GO TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING OUT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE…

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DUE TO A DEFECT IN FRONT ALIGMENT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES PULSATE, SQUEAK AND GO TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING OUT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR HINGE WAS UNSTABLE, ALSO THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK STICKS. THE WIPERS SCRUB. THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES NOISE. THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT SHINES TOO HIGH. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8009295

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 · Feb 17, 1999
Structure

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH WHEN FRONT END & STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SNOW WAS LODGED IN WHEEL WELL & OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE UNBALANCED AND IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834914

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Structure

REAR PASSANGER DOOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #608770

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Structure

ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606368

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.