Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

67 reports

48,000 miles · Apr 27, 2005

Air BagsInjury

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO LOOSE A PORTION OF HIS HEARING. MANUFACTURER RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND MADE THE REPAIRS. SOME MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING THE SAME PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10119246

6,000 miles · Dec 29, 2004

SteeringTires

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS BENT OUT OF SHAPE. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AT 6,000 MILES. *AK THE LEFT FRONT INSIDE WIRE WAS SHOWING. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10099715

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2004

Tires

CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE SAME BRAND, AND THE TIRES WORE DOWN TO THE WIRE. VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED AT 6000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10099603

314,280 miles · Oct 30, 2004

Steering

COMPLETE STEERING LOCK FOR LEFT TURN CAPABILITY OF VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098020

46,000 miles · Aug 5, 2004

Electrical System

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087324

50,700 miles · Jul 19, 2004

Structure

WHILE DRIVING THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW SEPERATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDOW IS ALSO GONE. *MR THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW BLEW OFF OF THE CAR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SEAL MAY HAVE COME LOOSE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10066649

52,000 miles · Jul 7, 2004

Exterior Lighting

HEADLAMP ADJUSTMENT IS DEFECTIVE. HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE AIMED PROPERLY DUE TO INTERNAL BREAKAGE. THIS IS APPARENTLY COMMON TO ALL MODELS OF CADILLAC CATERAS FROM 1997 TO 2001. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10080484

80,000 miles · Feb 16, 2004

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineCrash

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE CAR DUE TO THE CAR STALL THE CAR SPUN OUT AND WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SEVERAL STALLOUTS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS SINCE PURCHASED IN 2002. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WITH NOT STARTING WHEN THE CAR IS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH FUEL. AFTER BEING FILLED COMPLETELY, THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL DAYS.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKS ANTIFREEZE FROM THE OIL COOLER AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 GALLON PER WEEK. CADILLAC ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10058262

44,000 miles · Jan 28, 2004

Air BagsCrash

WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT 10 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS BROAD SIDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE FOUR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. ALL FOUR PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND NO ONE WAS CITED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056055

30,000 miles · Dec 23, 2003

Suspension

SEVERE INSIDE TIRE WEAR. CAR IS ON 3RD SET OF FRONT TIRES AT 30,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS ALIGNMENT WILL HELP BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE. CAR HAS BEEN ALIGNED 3 TIMES IN PAST 6 MONTHS. ISSUE IS WITH LOWER CONTROL ARMS ACCORDING TO OTHERS BUT GM DENIES IT.

NHTSA ODI #10050994

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.