FaultScore

Cadillac Catera window and wiper problems

30 of the 826 complaints filed about the Cadillac Catera are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

30

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year

1997 Catera 13 43.3%

Median failure at 65,074 miles

1998 Catera 10 33.3%

Median failure at 59,500 miles

1999 Catera 5 16.7%

Median failure at 54,500 miles

2000 Catera 1 3.3%
2001 Catera 1 3.3%

What owners said

1998 Cadillac Catera at 20,000 miles Seme Island, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC CATERA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TENSION TIMING BELT PULLEY FAILED. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $1,200. AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS, THEY FOUND THAT THE COMPONENT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WILL RE-EXAMINE THE VEHICLE IN A THREE PART ORDER AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $6,000. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE RECALL WAS FOR SPECIFIC MANUFACTURING PLANTS; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 08/04/09. *LJ THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT CLEAN THE WINDOW, THE VEHICLE HAD 4 BATTERIES, THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED

NHTSA complaint #10275050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Catera at 60,000 miles Lynn, MA

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. AFTER A RAINSTORM, THE CONTACT WOULD NOTICE A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANELS. DEPENDING ON THE PRECIPITATION, THERE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 INCHES OF WATER ON THE FLOOR. THE WATER ORIGINATED FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF MILDEW ON THE CARPET AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA complaint #10241827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Cadillac Catera Saugus, MA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

2000 CATERA HAS HAD A POWER FAILURE AND ELECTRICAL DEFECTS, GASKET AND SEALS WERE REPLACED. *TS THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE HOT WATER VALVE WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. THE SIDE LIGHT WAS OUT. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE IGNITION HAD TO BE LUBED. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE HEATING SYSTEM AND THE MOONROOF DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WHEN IT WAS USED IT CAUSED POWER FAILURES..

NHTSA complaint #10158386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera at 59,000 miles Parma, OH

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

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.

1998 Cadillac Catera at 105,000 miles Marietta, GA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

WATER KEEPS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE REPLACED 3 WEEKS AGO AND NOW THE WATER PUMP IS LEAKING COOLANT.

NHTSA complaint #10086240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera at 60,000 miles Detroit, MI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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.

1999 Cadillac Catera at 49,000 miles Sanford, NC

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORKED ON THE FAST SETTING, AND FAILED TO DISENGAGE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF.*AK WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *TS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBELM WAS ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA complaint #10027086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Catera at 65,074 miles Memphis, TN

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

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.

1999 Cadillac Catera Grand Rapids, MI

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THE SUNROOF STAYS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND MAKES A LOUD CRACKING NOISE.

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

2001 Cadillac Catera Lakeland, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDSHIELD HAS AN ORANGE PEEL PATTERN AND IS DISTORTING DRIVER'S EYE SIGHT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8015798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Catera West Townsend, MA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

BLOWER FAN WOULD NOT TURN OFF, DEALER REAPLACED THE FAULTY BLOWER MODULE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera Scottsdale, AZ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPERS INOPERATIVE AND WIPER BLADES FAULTY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #563665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera Alexandria, AL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

DUE TO A DEFECT IN FRONT ALIGMENT TIRES WORE EXCESSIVELY.*AK THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BRAKES PULSATE, SQUEAK AND GO TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING OUT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, ALSO ANOTHER TIRE WAS LEAKING AIR. THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE DRIVER'S REAR DOOR HINGE WAS UNSTABLE, ALSO THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK STICKS. THE WIPERS SCRUB. THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES NOISE. THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT SHINES TOO HIGH.

NHTSA complaint #8009295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera Scottsdale, AZ

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPERS INOPERATIVE AND WIPER BLADES FAULTY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #563665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera Scottsdale, AZ

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

THE VANITY MIRROR FELL OFF AND WAS REPLACED.NLM

NHTSA complaint #563665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Catera Detroit, MI

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

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.

1997 Cadillac Catera Knightdale, NC

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO JUMP START. DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. BATTERY WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 06/03/99. OIL LIGHT ABOVE OIL PRESSIRE GAUGE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE MOVED UP AND DOWN ERRATICALLY. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. BATTERY COVER AND WAS BURNT/WAS BRITTLE AND HAD A WHITE ASHEY LOOK TO IT. ENGINE PRODUCES A LOT OF HEAT. DEALER REPLACED COVER AND TRAY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS HIGHER THAN NORMAL. DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED IPC FOR TEMP GAUGE. TEMP GAUGE STILL READS THE SAME AS BEFORE. TICKING SOUNDS FROM LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF DASH WHEN HEAT IS ON. DEALER REPLACED FAN MOTOR TWICE. TICKING SOUNDS STILL THERE AND NOW THERE IS NO HEAT. DISC BRAKE PAD INDICATOR LAMP DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PADS NEEDED REPLACING. HAD TO HAVE FRONT BRAKE JOB AND REPLACE SENSORS FOR INDICATOR LAMP. DEALERSHIP SAID SENSORS GOT DAMAGED WHEN PADS WERE WORN DOWN PAST THE SENSORS.

NHTSA complaint #743034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Catera North Palm, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

THE CONSUMER SAW THE CRACK SEPARATE AS THE WINDOW BEGAN TO BULDGE, THE BULDGING WINDOW WAS UNDER STERR WHICH WAS A DEFECT OF THE CAR. *CJ *NLM THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND EXPERIENCES TIRE WEAR, POSSIBLE SUSPENSION OR TIRE RELATED (NO TIRE MAKE/MODEL INFORMATION GIVEN. *NLM BATTERY LEAKING. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #558668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Catera Culleoka, TN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #555993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Catera Culleoka, TN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #555993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Cadillac Catera problems