25 of the
826 complaints filed about the Cadillac Catera
are about the fuel system —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
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.
THE TENSIONER PULLEY & TIMING BELT WAS A KNOW DEFECT FOR VEHICLE AND WAS RECALLED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I LOST ALL POWER & CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON AN DECLINE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC LOCATION IN A SERVER RAIN STORM. VEHICLE IS NOW DOA AND GM REFUSES TO REMEDY TUES EVENING 6/23 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, IN 30-45 SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING, EARLIER IN THE DAY I HEARD A KNOCK AND THOUGHT I RAN OVER SOMETHING AS ALL GAUGES INDICATED EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING NORMAL. HAD AAA TOW IT TO MY HOME AND NEXT DAY (WED.) TO THE CADDY DEALER. THEY CHARGE ME $109 TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM, THEN TELL ME THE TIMING BELT BROKE! IT WILL COST ANOTHER $600 LABOR FOR 5 HOURS OF INSPECTION TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND DEPENDING WHAT THEY FIND $$$$$$ TO FIX, DAAAAA! I CALL THE SERVICE MANAGER HE TELLS ME HE'LL CHECK IT OUT AND CALL ME BACK. OK SO NOW HE CALLS ME AND TELL ME THE REP MISS-QUOTED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. NOW IT'S THE TENSION PULLEY THAT FAILED CASING THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP, TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SET IS $699 + LABOR AND SUGGESTED I INVEST ANOTHER $150 TO CHANGE THE COOLANT PUMP AS IT'S SHOWING SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AT THE SAME TIME SO IT DOESN'T RUN ME ADDITIONAL COSTS LATER AS IT'S IN THE SAME PART OF THE ENGINE AS THE PULLEY AND BELT. GRAND TOTAL OF $1207 + TAX. "BUT" DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY REPLACE THE TENSIONER PULLEY & TIMING BELT THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL COST IF THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START. OK SO I TELL HIM TO GO AHEAD. I DECIDED TO GOGGLE THE PROBLEM TO SEE WHAT IT IS I AM PAYING FOR, HELLLLLLO! WHAT DO I FIND BUT A MAJOR RECALL BACK IN 9/2002 ON THE TENSIONER PULLEY FAILURE CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP!!!!!!!!! & THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLANT PUMP. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OR ADVISED OF THIS RECALL. THEY NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING EVERY TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I ONLY HAVE ONLY 20,654 MILES ON THE CAR, AS IT'S MY 2ND VEHICLE AND USE IT LOCALLY FOR SHOPPING. NORMAL REPLACEMENT FOR THE TIMING BELT & TENSIONER PULLEY IS 70K MI.
NHTSA complaint #10275593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 99 CATERA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND SENSE THEN THIS CAR IS A CARDBOARD BOX ON WHEELS. THE ALARM SYSTEM AS GONE LOOPY IN THE SENSE THAT I COULDN'T START MY VEHICLE UNLESS I CRANKED IT ONCE LEFT IT FOR 15-30 MIN AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN. AFTER DISABLING THE ALARM SYSTEM IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN ON OCCASION. THE AC/HEATER WENT OUT DUE TO THE COMPRESSOR HAVING TO MUCH COMPRESSION. THE SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF OR NOT AT ALL. THE VACUUM HOSES HAD HOLES IN IT WHICH WAS A RECALL BUT NOT TO KEN BATCHLEOR. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HS GONE OUT THREE TIMES AND COSTS 300 TO REPLACE EVERYTIME. MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY BY THE CLAMP. THE LEVELING LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR DAYS AT A TIME. THE ARM THAT KEEPS MY DRIVERS DOOR OPEN BROKE THROUGH THE DOOR WELDINGS AND IS DANGLING IN THE DOOR. THE SEALS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER IN THE ENGINE. I PAID MORE IN REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE THEN WHAT IT ORIGINALLY COST. THE DRIVERS FRONT AND REAR WINDOW GETS STUCK AND OPENS BY THEIR SELVES. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK FULLY OR OPEN FULLY. THE HORN WILL GO OUT ALL TOGETHER IN THE RAIN. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN THEY CAN NEVER READ ANY ERR CODES AND IT TAKES ME SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE CAUSING ME TO GET REPAIRS THAT AREN'T PART OF THE MAIN PROBLEM. THERE IS NO CAMBER ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS CAR SO IF U HIT A CURB YOUR SCREWED. GAS FULL STOP RANDOMLY DOES NOT WORK AND CAUSES LOSS OF MONEY AND GAS. ME AND MY FAMILY OF 5 HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR HOURS DUE TO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND HERE IN TEXAS WITH A CAR THAT HAS NO AC OR HEATER IS A MAJOR PAIN. ANYONE WHO HASN'T BOUGHT ONE... DON'T!!!! CADILLAC THEMSELVES TOOK THE DUCKS OFF THE EMBLEM AFTER 99 BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES DIDN'T THINK OF THIS CAR AS A CADILLAC STANDARD CAR. WHEN I CALLED KEN BATCHLORE THEY STATED THERE WHERE ONLY TWO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT HAD ALREADY EXPIRED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I FEEL SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS IGNORANCE. PROBLEMS SINCE 06-PRESENT.
NHTSA complaint #10247392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL LINE BEHIND PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WAS DAMAGED BY AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT THE DRIVER RAN OVER. THE FUEL LINE IS NOT PROTECTED IN ANYWAY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WELL. THIS INCIDENT LEAD TO A MAJOR GAS LEAK AND THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10229812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M REPAIRING THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE SAME ENGINE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN 50000 MILES, 100000 TOTAL MILES. THESE CARS WERE LEMONS! CADILLAC KNOWS IT, BUT DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED TO RESPOND TO THE THOUSANDS OF CATERA OWNERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE EXPENSE OF REPEATED REPAIRS, TOTALING $10,000 WITH TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR, TIMING BELTS, COOLING SYSTEMS, WATER PUMPS,AND OH YEAH...ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE!!! GIVE ME A BREAK! AND ANY ADVICE BESIDES THE OBVIOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10187875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
NO MONEY HAS CHANGED HANDS YET. 2001 CADILLAC CATERRA IS UNDER WARANTY. FUEL LINE RUPTURED FROM HIGHWAY DEBRIS. PARTS WERE DIFFICULT TO GET. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY SCHOOLING AND PROFESSION. THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINE IS OF A BAD DESIGN, EXPOSED TO HIGHWAY DEBRIS. IT IS NOT COMPLETELY ARMORED OR SHIELDED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, I WAS OUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS. SHE WAS NOT SURE WHAT SHE HIT, BUT SMELLED GASOLINE IMMEDIATELY, PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. APPROX. 1/2 TANK FULL OF GAS WAS QUICKLY PUMPED TO ATMOSPHERE AND TO THE GROUND, DUE TO THE TUBING FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE CADILLAC CORPORATION, SPOKE WITH A MS. STACY ADAMS, MANAGER CUSTOMER RELATIONS, SHE STATED THAT THE WARANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS DAMAGE. I DISAGREE. THE CADILLAC FILE NUMBER IS 1-255444062. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN PLACEMENT OF THE GASOLINE SUPPLY LINES, 3-LINES, SUPPLY, RETURN AND VAPOR. THE SUPPLY LINE RUPTURED. I AM REPORTING THIS DUE TO THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED. HAD MY WIFE NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES IF IT CONTINUED RUNNING. THIS WAS ALSO EVIDENCED BY THE MECHANIC WHO CAME TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO DEMONTROND CADILLAC. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEMONTROND CADILLAC, 888 I-45 SOUTH, CONROE, TX 77304. AS OF THIS DATE IT IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 9/8/01. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER, I DRIVE IT SOMETIMES. I REVIEWED THE INCIDENTS / COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE LISTED ON THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED MOST OF THE PROBLEMS LISTED, THE MAJORITY.
NHTSA complaint #10090805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA WITH APPROX 49000 MILES ON VEHICLE. FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE SON WAS FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE AND AUTO FILL SHUT OFF NEVER SHUT PUMP OFF FUEL SPILLED ON GROUND UNTIL PUMP WAS MANUALLY SHUT OFF AT HOSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE SON TRIED DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS THINKING IT MIGHT BE THE PUMP - HAPPENED AT EVERY PUMP AND TODAY I FILLED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS THREE THREE FEET AWAY CLEANING BACK WINDOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND APPROX 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL SPILLED FROM OVER FLOWING UNTIL I COULD RELEASE THE FUEL HANDLE FROM PUMP. START JUNE 4TH THROUGH PRESENT PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. FIRE COULD EASILY HAVE STARTED AND CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE AND OR INJURY OR DEATH IF FIRE HAD STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #10088744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND THEY JUST KEEP PILING UP. I JUST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND VALVE COVER GASKETS A MONTH AGO AND NOW MY OIL PRESSURE IS FAILING. MY SERVICE WRITTER TELLS ME THIS CAR IS NOTORIUS FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, SPECIFICALLY THE WAY IT HANDLES OIL AND COOLING. I SENT A LETTER TO CADILLAC WHEN I HAD PROBLES A MONTH AGO BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?
NHTSA complaint #10067764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10058262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FROM FUEL TANK FILLER DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN TANK IS FILLED AND THE AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLAGE IS DANGEROUS. ALARM AND DOORS DO NOT RESPOND TO KEYLESS REMOTE; CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN AFTER WHEEL ALIGNMENT. DT
NHTSA complaint #769461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF FROM FUEL TANK FILLER DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN TANK IS FILLED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. CONSUMER HAS HAD FUEL TANK REPLACED BY DEALER TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #8015899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE INSP.BRAKE REPLACED3/9/00;CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 5/12/00-FUEL INJECTOR DIRTY, REPLACE SENSOR; LEFT WINDOW SLOW IN OPERATION - 6/23/00;INGINTION REMOTE KEY NOT WORKING- TWO REPLACEMENT 6/23/00;CAR JERKING IN SPORT MODE, PRBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS, SUNROOF SLIDES BACK AN FORTH WITHOUT TURNING DIAL,RECALL ON ENGINE CHECK PULLEY 7/05/000; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CAR STALLS7/31/00; VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR BUT TIRES, REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES, I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE TIRE RODS. I ASK FOR A REA SUSP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT NECESSARY AND THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO IT THAT DAY. RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP OUT 3/01/01; LEFT HEAD LIGHT OUT 4/13/01;CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SUNROOF OPENS WHILE DRIVING W/O TURNING DIAL,5/24/01; REMOTE KEY NOT WORKING REPLACE KEY , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, 6/21/01; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON , SLOW PICKUP, REAR SUS. ROUGH RIDE HELP-RECALL EMISSION 7/26/01; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONTACT DEALER ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TO ADJUST THE KNOB ON THE GAS TANK BY TURNING IT SEVERAL TIMES. 8/6/01; CAR WILL NOT START BATTERY DEAD, SUNROOF NOT WORKING. CONTACT TOW SERVICE THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER. TOW SERVICE BOOST CAR BATTERY AND LEFT. SUNROOF REFUSE TO OPERATE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 8/13/01-CAR PARKED GOING ON VACATION; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON RETURN FROM VACATION 8/23/01-HELP- DOING THE FIRST YEAR OF 1999 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BREAKS THOSES DOCUMENTS WERE DESTROYED IN A HOUSE FIRE. MY HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 11/24/99.*AK (TIRESIZE: 14RHS)
NHTSA complaint #751086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
WHEN FILLING UP FUELTANK FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF. BUT, WHEN REMOVING THE NOZZLE, GAS CAME OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. CONTACTED DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.*AK CONSUMER HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TANK AFTER REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #863163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.