Cadillac Catera suspension problems

SUSPENSION

ENGINE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OIL PRESSURE THAT STAY BELOW MINIMUM AT IDLE WHEN ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMP. FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAIL WITH LESS THEN 90000 MILES. AUTO TRANSMISSION FAIL WITH LESS THEN 90000 MILES. HAVE ENGAGEMENT PROBLEMS AND SHIFTING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10445554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CAR OVER HEATING, SMOKING, STEAMING. TOOK TO MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE BLEW, LATER TO FIND OUT OIL COOLER WENT. ALSO JUST FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSIONS NEEDS OVER HAULED, NO WARNING, NO LEAKS. HEAT REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, IGNITION COIL HAS BEEN REPLACED, ALL WIRES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE HAS AND STILL DOES RUN TOO HOT, CAUSING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE PARTS. ETC. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001, PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT HAS SINCE WARE OUT. MY SUN ROOF DOES NOT WORK, MY KEYLESS ENTRY DOES NOT WORK, HERE IT IS 2005 AND THE CAR ONLY HAS OR AROUND 65,000 MILES ON IT, WHEN PURCHASED ONLY HAD 23,000, I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK AND BACK, AND TOO RUN ERRANDS. WHY AM I HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT, I CAN'T EVEN GET A DEALER TO TAKE IT AS TRADE IN.

NHTSA complaint #10139607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

1998 CATERA PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC PART MAL FUNCTION; ALTERNATOR FAILURE; BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES; HEATER AND A/C INOPERATIVE-BURNED HARNESS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT; DOOR HINGES FAILED; ENGINE OIL LEAK; VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START; PREMATURE TIRE WEAR; VEHICLE WANDERS; FRONT END ALIGNED 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR; WARPED DISC ROTORS TWICE IN TWO YEAR PERIOD; DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAK; VAOLTAGE METER AMBIGUOS READING; SIDEMARKERS INOPERATIVE AND CORRODED; HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURE; REMOTE KEYS FILED; REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST TO NIGHT DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10126748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

CADILLAC CATER 1998 EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURE THAT CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE. *BF THE TRUNK LIGHT BULBS FAILED. THE TRUNK LIGHT BAR FAILED. THE KEY FOB FAILED. THE CD PLAYER FAILED. THE WINDOW WASHER HOSE FAILED. THE SWITCH FOR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BOTTOM GEAR OF THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FRONT AND REAR END HAD TO BE ALIGNED DUE TO THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CENTER LINK WAS ALSO REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10113275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES ON 3 OCCASIONS. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40,501MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE 1% NEGATIVE CAMBER WHICH INVOLVED THE ALIGNMENT WAS CAUSING THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE INNER TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10103086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

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.

SUSPENSION

SENSORS WENT BAD. OIL CURRENTLY IN THE ENGINE, HEAD GASKETS GONE. TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CRANK SENSOR AND IGNITION COIL PACK REPAIR

NHTSA complaint #10070850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE STEERED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID VEHICLE FROM GOING AUTOMATICALLY TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END WAS BENT.

NHTSA complaint #10065044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

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 complaint #10050994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

BOTH FRONT TIRES ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY ON THE INSIDES DUE TO IMPROPER ALLIGNMENT. PURCHASED VEHICLE USED ON 1-28-02, AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT END PULLING TO THE LEFT. HAVE HAD A NEW TIE ROD PUT ON, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. NEW TIRES WERE ON VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. DRIVERS SIDE TIRE IS WORSE, WITH STEEL CORD COMING THRU, PASSENGER SIDE TIRE IS WORN BAD. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS, IT SEEMS THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND/OR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE AT FAULT AND THAT GENERAL MOTORS AND THE CADILLAC DIVISION ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GM DEALER TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND HAVE A 4 WHEEL ALLIGNMENT DONE. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25000 MILES ON THEM, REAR TIRES SEEM FINE FOR THIS MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAS 68000 MILES ON IT, I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO FINDING PAST OWNERS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10041561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

REAR TIRE WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING TIRE TREAD ON THE INSIDE TO SHOW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE REAR TIRES WORE ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH NEGATIVE CAMBER. NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED. THE CONSUMERS CASE WENT TO ARBITRATION BUT WAS REJECTED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE A DESIGN CHANGE WHICH WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF ARBITRATION. THE CONSUMER CALLED CADILLAC TO BUT A RETROFIT KIT TO ADJUST THE CAMBER BUT NO KIT WAS AVAILABLE. A DESIGN CHANGE WAS MADE WHICH WAS NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A DESIGN CHANGE AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY SHOULD RETROFIT ALL 1998 CATERA'S. *TS *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10033808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I PURCHASED A 1997 CADILLAC CATERA ON JAN 31, 2001 FROM UNITED AUTOMAX IN MEMPHIS, TN. FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. BEGINNING WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY, HEATER CORE REPLACED, ROTORS REPLACED AND WEARING OUT AGAIN WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME. FUSES HAVE BLOWN, RADIATOR FAN ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS. NUMEROUS RECALLS AND ETC. ON APRIL 14, 2003 I TOOK MY CAR TO BUD DAVIS CADILLAC IN MEMPHIS AND REPORTED THAT I COULD SMELL OIL BURNING. THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED VALVE COVERS RESEALED AND TO REPLACE REAR MAIN SEAL. (THE WORK WAS DONE THRU MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY). I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END. THEY IN RETURN REPLACED RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR FROM DEALER I NOTICED THAT THE NOISE STILL EXISTED AND INFORMED SERVICE AGENT BEFORE I LEFT THE DEALER'S LOT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD STRUT LINK TO WHICH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER. AFTER DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH ANOTHER MACHANIC (NOT DEALER), HE STATED THAT THE NAME OF THE PART WAS A STABILIZER NOT STRUT. AND NOT ONLY DID THE NOISE EXIST IN THE FRONT END, BUT THERE WAS A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND STAY ON. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE HISSING NOISE CAME FROM A PART THAT WAS PROBABLY DAMAGED BY BUD DAVIS CADILLAC WHEN REPAIRING VALVES AND SEALS. I THEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER. I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT MY WARRANTY COMPANY DID COVER THE STABILIZER LINKAGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE SERVICE AGENT USED THE WRONG TERMINOLOGY. THEY AGREED TO FIX IT AND DID, BUT REFUSED TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF THE HISSING SOUND WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT. IT SEEMS THAT EACH WEEK OR MONTH THERE ARE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #10016925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CONSUMER NOTICE UNUSUAL WEAR TO FRONT TIRES VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICE INDEPENDENT FRONT NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WE HAVE HAD 4 COMPUTERIZED FRONT END ALIGMENTS AND 3 SETS OF TIRES BEFORE 18,611 MILES, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET. DT

NHTSA complaint #769196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

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 complaint #8022056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

TIRES ARE WEARING PREMATURALY. CONSUMER FEELS CAUSE IS REAR MISALIGNMENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ALIGNMENT, AND PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8018810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BALL JOINT ALONG WITH OTHER FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #567108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BALL JOINT ALONG WITH OTHER FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #567108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WANDERS.

NHTSA complaint #564987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

ON JANUARY 30, 2001 NAPOLI MOTORS HAD TO REPLACED LEFT & RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, INNER TIE ROD END,CENTER LINK AND BOTH OUTER STABILZER END, ON AUGUST 20, 2001 AS I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I95 SOUTH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME WHILE ON THE MIDDLE LANE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES BEEN THAT I COULD NOT TURNED EITHER WAY, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN BY ROGER'S IN MILFORD TECHNICIANS THERE AT NAPOLI MOTORS COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE WHEN I CALLED THE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR SAME PROBLEMS, THEY HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT RUNNING RUFF. ON OCTOBER 31, 2001 VEHICLE WAS BACK AT NAPOLI, NOVEMBER 15, 2001,ON FEBRUARY 19, 2002 I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE AT A RED LIGHT WHERE THE OTHER PERSON DAMAGE THE WHOLE REAR OF VEHICLE NEITHER AIR BAG DRIVER OR PASSENGER CAME OUT ALL LIGHTS IN VEHICLE WERE ON AND KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, ON MARCH 22, 2002 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO NAPOLI FOR THE KEY PROBLEM AND REMOTES. ON MAY 6, 2002 VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NAPOLI WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE WHAT VEHICLE HAD THIS TIME WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT BROKE AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK ON ME AGAIN. TO BE HONEST I WON'T EVEN GO FAR WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM THIS DEPARTMENT SOON.

NHTSA complaint #761710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.