29 of the
826 complaints filed about the Cadillac Catera
are about the throttle and cruise control —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
29
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
I WOULD DRIVE THE CATERA RIGHT ON THE MAIN BUSY ROAD MY CAR MADE A SUICIDAL STOP! I PANIC! IMMEDIATELY PUT THE EMERGENCY HAZARDOUS LIGHTS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE IS READING THE SENSOR ARE BAD, SO I SPENT OVER $300.00 DOLLARS REPLACING THEM, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT OR IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AGAIN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC A DIFFERENT PERSON THIS TIME. HE SAID; IT WAS THE MANIFOLD INTAKE, THEY ARE PLASTIC AND THEY CRACK OR BEND WHEN THE CAR ENGINE HEATS, THE MECHANIC AND I LOOKED FOR DIFFERENT JUNKYARDS TO OUR SURPRISE MOST OF THE CADILLAC OF THAT MADE THE VERY PIECE WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS MISSING. (PLASTIC AIR TAKE AND THE HOSE) IT DOES NOT TAKE A ROCK SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH PUTTING A PLASTIC INTAKE INSIDE A ENGINE THAT HOLDS A LOT OF HEAT. SPECIALLY FOR ME I LIVE IN A YEAR AROUND HOT WEATHER. I WENT TO DIFFERENT AUTO PART STORES TO FIND THE PART BECAUSE THE JUNKYARD WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION WHAT I DID FIND ALL THE AUTO PARTS STORE HAD NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT THIS CAR. IT HAS A BAD REPUTATION THIS BEAUTIFUL DREAM CADILLAC CATEREA IS THE BAD APPLES OF THE CADILLAC, IT IS ASHAMED YOU DON'T HAVE A RECALL ON THESE CARS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT CHEAPER TO STOP MAKING THEM THAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM I SEE THEY ARE STILL OUT IN THE STREET. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE ONE. I CALLED GM AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM OR HAVE I REPAIRED THE CAR WITH THEM. BUT IS THIER CAR MODEL. DON'T GET IT. THEY GAVE BIRTH TO DEFECTIVE CARS NOW THEY WANT US TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10325517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE ACCELERATOR "TOOK OVER" AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. AT SOME POINT THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE SHEARED OFF AND FLEW OFF THE CAR CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. MY HUSBAND, A FORMER NAVY SEAL, MANAGED TO "MANHANDLE" THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO AVOID A LONG LINE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT CLIPPED THE TAIL END OF A TRAILER BEING PULLED BY A TRUCK. HE SURVIVED. WE HAD ONLY BOUGHT THE CAR 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHERE IT WAS TOTALED. IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 3 OF THE 5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP FOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS. NO ONE WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. GEICO PAID OFF THE LOAN AND WE GOT NOTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10318104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10099771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10067057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THERE WAS NO REACTION. THEN, CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT ENGINE AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10067039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON (NOT ENGAGED BY DRIVER), NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN, TAPPED BRAKES, DIDN'T DISENGAGE, TURNED OFF SWITCH, DIDN'T DISENGAGE, STEPPED ON BRAKES 3-4 MORE TIMES HARDER, FINALLY DISENGAGED. DT
NHTSA complaint #768693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES COULD ALSO PRESS GAS AND VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT CURB. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8006784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IT ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED, PRESSED DOWN ON BRAKE, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. ACCIDENT OCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8003263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FOREWARD. IT JUMPED A CURB WENT THROUGH SOME LANDSCAPEING AND CLAMMED INTO A BRICK BUILDING. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE CRASH AT ELEVATED RPMS.
NHTSA complaint #752960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK TWICE. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME PEDAL WAS HARD. SECOND TIME GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT COME BACK UP, AND CAR CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED. CONSUMER TRIED PRESSING BRAKE AT SAME TIME, VEHICLE FINALLY SLOWED DOWN, AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN IT OFF. ALSO, STATED ENGINE WAS RACING OUT OF CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THEY WERE FORCED BACK INTO AN UNSAFE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #883120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTREMLY HESITANT SHIFTING. FAILURE TO DOWNSHIFT ON COMMAND. RAPID THROTTLE POSITION CHANGE CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO 'HANG IN LIMBO'(SOMETIMES FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS) WHEN QUICK RESPONSE IS REQUIRED. HENCE, VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF TROUBLE SITUATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #741425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.