Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-68
Everyone has an opinion, but until you have lived it, you will never know this DEMON! The thing constantly leaks coolant, the coolant valve has been replaced twice because coolant will rush from the car, it is terrible on tires, the leather seats are not of good quality and scar quite easily, the valve cover gaskets have been replaced, the lights would not go off, the alternator was replaced under a recall, the leveling light is on all too often to talk about, and last week, the check engine light came on regarding the throttle. Cadillac ought to be ashamed and this car should have been recalled. Even the local Cadillac dealership agrees. I am afraid to drive it long distances for fear of what may go wrong next.
1998 Catera Purchased with 65,000 miles on it.
While the Catera is a beautiful car, it has been a big disappointment. We traded in a 1990 Seville with over 235,000 miles on it and was still a very reliable car. The Catera's Water Pump went out just as we were arriving home
with the new purchase. What a disappointment! The car
dealer sent a tow truck 60 miles and sent it to the local
Cadillac Dealer. The Water Pump was replaced on Recall.
A new belt and a few other things costing about $150 were
also replaced. The car dealer paid the bill, hoping we
would not refuse the car under our state's 3-day rule.
A week later a lady backed into the right passenger fender
in a parking lot. Visibility out of the car is terrible.
The Rear Head Rests were blocking a lot of view. Removed
the Head Rests and put them in the store room. Repair was
$1150 with us paying $500 deductible since it was on
private property.
A week later the car began leaking coolant. Cadillac
dealer said it was Heater Valve - cost was $953 to repair.
Two days later the car leaks again and runs hot. Cadillac sent a tow truck 40 miles to haul it back in. Kept the
car two more days and found they had not sealed a hose
properly. No charge. Thanks!
Two days later the car began skipping when cranked cold.
Run the engine a few minutes, turn it off and it works
fine. Took it back to Cadillac Dealer who kept the car
two more days and would go out and crank the car every
few hours, but never actually placed the car into the service bay to check. We went and picked up the car. The car is still skipping and Check Engine light is on. The
Cadillac dealer said it might be a Spark Plug, a coil,
or spark plug wire. Coils must be replaced in a 6-pack
at a cost of over $350, Pipes must be removed to check
the spark plug and the spark plug wires come in a set
of 3 for each side at a cost of about $150.
We have owned the car now for two months and it has been
in the shop a total of about 3 weeks. My wife refuses to
drive the car. She is now commuting to work in our Seville,
which gets 28 MPG and is a rather low maintenance car as
all of my other Cadillacs have been. The Catera is a big
disappointment. I am retired and don't need this kind of
unexpected expenses. I have not ruled out destroying
my perfect credit rating by taking the car back to the
dealer and telling him to shove it.
I will gladly join a Class Action Law Suit. This is a
terrible car.
Ed Newnan, GA.
I just bought a 97 Catera from a dealership hear in Torrance California and I must say that I saw the car and thought WOW what a beautiful car in excellent looking condition I popped the hood checked over the engine it looked very clean interior and exterior excellent condition test drove it drove really nice so I bought it. Well a month later it started leaking coolant it had a cracked part that the heater lines connect to cost 300.00 dollars. Well this diappointed me seeing that I have no warranty! car was sold as is so I said what the heck call it a coincidence! Well 2 weeks later I get a engine oil light that comes on so I check the oil and the level and sure enough it shows a little over a quart low and not even 3000 miles on the oil change. So I add some 10-30 oil and it seems that all is well light goes out car is driving nice. But 2 days later light comes on again and this time there is a carmel colored leak coming from under the car and low and behold today I find that the oil cooler went out and has sent oil into my coolant system and overflowed the radiator with coolant and engine oil so now I am waiting to find out exactly how much this repair is going to cost and then I will try to unload this car to a dealer and get a new car (not a cadillac) NO MORE USED CARS FOR ME! Thanks cadillac for ruining my impression of your vehichles I will never buy another cadillac! Sincerly JOhn.
I have a 1999 catera. The first month I had it the engine light came on. Turned out to be some sensors. When I got the car it had about 54,000 miles on it. Now it has 80,000 on it. It was loseing a lot of oil I brought it in to the dealer and they told me it was normal. I know loseing oil is not normal so I took it to another dealer and they told me they wanted to do a oil comp test. I was loseing a quart every 500mi. Turned out that the motor had a cracked cylinder wall. The car is covered under GMPP thank god. It took them about 2wk to replace the engine the total cost came to $9,584 more than the car is worth. I went to pick it up I got there and the engine light was on. turned out to be a sensor on a new motor. I have had more promlems then this, but to much to list them all. now it seems to be running good now. well we will se how long is last.
You had a Peugeot 505 and now owns a Cadillac Catera and is complaining of how difficult the Caddy is to maintain?
Boy, you don't know how lucky you are.
The Caddy may be unreliable as the PUG, but there is a Cadillac Dealer in every corner. Try to find parts for Peugeots. Go ahead, try it...
I purchased a 99 Catera with 79,000 miles on it in Jan.2005 and so far I have had only 1 minor problem which was the coolant valve or something. The way I see it, you take a chance on any car you purchase, but so far I am very pleased with my car. I love it!
I bought my car with 41,000 miles and have had minor problems since. The car currently has 100,000 miles and still runs great. One constant problem was the check engine light is constantly on. After extensive research, I found that this light was just a precaution and had no significance. I am currently upgrading to the CTS-V.
I bought my 97 Catera late last fall. Normally, I'd say that I love this car, and I do.
However...the coolant issue. My car leaks more coolant than anything I've ever seen. From previous comments, there seems to be an issue with the heater block/core/hoses. Is this correct? Was there a recall?
One place told me that the head gasket was bad. Another place didn't know. So far, other than the leak, this car has performed beautifully. If I could fix the leak fixed fairly cheaply, I'd be happy.
Purchased 1998 cadillac catera... her name is lady... have had to replace 3 batteries...head gaskets... and now it is losing coolant... was there a recall on the issue with the coolant?
To the guy who said he would only buy new cars from now on I have found that even buying new cars does not guarantee reliability or durability.
Better to buy a 3 year old car like a Grand Marquis at a third of its new price and keep it for 2-3 years then replace.
I have a '99 Cadillac Catera. Got it in 2000. I've replaced all four tires, airpump, airhose, masa airflow sensor, crank sensor, battery, was told that I have a slow leaking oil gasket, the engine light stays on, sunroof will no longer work, and it now feels like the heating elements aren't working. The car is almost at 100,000 miles, from 24000, but it still has a nice running sound to it. Want to buy it?
To fellow Catera owners: I feel your pain. I purchase a 1999 Catera, back in 2001 with just under 39,000 miles on it. Believe me, I have payed for every mile (s). Service light actually has a LIFE of it own, spark plug wires @ $120.00 a set, crank case sensors, headlights are haunted and refuse to go out. When it rains, a pool of water mysteriously appears on the rear floorboard, a hand check of the entire car and you can't find any damp places anywhere, where a leak might be, after several flooding, this problem mysteriously disappear on it own??? valve cover gaskets, coil pack, 3 batteries, 2 tire rods (both time right pass side) excessive tire wear, wheel alignments, brake sensor lights, unknown decreasing voltage rating, on again off again A/C.
There are just too many things to list and the cost is staggering. Catera the car that "ZAG" you all the way to the bank. Plus even the dealership frown when you bring this car in for repairs. Now just reaching 70,000 miles!
I have owned a 1999 Cadillac Catera since 2001 when it had 32,000 miles. Wow, did I love the car until about 1 month of driving it.
I have had oil leak after oil leak, engine light continuously on with having to return it to be checked.
Replaced mass air sensor, and many other parts since.
The power roof opens and closes on it's own.
Transmission light continues to go off and on whenever it feels the urge.
Car stalled many times for no apparent reason and would restart after a 15 minute wait.
This car was a severe disappointment to me. I will never buy another Cadillac again! Don't even consider this car, it SUCKS!
While reading all of the above comments, I feel as if I could have written every one of them myself. We have a 1998 Catera that we purchased in 2000. It's had coolant leaks and the oil practically pours out of it. The rear window goes up and down whenever it feels like it and we too have the water on the passenger side floor whenever it rains, even though there is no apparent leak. The rims are bent, so the tires are always low. Right now we are having some sort of electrical problem (I assume). We cannot put the car in park, or the shifter won't disengage when we try to put it back into drive or reverse. We just have to put it in neutral and pull up the parking break. If the car is turned on and off several times (such as while running errands) the car refuses to start. We're never sure which time this will happen and usually get stuck somewhere for a while. After about 30 minutes, it starts right back up like nothing was wrong. This morning, my check engine light came on. I am hoping this is just a fluke due to all the other glitches this crazy car has. We also have to replace the A arm on the front as the right front tire is about ready to fall off. It constantly overheats and we have to carry a quart of oil around in the trunk in case the oil light comes on. What a nightmare this car has been!!
Catera owners, I urge everyone to take whatever action possible to make these problems aware to Government agencies, News reports, etc., that GM will take responsibilty for the poor quality of workmenship created in this vehicle. I recently acquired a 1999 Catera and within 2 days the brake light switch, dash lights, passenger rear window, crankshaft position sensor and brake shift release switch all malfunctioned. Not to mention the vehicle is now losing coolant through the engine. Now is the time for action. As I was driving along at highway speed, the engine shut off without warning disabling the brakes and power steering. Thankful my quick reaction avoided an accident.