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1999 Cadillac Catera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Cadillac Catera do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 67.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

20 reports with mileage · 60 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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Tires complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicTires

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR…

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I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND OTHER REPAIRS THAT THANKFULLY WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS WE SPEAK THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE THREE HOLES IN THE CAR THAT HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT, PLUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND. WHEN IT RAINED THE CAR LEAKED INSIDE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE FORGOTEN TO ROLL UP A WINDOW. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I KNEW BETTER AND TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ENTERPRISE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN I EXPERINCED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE I WENT TO INVESTGATE. THE REASON THAT I'M CONTACTING YOU IS THAT AFTER TALKING TO A REPERSENATIVE OF ENTERPRISE, AND INFORMING HIM OF THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I HAVE JUST INFORMED YOU OF; I WAS TREATED AS IF I'M SOME KIND OF INEPT PERSON WHO COULD NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLISTIC WORKINGS OF A VEHICLE SUCH AS FLAT TIRES WITH METAL THREADS SHOWING THROUGH, OR ABLE TO NOTICE THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD OR THE SOUNDS OF METAL RUBBING ON METAL. I WAS ASKED REPEATLY IF I KNEW FOR SURE THAT THE BRAKES WERE REALLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OR IF IT WAS SOME TYPE OF SCAM THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO GET EXTRA MONEY, OR IF I TOOK THE BRAKES HOME AS EVIDENCE. I DON'T KNOW OF TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO REQUEST THEIR OLD BRAKES FOR SOME TYPE OF EVIDENCE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF THIS TYPE OF INTEROGATION I ENDED THE CONVERSATION REALIZING THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10070309

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2003
Tires

I HAVE A 1998 AND 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. BOTH CARS HAVE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES. THE 1999 HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. GOODYEAR PAID FOR THE FRONT TWO BECAUSE THE CAMBER SPECS GIVEN TO CADILLAC WERE INCORRECT. THE BACK TWO WERE BLAMED ON THE DELAER SWITCHING TIRES FROM ANOTHER CAR. THE…

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I HAVE A 1998 AND 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. BOTH CARS HAVE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES. THE 1999 HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. GOODYEAR PAID FOR THE FRONT TWO BECAUSE THE CAMBER SPECS GIVEN TO CADILLAC WERE INCORRECT. THE BACK TWO WERE BLAMED ON THE DELAER SWITCHING TIRES FROM ANOTHER CAR. THE 1998 HAD BOTH ITS FRONT TIRES REPLACED UNDER THE SAME PROGRAM BUT THE REAR TWO SEEMED ALL RIGHT. THEY WERE UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN ONE OF THE REAR TIRES WENT FLAT. AND THE OTHER REAR TIRE COULD GO FLAT AT ANY TIME. ALL EIGHT TIRES HAVE EXHIBITED THE SAME EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TREAD. THE STEEL BELTS SHOW AND ALL RUBBER IS GONE ON THE EDGE. THE REMAINDER OF THE TIRE HAS TREAD COMPARABLE TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MILAGE OF THE CAR. SOMETHING IS WRONG EITHER THE CAMBER OR THE TIRE ITSELF. THE FLAT LAST NIGHT OCCURRED AT 75 MPH ON I-12. A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10003437

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2002
SuspensionTires

FRONT TIRES ARE BEING REPLACED WITHIN 10,000 WITH STEEL BELTS SHOWING ONCE THIS MILEAGE IS REACHED. THE OWNER IS BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP "THAT IT IS HER DRIVING". THE TIRES ARE ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES WITH ALIGNMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED BY THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA ODI #8022056

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Tires

CONSUMER NOTICED A BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL OF LEFT REAR TIRE AND REPLACED IT, SIX MONTHS LATER RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BUBBLE AT 36000 MILES, AND ONE YEAR LATER LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD BUBBLE (VOGUE TIRES ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT P225/55R16 .*AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8014299

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2002
Tires

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 8/7/01 THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD BUBBLE IN IT AT 30764 MILES. ON 1/16/02 THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD BULGE ON IT AT 36267 MILES. ON 6/19/02 THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD BULGE IN IT AT 45169 MILES. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8014169

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2002
Power TrainSteeringTires

I HAVE REPORTED THE TIRE DEFECT TO YOUR OFFICE IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 8TH, 2002 AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU. BBB AUTO LINE AND CADILLAC HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND ARE WORKING ON A RESOLUTION. I HAVE OVER 30 DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 3/22/02 LEAVING MY COLLEGE DAUGHTER AND MYSELF …

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I HAVE REPORTED THE TIRE DEFECT TO YOUR OFFICE IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 8TH, 2002 AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU. BBB AUTO LINE AND CADILLAC HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND ARE WORKING ON A RESOLUTION. I HAVE OVER 30 DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FAILED ON 3/22/02 LEAVING MY COLLEGE DAUGHTER AND MYSELF STRANDED IN ARKANSAS. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN REIMBURSED FOR TRIP INTERRUPTION EXPENSES. MY FIRST TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT WAS AT 7140 MILES, 02/02/00. THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN ON-GOING AND DANGEROUS AT TIMES. CAN YOU HELP? I ALREADY MAILED YOUR OFFICE A DETAILED PACKAGE. WILL YOU HELP?*AK

NHTSA ODI #761391

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AND THE S LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKING OFF AS IF IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND APP SENSOR. *TT

NHTSA ODI #565338

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2002
Tires

ORIGINAL TIRES, RS-AP225/55R16 94 H; CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW DOT CODE OR NAME OF TIRE. ORIGINAL TIRES CHANGED AT 12000 AND AGAIN AT 35000. DEALER STATED THAT TIRES WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8006959

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2002
Tires

ORIGINAL TIRES ON A CADILLAC CATERA 1999. RS-A P225-/55R16 94 H. CONSUMER STATES AT 12000 MILES TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR AND NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER STATES AT 35000 ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED REPLACING AGAIN. CONSUMER FEELS TIRES ARE DEFECTED. *NLM *YD

NHTSA ODI #8006565

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2001
Tires

TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE SHOWING TREAD SEPARATION. METAL WAS SHOWING ON INSIDE OF TIRES. ALL TIRES WERE SHOWING WEAR AND TEAR. *AK (DOT NUMBER: M6T4 TIRESIZE: P225/55R16)

NHTSA ODI #745561

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.