1999 Cadillac Catera from North America - Comments

Battery died at 4,000 miles.

Oil cooler leaked at 11,000.

Front headlight burned out at 15,000.

Headlight switch replaced at 22,000.

Power sunroof stopped working at 25,000.

Heater valve replaced at 27,000.

"The Caddy that Zigs," or as I've been known to call it, "The Caddy that sucks." :)

Weren't all of these items covered under the warranty?

We have a '99 Catera. The damn thing kept on stalling, lights would not turn off, a whole bunch of other stuff. However, all things repaired (incl the free rental car that GM provided), the Catera is a great car! It handles exceptionally well, has a decent engine, and is fairly roomy. It's not worth the full price, but get one that is a demo, or 1 year old and you will love the car!

I have a '99 Catera that I bought used with 24k miles on it. I have had a couple of issues with the car that was quickly resolved under the warranty. I am very satisfied with the car.

My father-in-law gave my wife and I his '98 Catera for Christmas this past year. It was a Florida car, that had mostly lived in a carport and had less than 13k miles. So far I've had to replace the timing belt, water pump and all four, very expensive, tires. Cadillac has been useless, rude even, when I called them to ask for help, as the car is just out of warranty. Once it left me stranded and had to be towed. When it runs, it's an o.k. car, but I'd be afraid to take it on a long trip with its reliability record. I'll drive it until the wheels fall off, which may be soon.

Steve B.

SIMPLY!!! I love it... Strong, powerful car, real competition for Acura 3.2TL which I own as well, and can't even put these two side by side. Catera Rocks, Omega Rocks!!! German engineering at its best

I purchased my Catera when it was brand new, 1998. I can tell you that it now has 120,000 Km, and have been enjoying it ever since. I got it fully loaded, the rear electric sunshade, the Bose stereo CD, chrome wheels, etc. It has given me very few problems in that time. It has 58,000 Km on it, and has only had a few minor problems with it. A creaking door resulting in the hinge needing replacement, a burnt out headlight, some dash bulbs that were replaced, and a cooling fan fuse that I replaced on my own, and a dead battery, at 4 years old (this past month). it is still under warranty until November of 2002, and I purchased a 2 year extension. My only disappointment has been getting parts. It took the dealer over a week to find me a battery. I am in northern Canada, and there are very few of these cars around. You'd think they would just take a normal battery, but they don't fit, so it has to be a special one. The headlight bulb also had to come from Boston, Mass. It was all covered under Warranty, and I always had a replacement Cadillac when mine was in being fixed.

I love the car, and have no intention of getting rid of it (until the warranty runs out of course). It would just be too expensive after that (no generic parts being available). I put snow tires on there and it's great in the snow and ice.

I've been very satisfied with the car - and it's a pleasure to drive.

John.

I have owned a Catera. I purchased it in 1998 as a new vehicle. I have owned 24 cars in the past 8 years. Several makes and models, but only one Caddy. When I purchased the Catera, I was overjoyed, ecstatic, even giddy. I soon had a very drastic change of heart. Within the first 30 days that I owned the car, it was out of service for 18. It had everything from a defective radiator, to a short in the electrical system causing the sunroof to open itself when the car was off and parked overnight. I had a rim bend from being parked for three days in an airport parking lot, at only 97 degrees F. I also had the air conditioning system fail only 43 days after purchase. The final straw however, was when over 700 miles from home, and only about 3000 miles on the engine, the car left me stranded. It was towed to the local dealer and the engine was pronounced dead. The radiator cracked causing the motor to overheat, causing the top of the block to crack, and the oil to drain. I was told that they would replace the damaged motor under warranty. I refused. I told the dealer to keep the car, I no longer wanted to be a Cadillac owner. The dealer bought the car from me, while I incurred a $7500 loss. Also, Cadillac informed me that they would reimburse for the cost of returning home as per the warranty. It has been about three and a half years, and I have yet to see the check for a mere $300 plane ticket.

Never, never again will I purchase another Cadillac! Not only a poorly built vehicle, but terrible treatment toward their clientele. I was treated better by Suzuki service when I had issues with an $8000 Esteem.

I really don't care whom manufactured the car, it has the Cadillac emblems, and therefore they are responsible for the quality!

I just bought a 1998 Catera at a dealership with 34000 miles on it. In a week I had to replace the head gasket as the left one was split in two. The dealer warranted the work. Previous owner said she had no problems with the car what so ever. Have been driving the car for a while now and she purrs like a kitten. Sleek styling, could use about 30-50 more horse, but over all a great car. Very happy so far. Overall, very comparable to my previous cars which include Toyota Avalon, VW Jetta, Nissan Maxima, & Honda Accord. Well Done Cadillac.

C.J. Busian, MN.

I purchased a 1998 catera with 54,000 miles about eight thousand miles later the car was taken to a cadillac dealer

running terrible. the first comment from the service writer was " oh you will probably get a new motor under warranty from cadillac" he had not even come out of his office!my understanding is they are replacing thousands of these motors with about half having to pay out of their own pockets such as myself. cadillac offered to pay a percentage

then withdrew the offer. Cadillac ought to be ashamed of themselves!

I bought a 97 Catera new. It has been a great car, but we have had nothing but lousy service from our local dealer in West Houston. Every oil change the car was left low, we had to add oil within hours. Repeated complaints to the dealer didn't change their performance. Once we had the car serviced the morning my wife left on vacation and one front tire blew at 70 MPH later the same day with no tread, and the other front tire was bald. After towing to the nearest Caddy dealer he told her there was a bulletin on misalignment and all dealers warned to watch for excessive tire wear. Caddy replaced tires and aligned the car and reimbursed us, but it could have been fatal. When I called our dealer he claimed the car was OK when they had it, 12 hours and 500 miles earlier.

I can't afford the dealer's free oil changes so I now try to get all service performed at Cadilac dealers while visiting other cities, but this is not always possible so I use local mechanics or do it myself. My local garage is far more turstworthy than my local Cadillac dealer.

Battery life is 18 months and it never gives warning, but my last sudden failure was across the street from a Walmart. I was able to fit a normal battery by slightly modifying the connector. I also fit a small charger so I can plug in the car when parked and maybe can get normal life now. Or at least affordable batteries with a warranty.

Tires don't last long and are HIGH dollar, but you have to pay for performance tires. No complaints.

I love the car, and it has been reliable but I cannot get decent factory service so I won't buy another Caddy. Wonder what the Lincoln LS is like, we have a reputable dealer nearby.

I too purchased a 2000 Catera Sport. It was at the local dealership here in Orlando Florida. With 18,000 miles on it, I figured I got a pretty good deal on a nice looking car. Boy, was I wrong.

I have now owned the car for aprox. 10 months in that time I have taken it to the dealer 19 times 20 if you count dropping it off today for bad rear window swithes (again). I have replaced the battery, onstar, door interior trim, oil pump, oil sending unit, 3 cooloant lines, a light switch, a cooling fan, an ash tray, the a/c compressor, the master window switch and oh yeah the AIRBAG!

As I was driving down the highway, the airbag decided to deploy on it's own. After I caught my breath, I took it down to the local Cadillac Dealer (Massey Cadillac) by the way Massey is Awesome! Everything has been replaced under warranty, but that's not enough. The car is a poor design. I no longer feel safe in it because of that incident. Imagine you are driving down the hi way when out of nowhere a gunshot goes off in your face. 70mph into the grass praying that other vehicles are on the shoulder. I contacted Cadillac corporation and they sent a rep to the dealer to inspect the car. With all evidence pointing back to the manufacturer they cleared me of any wrong doing... gee thanks. When I asked for them to buy the vehicle back they stated that because I bought the car used that I could not get any incentive on a different GM vehicle. That's just wrong, in todays economy customer service should be number one. If something bad happens, it gets around a heck of a lot faster than something good. Anyone who has had a similar experience please email me at TwinturboLS1@Hotmail.com I think a class action lawsuit should be filed to let those upper management individuals know that the American person doesn't want to be treated as if their money isn't good enough.

Thanks.

Charlie Mahoney

Sanford, FL.

I bought my '99 Catera in July of 2000. I believe it was one of many Cateras that Cadillac couldn't sell, put 6000+ miles on them and placed them in the used car lot as employee driven cars. I have made several trips from San Jose to Minneapolis all requiring at least one trip to the dealer. One trip required 4 stops at the dealers and an eight night stay in a motel in Lincoln, NE waiting for a new transmission. The car has spent about 6 weeks at the dealerships.

Here is a list of the problems.

*O2 Sensor replaced in Des Moines under warranty

*Heater valve replaced in Mpls. under warranty

*Turn indicator switch replaced in San Jose under warranty. (Took two trips)

*Windshield cracked from stress under warranty

*Gas tank replaced in San Jose under warranty. (Gas comes back out of the filler on hot days after filling tank. They have tried to fix three times, but it still does it.)

*Battery low and car won't start in Mpls. under warranty. (Dealer could not find anything wrong)

*Hose replaces in San Jose under recall

*Battery low and car starts with difficulty in Grand Junction, CO. (Dealer could not find anything wrong and it cost $78.)

*Heater valve replaced in San Jose. (Leaking again. Out of warranty, but they paid.)

*Battery low and car wouldn't start in San Jose. (At dealer for over a week. They found a leaky relay that they wanted over $500 to repair. Cadillac paid part of the cost. Not the real problem.)

*Battery low and car starts with difficulty in San Jose. (I took data to prove that the alternator would not charge the battery at idle. After a week they believed me and stated that I also needed a new cable. It would take another week to get it. The total cost would be $1542. Cadillac said there was no proof that it was the same problem I had when in warranty. I took it elsewhere and had it fixed for less than $400.)

*Headlight relay stuck closed. I replaced.

*Water pump and other things replaced on recall.

*Transmission warning light comes on and it will not shift. (After 3-1/2 days the dealer said it was a bad battery. Didn't make sense and we drove to MN. There the light came on three times, but would go out when we stopped and than operate correctly. Coming back the light came on halfway to Brookings, SD. Dealer wouldn't look at it for two days. Drove to Sioux Falls and they checked it, but could not find the problem. While checking the battery failed. Cost $152.61. Half way to Omaha the light comes on again. Stopped at the dealer who could now get a fault code readout. Transmission slipping. Told I needed a new transmission. Chose to go on to Lincoln, NE. Dealer there dropped the pan and found it fried. Had to wait a week for the transmission to arrive from Chicago. It cost me $2500. Cadillac would only pay 30%.)

*Rainwater leaked in and flooded passenger floor destroying my wife's purse. (Air intake drain plugged with leaves. Bad design.)

*Two different headlight relays have been replaced.

*The low coolant light came on while driving on a back road in Death Valley. Bad sensor.

*Another O2 sensor replaced on last trip to MN.

I have also replaced tires and front brake pads. Normal wear.

This is an addition to the car in the Nov 20th note.

Had to replace tires a second time. Rear end out of alignment. I was told there is no adjustment.

The dash instruments go dead and the transmission, engine and safety belt lights come on for a short time. The transmission light stays on and it is in limp mode. This happened several times. Dealer first thought it was a poor crimp on a battery cable. It would take a week to obtain so I fixed it. Next was an ignition switch. I paid and it had no effect. The mechanic now is driving it. Add another couple weeks that I can't use the car.

Luckily I have a Saturn with 165K and a Corvette that has 346k that always run.

Well I bought my '98 Catera last summer and really liked the car until now. Why? Read on!

Check engine light on. Air injection pump $602.51

Leaking oil cooler and spark plug wire tube seals. $2205.00

New "special" battery. $112.00 and $35 install.

RR tie rod. $110.00 and $65 install.

4 wheel alignment. $90.00

Antenna and antenna amplifier. $517.57.

I said forget it, I'm going to the Toyota lot, Kelley Blue Book says the car is only worth $3800.