12 of the 269 complaints about the 1997 Cadillac Catera are about the airbag system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 35,253 miles.
12
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
AIR BAGS
WHILE STARTING PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10083696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, STATING AIR BAG SYSTEM NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10079215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 2/8/04 FOR RECALL 2041, 1037. TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND IT WAS OVER ONE INCH BELOW FULL, HE ALSO CHECKED THE DRIVEWAY FOR ANY ANTIFREEZE AND CHECKED WHERE YOU PUT OIL IN THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF EXTERNAL LEAKS, BUT A WHITE MILKY SUBSTANCE UNDER THE OIL CAP. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE. I EMAILED GM ABOUT THIS. THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE! WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR DAN HEMM CADILLAC, MR. CHARLIE CAROLL. HE IS AWARE OF YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE COOLANT LEVEL FOR THE 1997 CADILLAC CATERA. HE IS WILLING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE CONCERN IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL 02041, AND THEY WILL NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY. HE HAS ALSO INFORMED US THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR THE RECALL, THEY DID REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT HIM. IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO CONTACT US IN THE FUTURE, SIMPLY REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE OR CALL OUR CADILLAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-458-8006. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. BE SURE TO REFER TO YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER 1-226247104 IN ALL FUTURE COMMUNICATION. IF I RETURN THIS CAR, LET THE DEALER TOW IT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE TOLD THAT THE REASON MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE IS MY FAULT, AND WILL BE HANDED A BILL FOR TOWING AND WHATEVER OTHER CHARGES FOR THEM LOOKING AT IT! I HAD THE CAR BACK TWO DAYS, A TOTAL OF 374 MILES. THE CAR HAS 34867 MILES; I HAVE HAD A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HEADLIGHT AIMERS, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH'S, HEADLIGHT SWITCH, IGNITION COIL PACK, AIR BAG SYSTEM. EVEN WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WENT WRONG, I AT LEAST COULD DRIVE IT, UNTIL I RETURNED IT FOR A RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10078836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE FAILED. *TS. CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE.*JB
NHTSA complaint #8021534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8018027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS TO MOVE AHEAD SLOWLY, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEFECT CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE STOPPING. CONSUMER HIT POLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES. VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED ON, CADILLAC REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG FAILING TO DEPLOY. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. CONSUMER STATES KEY WOULD NOT TURN THE IGNTION ON NUMERIOUS OCCASIONS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #884043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURY WHEN CONSUMER'S CHEST STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. MJS
NHTSA complaint #546011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #837941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER RAN INTO DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #837941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SLID AND LOST CONTROL, HITTING A TREE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #839147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #542968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION, ALSO NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #537376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.