1998 Cadillac Catera Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Catera years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 123 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Cadillac Catera. That ranks 2nd out of 7 Catera model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (56 complaints, 46%), typically at around 60,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 123owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 | 56 | 46% | 60,000 | “timing belt” (23%) | — |
| Suspension | 22 | 18% | 63,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 19 | 15% | 62,300 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 14% | 75,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 11% | 58,200 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 7% | 64,971 | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 7% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 7% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 7% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 7% | 59,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 7 | 6% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 6% | 27,191 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 4% | 27,191 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 4% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% | 62,300 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2% | 57,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Cadillac Catera recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 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.
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. *tr
The water pump gave out. *tr
My wife was driving our 1998 cadillac catera when another car ran a stop sign forcing my wife's car into a collision t-boning the other car. The approximate speed of our car during the impact was at least thirty miles per hour. Our cadillac was written off in the accident however even though this…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 cadillac catera. The contact was driving approximately 55 mph. The warning light indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. There was smoke coming from outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician…
Faulty braking. *tr
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 | 123 | 0 |
| 1997 Catera | 163 | 0 |
See all Cadillac Catera problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Cadillac Catera?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, suspension, tires problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 56 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Cadillac Catera?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.