1998 Cadillac Catera

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 WAS A HARD FRONT END COLLISION THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN OUR CAR. MY WIFE SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES HOWEVER BECAUSE SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT SHE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL 4 DAYS LATER! *TR

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 STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE PCS LIGHT AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 06/03/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 06/07/10*JB

FAULTY BRAKING. *TR

THE TENSIONER PULLEY & TIMING BELT WAS A KNOW DEFECT FOR VEHICLE AND WAS RECALLED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I LOST ALL POWER & CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON AN DECLINE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC LOCATION IN A SERVER RAIN STORM. VEHICLE IS NOW DOA AND GM REFUSES TO REMEDY TUES EVENING 6/23 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, IN 30-45 SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING, EARLIER IN THE DAY I HEARD A KNOCK AND THOUGHT I RAN OVER SOMETHING AS ALL GAUGES INDICATED EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING NORMAL. HAD AAA TOW IT TO MY HOME AND NEXT DAY (WED.) TO THE CADDY DEALER. THEY CHARGE ME $109 TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM, THEN TELL ME THE TIMING BELT BROKE! IT WILL COST ANOTHER $600 LABOR FOR 5 HOURS OF INSPECTION TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND DEPENDING WHAT THEY FIND $$$$$$ TO FIX, DAAAAA! I CALL THE SERVICE MANAGER HE TELLS ME HE'LL CHECK IT OUT AND CALL ME BACK. OK SO NOW HE CALLS ME AND TELL ME THE REP MISS-QUOTED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. NOW IT'S THE TENSION PULLEY THAT FAILED CASING THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP, TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SET IS $699 + LABOR AND SUGGESTED I INVEST ANOTHER $150 TO CHANGE THE COOLANT PUMP AS IT'S SHOWING SIGNS OF LEAKAGE AT THE SAME TIME SO IT DOESN'T RUN ME ADDITIONAL COSTS LATER AS IT'S IN THE SAME PART OF THE ENGINE AS THE PULLEY AND BELT. GRAND TOTAL OF $1207 + TAX. "BUT" DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY REPLACE THE TENSIONER PULLEY & TIMING BELT THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL COST IF THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START. OK SO I TELL HIM TO GO AHEAD. I DECIDED TO GOGGLE THE PRO

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

THE MOTOR IN THE CAR STARTED CUTTING OUT AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NEVER A KNOCKING SOUND. THERE WAS NO ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. FROM READING ABOUT THIS CAR ONLINE IT SOUNDS LIKE A TIMING ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD HE DID NOT WANT TO WORK ON THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JOB. FROM WHAT IM TOLD THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF THESE CARS AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED!! WHY NOT! *TR

1998 CAD. CATERA - NO INCIDENT STARTED THE PROBLEMS - A MECHANIC KNEW IT HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET BEFORE OPENING THE HOOD OR BEING TOLD WHY I WAS THERE BECAUSE HE SAID 9 OUT OF 10 CATERAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER REPORTS LISTS THIS YEAR AND MODEL AS A MUST TO AVOID CAR. AT 60K MILES HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET, OIL HAD GONE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, CAR OVERHEATS, THE HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT HAS TO BE FLUSHED REGULARLY, NOW AT 80K MILES, THE POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING, THE COOLANT IS LEAKING, THE BEARINGS AND BRAKES ARE FAILING, THE OIL CANNOT BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE PAN WILL BREAK BECAUSE THE CAP IS WELDED ON BECAUSE OF THE HEAT IN THE ENGINE. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL. THIS IS TOO YOUNG A CAR TO BE FAILING LIKE THIS. I WOULD LIKE COMPENSATION! *TR

FUEL LINE BEHIND PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WAS DAMAGED BY AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT THE DRIVER RAN OVER. THE FUEL LINE IS NOT PROTECTED IN ANYWAY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WELL. THIS INCIDENT LEAD TO A MAJOR GAS LEAK AND THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. *TR

A/C COMPRESSOR LEAKING AND A/C COMPRESSOR NOT CYCLING AND LEAKING FROM THE CHASE VALVE SYSTEM. COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE HEATER COOLANT VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED. UPDATED.

I OWN A 1998 CATERA. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON A CURVED ROAD THE ENGINE AND POWER CUT OFF . I LOST POWER STEERING AND HAD TO STRUGGLE TO STOP. THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CADDY DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE CRACK SENSOR WENT BAD. I REVIEWED THE INTERNET AND SAW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS NOT HURT, BUT I WAS VERY CONCERNED. IF MY SON WAS DRIVING I BELIEVE WE BOTH WOULD NOT BE HEAR AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW WHY WE CRASHED HEAD ON. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TOWED. THE VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING INTO THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND BURNING THE RUBBER BOOT. IT GOT SO HOT THE PLUG MELTED, CAUSING THE SMOKE TO COME OUT. ALSO, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS CAR NEEDED SOME IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. I WA TRYING TO GET RID OF THE CAR. IT DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP. *AK

I'M REPAIRING THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE SAME ENGINE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN 50000 MILES, 100000 TOTAL MILES. THESE CARS WERE LEMONS! CADILLAC KNOWS IT, BUT DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED TO RESPOND TO THE THOUSANDS OF CATERA OWNERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE EXPENSE OF REPEATED REPAIRS, TOTALING $10,000 WITH TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR, TIMING BELTS, COOLING SYSTEMS, WATER PUMPS,AND OH YEAH...ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE!!! GIVE ME A BREAK! AND ANY ADVICE BESIDES THE OBVIOUS. *AK

WHILE I WAS MAKING A WIDE TURN, THE TIMING BELT OF MY 1998 CATERA BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE HEAD OF MY CAR. THE PULLEY WAS BENT IN THE PROCESS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CATERA. NOW THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR. IT WILL COST $5000.00. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL VEHICLE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT SEPARATED INTO AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. DUE TO THE BELT SEPARATION, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

FAULTY HEAD GASKET FAULTY WARNING LIGHTS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BEFORE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 7/3/2006 - *NM

MY RECENT PROBLEM IS I CAN'T TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I TRY FOR MORE THAN 30 TIME AND YES, I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN 35+ TIME SINCE 1999 AND ITS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. *NM

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. *JB

MID-JUNE ABS TC WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR IN 1998 CADILLAC CATERA. EBTCM DIAGNOSED AS FAILED. DEALER ORDERED NEW EBTCM, NOT AVAILABLE. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE CONFIRMS "NATIONAL BACKORDER" NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THESE PARTS IN GM WAREHOUSE SYSTEMS, DEALER SYSTEM, ETC. TOOK CAR TO CHEVY (GM) DEALER (7/9/05) TO DIAGNOSE. CONFIRM FAILURE OF EBTCM; PART NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE, E-MAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. RESPONSE REMAINS CONSTANT...NATIONAL BACK ORDER, NO KNOWLEDGE WHEN PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. WE MUST DRIVE CAR WITH NO ABS, TC, OR SPEEDOMETER (WHICH DOESN'T WORK WHEN ABS TC ARE NONFUNCTIONAL) AND STIFF POWER STEERING WHICH IS ALSO A RESULT OF NO ABS TC. NEITHER CADILLAC NOR GM CAN SPECIFY WHEN SUCH PART WILL BE AVAILABLE, NOR HAVE THEY PROPOSED A LOANER CAR TO DRIVE UNTIL PART ARRIVES. WE ARE DRIVING A CAR THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS UNSAFE SHOULD WE FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION THAT REQUIRES THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NON-FUNCTIONAL AND STEERING BECOMES STIFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE. GM NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. HOW CAN THEY SELL CARS THAT THEY CANNOT PROVIDE PARTS FOR. SAFETY SEEMS TO BE MY PROBLEM, NOT THEIRS AS IT IS "MY" EBTCM THAT HAS FAILED NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM

I WOULD LIKE TO PLACE A COMPLAINT ON RECORD ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY OF THE CADILLAC CATERA. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE ALL BEEN BOUGHT BACK BY GM TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FROM THEIR POOR QUALITY. I HAVE A 1998 CADILLAC CATERA ,WELL CARED FOR. OVER THE PAST YEAR THOUGH THE CAR HAS BEGUN TO LEAK OIL HEAVILY,TO THE POINT OF ACTUALLY BEING AN ENVIROMENTAL HAZARD. THE OTHER DAY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THE CAR HAS LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKETS,CAM COVER GASKETS AND AN OIL COOLING LINE. THEY SAY $1200 WILL SEAL UP MOST OF THE LEAKS. THE CAR ONLY HAS AN ORIGINAL 65,000 MILES ON IT. UPON HEARING THIS I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON CATERAS AND THE HORROR STORIES ARE ENDLESS. IT SEEMS THEY ALL INCLUDING MINE HAVE BROKEN HEADLIGHT ALIGNERS. THIS IS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY HEAT AND CHEAP MANUFACTURING. THIS OFF COURSE MAKES THE HEADLIGHTS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN AND AIM.IT ALSO SEEMS THAT ALL CATERAS WEAR OUT TIRES IN A VERY RAPID TIME FRAME DUE TO POOR FRONT END DESIGN. MY 1998 HAS ALL THESE PROBLEMS PLUS ALL FOUR RADIO SPEAKERS HAVE BLOWN ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NEVER PLAYED LOUDLY. THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE HEAVILY YELLOWED OVER THUS REDUCING GREATLY THE HEADLIGHT POWER. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU REVIEW ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CATERAS AS THEY COULD EASILY RELATE TO THE ALL TO COMMON HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM ON THESE CARS NOT TO MENTION THE OIL BLOW BY FROM THE ENGINE ONTO THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. PLEASE HELP GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD.

1998 CATERA PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC PART MAL FUNCTION; ALTERNATOR FAILURE; BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES; HEATER AND A/C INOPERATIVE-BURNED HARNESS AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT; DOOR HINGES FAILED; ENGINE OIL LEAK; VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START; PREMATURE TIRE WEAR; VEHICLE WANDERS; FRONT END ALIGNED 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR; WARPED DISC ROTORS TWICE IN TWO YEAR PERIOD; DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAK; VAOLTAGE METER AMBIGUOS READING; SIDEMARKERS INOPERATIVE AND CORRODED; HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURE; REMOTE KEYS FILED; REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST TO NIGHT DRIVING.

CADILLAC CATERA 1998, DRIVER SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT THAT CONSUMER BACK WAS BURNED. *BF THE CONSUMER FIRST HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT NOT HEATING WAS BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2000 WHICH WAS REPAIRED. ON PREVIOUS OCCASION THE CONSUMER HAD WORK DONE. THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS LOOSE, THE CONSUMER REPORTED A WOBBLE IN THE TIRE, ONE MONTH LATER THE CONSUMER HAD A FLAT TIRE, HE WAS THEN TOLD THE TIRES NEEDED TO REPLACED, THERE WAS STATIC FROM THE RADIO, THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. *AK *NM

CADILLAC CATER 1998 EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURE THAT CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE. *BF THE TRUNK LIGHT BULBS FAILED. THE TRUNK LIGHT BAR FAILED. THE KEY FOB FAILED. THE CD PLAYER FAILED. THE WINDOW WASHER HOSE FAILED. THE SWITCH FOR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BOTTOM GEAR OF THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FRONT AND REAR END HAD TO BE ALIGNED DUE TO THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CENTER LINK WAS ALSO REPLACED. *NM

PURCHASED 1998 CADILLAC CATERA 2/06/04. 64,546 MILES. WATER PUMP FAILED AS WE ARRIVED HOME WITH VEHICLE. SELLING DEALER SENT VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER, CAPITAL CADILLAC FOR REPAIRS. WATER PUMP WAS ON RECALL. *AK WHEN WATER PUMP FAILED IT DAMAGED THE MAIN BELT AND CAUSED IT TO COME OFF DISABELING POWER STEERING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT POWERED BY BELT. ENGINE BRIEFLY OVERHEATED WHILE STOPPING. CADILLAC DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP ON CAMPAIGN 02041 AND SECONDARY AIR INJECTION HOSE - CAMPAIGN 01037. THE FAILURE DOES NOT MENTION 02018. CAR HAS LEAKED COOLANT EVERY SINCE THE DEALER RETURNED THE CAR TO US. THE WATER PUMP DAMAGED THE ENGINE. WE WANT CADILLAC TO REPAIR OR REPLACE IT. CADILLAC CS WILL NOT COMMUNICATE IN WRITING, STATING THEY ONLY DISCUSS ORALLY. CADILLAC HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST OR GIVE OUT ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO SIMILIAR PROBLEMS.

ON JULY 24, 2004 WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE ON I-81, I COULD FEEL THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE IN THE VEHICLE,THERE WAS NO INDICATION IN THE IDIOT LIGHTS OR THE GAUGES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DISTRESS. AS I GOT TO THE RIGHT THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE RADIATOR LIGHT CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND FINISHED THE REPAIR OF THE WATER PUMP. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE IDIOT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE EXHAUST TAIL PIPE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO CADILLAC FOR REPAIR THE NEXT DAY. THEY TOLD THE HEAD GASKETS WERE GONE AND IT WOULD BE $ 1800.00 FOR THE LEFT ONE AND $1900.00 FOR THE RIGHT ONE IN ADDITION TO THE GASKET AND THE LABOR FOR THE REPAIR. I FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE WATER PUMP ND 2 OTHER PULLEYS. THE RECORD SHOWED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BY KRISTAL CADILLAC THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. THEY NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR ANY REASON WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE VEHICLE. MY TOTAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR REPAIR $2314.38. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK ON AUGUST 6, 2004. THE CAR NOW BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE TOWED INTO KRISTAL CADILLAC. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND HAVE STILL NOT LOOKED AT IT FURTHERMORE THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT IT IS NOW AN IGNITION PROBLEM AND NOT AN ENGINE/WATER PUMP PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DISTANCE TH

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKE AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE OWNERS MANUAL INDICATED THAT THIS PART SHOULDN'T BEEN REPLACED UNTIL 60,000 MILES AND REPLACEMENT IS ONLY REQUIRED IF THE VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN ONE OR MORE EXTREME COLD START. WHICH HADN'T OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE. *NM *SC *JB

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. *AK

LIKE ALL CADILLAC CATERA OWNERS WE KNOW, WE HAVE HAD AND ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE ENDLESS MAJOR REPAIR BILLS ON THE CATERA (98 MODEL). THE WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN HOT. THE WATER PUMP WAS ON RECALL. CADILLAC REPLACED THE PUMP BUT CHARGED FOR BELTS AND OTHER PARTS DAMAGED BY THE FAILURE. WE HAVE SPEND OVER $1,900 TRYING TO SOLVE A MORNING COLD START SKIPPING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. CADILLAC DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE AND CHARGED $953. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN A REPAIR SHOP CHARGED OVER $600 TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN THEY TOLD US IT HAD TO BE THE COIL PACK. WE SPENT OVER $300 ON THAT. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE CAR IN BACK AT THE CADILLAC DEALER'S SHOP YESTERDAY AND TODAY. SO FAR THEY CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. A CO-WORKER OF MY WIFE'S AT THE GEORGIA MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DEPARTMENT OWNES A CATERA. SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE SPENT OVER $9,000 ON THEIR CATERA IN THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR REPAIRS. THEY CANNOT KEEP TIRES ON THE CAR. THE CO-WORKER SAID THEY HAD THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM WITH THEIR CATERA. IT COST OVER $500 FOR A STARTER SWITCH PART. IT APPEARS CADILLAC THREW THE CAR TOGETHER FROM AN ENGINE FROM ENGLAND, A TRANSMISSION FROM FRANCE AND ASSEMBLED THE CAR IN GERMANY. I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR FOR CONSUMMERS TO HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR CADILLAC'S NEGLEGENCY IN NOT PROPERLY TESTING THE CAR PRIOR TO MARKETING. THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF CONSUMMER FRAUD. WE HAVE OWNED TWO CADILLAC S

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND THEY JUST KEEP PILING UP. I JUST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND VALVE COVER GASKETS A MONTH AGO AND NOW MY OIL PRESSURE IS FAILING. MY SERVICE WRITTER TELLS ME THIS CAR IS NOTORIUS FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, SPECIFICALLY THE WAY IT HANDLES OIL AND COOLING. I SENT A LETTER TO CADILLAC WHEN I HAD PROBLES A MONTH AGO BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?*AK

CAR RAN HOT. TOWED BACK TO DEALER. DEALER STATED CADILLAC HAD A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP. CADILLAC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. DEALER PAID FOR BELT, ETC. AMOUNTING TO ABOUT $190. LESS THAN A MONTH FOLLOWING THE WATER PUMP FAILURE, THE COOLANT BEGAN LEAKING. CADILLAC DEALER CHARGED $950 TO REPLACE HEATER VALUE AND A FEW HOSES. 1 WEEK LATER, CAR LEAKED AGAIN. RETURNED TO CADILLAC DEALER. DEALER KEPT CAR FOR TWO DAYS, RE-SEATED A WATER HOSE. 1 WEEK LATER, CAR BEGAN SKIPPING. NOW CADILLAC DEALER WANTS TO REMOVE HOSES, ETC. TO GET TO ELEC SPARK PLUG. NO ESTIMATE OF COST YET. I BELIEVE ALL OF THIS IS RELATED TO THE FAULTY WATER PUMP WHICH I UNDERSTAND CADILLAC HAD ON RECALL BUT I DO NOT FIND THE RECALL ON YOUR SITE.

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

REAR TIRE WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING TIRE TREAD ON THE INSIDE TO SHOW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE REAR TIRES WORE ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH NEGATIVE CAMBER. NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED. THE CONSUMERS CASE WENT TO ARBITRATION BUT WAS REJECTED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE A DESIGN CHANGE WHICH WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF ARBITRATION. THE CONSUMER CALLED CADILLAC TO BUT A RETROFIT KIT TO ADJUST THE CAMBER BUT NO KIT WAS AVAILABLE. A DESIGN CHANGE WAS MADE WHICH WAS NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A DESIGN CHANGE AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY SHOULD RETROFIT ALL 1998 CATERA'S. *TS *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE TIMING, BUT THE RECALL REPAIR FAILED. *JB *NM

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

ENGINE COOLING FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AND WILL NOT RESTART. HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

BOUGHT THIS 98 CATERA NEW. TO BE SAFE FROM BLOWOUTS TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED ABOUT EVERY 20,000 MILES; BASICALLY, INSIDE SHOULDER WEAR. GM MAINTAINS THIS IS NORMAL AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. NOW AT 67,000 MILES TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED RESULTING IN SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ENGINE DAMAGE ! VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS GM PRODUCT AND NOTE THE LAUDED 'CADILLAC SERVICE'' IS CLEARLY FALSE ADVERTISING. IN GOOD FAITH WE ARE UNABLE TO SELL THIS CAR. IS THIS GOVERNMENT SITE OF ANY REAL USE ? CLEARLY THE TIRE WEAR SAFETY PROBLEM AND EXPENSIVE IDLER/TENSIONER FAN BELT/TIMING BELT PROBLEMS DESERVE SOME CONSUMER PROTECTION! *LA

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP MORE THAN 30 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. TOO MANY TO LIST. NOW THIS VEHICLE HAS DIED ON ONE OF THE MOST BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN MINNESOTA. *LA

BOTH FRONT TIRES ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY ON THE INSIDES DUE TO IMPROPER ALLIGNMENT. PURCHASED VEHICLE USED ON 1-28-02, AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT END PULLING TO THE LEFT. HAVE HAD A NEW TIE ROD PUT ON, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. NEW TIRES WERE ON VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. DRIVERS SIDE TIRE IS WORSE, WITH STEEL CORD COMING THRU, PASSENGER SIDE TIRE IS WORN BAD. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS, IT SEEMS THAT THE CONTROL ARM AND/OR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE AT FAULT AND THAT GENERAL MOTORS AND THE CADILLAC DIVISION ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GM DEALER TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED AND HAVE A 4 WHEEL ALLIGNMENT DONE. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25000 MILES ON THEM, REAR TIRES SEEM FINE FOR THIS MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAS 68000 MILES ON IT, I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO FINDING PAST OWNERS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. *LA

NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH 1998 CATERA. HAD TIMING BELT TENSIONER-PULLEYS/CAM DRIVE REPLACED LAST YEAR(3-2002) WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. "SERVICE CAMPAIGN" WAS ISSUED BY CADILLAC IN SEPT 2002 FOR CATERA'S TO HAVE CAME DRIVE IDLER/TENSIONER PULLEY/WATER PUMP REPLACED WITH NEW VERSION. GOT VEHICLE SERVICED TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT CAR HAD ANOTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED-OUT OF POCKET-COOLANT CROSSOVER LEAKING INTO OIL COOLER, AND VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING OIL.....THE CAR RUNS EXTREMELY HOT, HAS POOR PERFORMANCE, GETS TERRIBLE GAS MILLAGE, BATTERY HAS LOW VOLTAGE WHEN NOTHING IS LEFT ON BY MISTAKE, REPLACED THE BATTERY 4 TIME IN TWO YEARS, A/C HAD NEW COMPRESSOR REPLACED PAST SUMMER 2002 STILL NOT ABLE TO COOL CAR AND WHILE IN USE THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TRACTOR, BOGGS DOWN THE PERFROMANCE. HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED (COST OVER 800.00) AT 34,000, PURCHASED 4 SETS OF MICHELLAN MXV4 TIRES IN LAST 2 YEARS-INSIDE TREAD SEPERATION ON FRONT TIRES CAUSED BLOW OUT TWICE.

THE BRAKE MAINTAINENCE WARNING IS DEFECTIVE AND INSUFFICENT. ACCORDING THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARS THE CONSUMER WILL NEED TO HAVE BRAKES SERVICED SOON. THE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT APPEAR WHEN THE BRAKE PADS NEED CHANGING, WHICH IS A WARNING. THE BRAKES DO NOT HAVE A SENSOR WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO SQUEAL WHEN PADS NEED REPLACING. THEREFORE, NOT GIVING THE CONSUMER THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MINOR REPAIRS BEFORE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND INJURY OCCUR. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE MAINTAINENCE LIGHT DOES APPEAR WHEN YOUR PADS HAVE COMPLETELY WORN OUT, YOU NOW HAVE DAMAGE TO YOUR ROTORS, AND DAMAGE TO YOUR CYLINDERS NOW TURNING AN $200-$300 REPAIR TO A $1000 REPAIR. THIS IS UNFAIR AND DECEITFUL TO THE CONSUMER. DISCUSSED ISSUE WITH GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME OLE' WELL, TOO BAD-SO SAD.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLS AND IS HARD TO START BACK UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER TEN TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH AND WITH NO WARNING BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LOCKED UP. DEALER DIAGNOSED, TO FIXED IT WILL COST OVER $10,000 SINCE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T PRODUCE ANY MORE THIS ENGINE. *AK

DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP CAUSED VEHICLE TO BECOME DISABLED. *AK *NLM

THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLES ENGINE TREMBLED BECAUSE WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO ONE OF THE CYLINDERS. PH *NLM

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH COOLANT LEAKING INTO OIL POSSIBLY DUE TO A BAD OIL COOLER IN THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP. AFTER A WHILE, SOMETIME IN MARCH OF 2003 THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO OIL AGAIN. IT ALSO SEEMED THAT SOMEBODY REPLACED THE OIL COOLER EVEN BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAD TO PAY A FORTUNE TO REPAIR IT THE FIRST TIME AND NOW IT'S IN THE SHOP AGAIN AND I WILL SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS TIME. I AM TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED WITH CADILLAC, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CADILLAC OR POSSIBLY EVEN GM AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THIS CAR. THIS WAS MY FIRST DISAPPOINTMENT WITH AMERICAN NAME CAR.*JB

COOLANT LEAKING CAUSE ENGINE HEAD NEEDS REPLACING. *NLM