1997 Cadillac Catera Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Catera years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Cadillac Catera. That is the most of any Catera model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (75 complaints, 46%), typically at around 65,074 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 163owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Cadillac Catera problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 75 | 46% | 65,074 | “timing belt” (33%) | $12,750 |
| Electrical System | 24 | 15% | 55,172 | — | — |
| Suspension | 21 | 13% | 65,074 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 | 11% | 73,537 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 10% | 35,066 | — | — |
| Steering | 14 | 9% | 82,300 | — | — |
| Visibility | 12 | 7% | 65,074 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 7% | 35,253 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 6% | 83,632 | — | — |
| Tires | 10 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 5% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 5% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 4% | 65,074 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Cadillac Catera recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Cadillac Catera.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was leaving my house and driving out of my complex when the steering wheel locked up on me. I have been unable to turn it for two days. *tr
Tensioner pulley locked up. The tensioner stopped turning. As a result of this, the drive belt shredded like spaghetti and then melted. I avoided an accident by applying brakes and then having the car towed. Total repair cost: $729. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 cadillac catera. While driving at any speed the vehicle overheated. The contact noticed smoke coming from the hood and antifreeze leaking from the vehicle. On may 2, 2007 the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that there was a hole in the antifreeze line, but the…
1997-1999 cadillac catera door latch failures. Per the yahoo group web site i belong to, catera owners, this vehicle suffers chronic door latch failures, trapping occupants inside or not latching. This can be an extremely dangerous situation. My own vehicle has suffered this defect. The latches…
Dt: the contact stated after opening the trunk of the vehicle the trunk fell on him. The supports that were suppose to keep the trunk in the open position failed. The contact sustained minor injuries. The dealership said the failure was with the lift supports. There were no previous problems with…
Other Cadillac Catera years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Catera | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 Catera | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 Catera | 30 | 0 |
| 2000 Catera | 67 | 0 |
| 1999 Catera | 80 | 0 |
| 1998 Catera | 123 | 0 |
| 1997 | 163 | 0 |
See all Cadillac Catera problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Cadillac Catera?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, electrical system, suspension problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 75 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Cadillac Catera?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Cadillac Catera a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Catera model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.