IllustrationTHIS 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.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Catera years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
625–50K
2050–75K
275–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
123 reportsCONSUMER 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
BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK DUE TO A SOUND THAT HAPPENS TO THE SEAT BELTS. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE THE SEAT BELT EXPLODED. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AROUND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THE DRIVER APPLYING THE BRAKES OR ANY SUDDEN IMPACT. THE SEAT BELTS TIGHTEN AROUND THE FRONT PASSE…
Read full complaint
BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK DUE TO A SOUND THAT HAPPENS TO THE SEAT BELTS. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE THE SEAT BELT EXPLODED. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AROUND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THE DRIVER APPLYING THE BRAKES OR ANY SUDDEN IMPACT. THE SEAT BELTS TIGHTEN AROUND THE FRONT PASSENGERS, CAUSING THE PASSENGERS TO BE UNSAFE. IF THIS HAPPENS NOW, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN IMPACT AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD TIGHTEN WHAT WOULD AROUND THE PASSENGER. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.