1997 Cadillac Catera Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1997 Cadillac Catera, 46% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,074 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing belt” (33% of reports).
- 75engine and engine cooling complaints
- 65,074median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $12,750typical repair cost reported by owners
- 51%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing belt: mentioned in 25 of 75 complaints (33%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 7 of 75 complaints (9%)
- Provide further information: mentioned in 5 of 75 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 1997 Cadillac Catera at $12,750, and half of them between $5,650 and $15,700.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2004), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 13 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 75 complaints, 2 a fire.
Cadillac Catera engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Catera | 8 | 27% | 62,580 |
| 2000 Catera | 18 | 27% | 78,000 |
| 1999 Catera | 30 | 38% | 86,900 |
| 1998 Catera | 56 | 46% | 60,000 |
| 1997 Catera | 75 | 46% | 65,074 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the 1997 Cadillac Catera. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
My vehicle is a 97 cadillac catera and has had the starter replaced and still will not start. Two car lots have had the vehicle at the cadillac dealership now and they are giving me the run around they say that its the mass airflow sensor but still have not replaced it yet i'm wondering why…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Cadillac Cateras have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 75 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 1997 Cadillac Catera (46% of the 163 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Cadillac Catera engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,074 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 1997 Cadillac Catera?
Owners report a typical cost of $12,750 (half paid between $5,650 and $15,700), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1997 Cadillac Catera?
The most frequent phrase is “timing belt”, in 25 of 75 complaints, followed by “water pump” (7).
See all 1997 Cadillac Catera problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Catera years.