Cadillac Catera Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Cadillac Catera across 5 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (75). The words owners use most often: “timing belt” (21% of reports).
- 187engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $8,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%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 39 of 187 complaints (21%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 18 of 187 complaints (10%)
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 Cadillac Catera at $8,600, and half of them between $5,000 and $14,850.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2008), 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 58 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 187 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.
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 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.
Oil cooler gave out causing car to overheat. Has there been a recall? If yes, what is the process for a claim? *tt
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 cadillac catera. The contact stated that the engine was leaking oil prematurely. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic where the engine gaskets, belts and the water pump were replaced. However, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
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
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 cadillac catera. The vehicle stalled whenever he stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was informed…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Cadillac Cateras have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 187 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Cadillac Catera. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Cadillac Catera engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Cadillac Catera?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,600 (half paid between $5,000 and $14,850), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Cadillac Catera?
The most frequent phrase is “timing belt”, in 39 of 187 complaints, followed by “water pump” (18).
See all Cadillac Catera problems.