Windshield washer pump replaced at 40K.
Uneven tire ware due to incorrect alignment specs from factory. I was able to get 2 free tires through the GM goodwill program - 60K.
Coolant and oil leaks due to faulty gaskets at 70K and 90K.
Tie rod ends replaced at 80K.
Recall associated with one of two water pump failures.
Very difficult to replace headlight bulbs.
Dealership experience at RoyFoss is somewhat mixed. The technicians are great, unfortunately I can't say the same for the service advisor's!
The car is definitely not your average Cadilac. Made by Opel, GM's European subsidiaray, for high speed travel on the Autobahan's. Decent mix of sport and confort. Handles well on dry pavement, however, if you experience snow, snow tires are a must.
Draw backs are: it's a heavy V6 in a segment that offers V8s. I suspect the Omega (the European Catera) gets much better 0-60 times as it is not outfitted with all the heavy creature comforts. Parts are also too expensive - wiper blades are $70 a pair. Air filter $50 etc.
I own a 1997 Cadillac Catera. Lately I have spent a bundle on it. My head gaskets and oil cooler have had to be replaced by what I was told from the antifreeze eating out the gaskets. If I knew of a recall it would be nice to know. The car drives great, but the cost for repairs is not worth it.
My wife owns a 1997 Catera. It currently has a problem with a miss in the #3 spark plug. This miss moved from the #2 plug and moves at will, from bank to bank and plug to plug. It is in a non-dealer repair shop at the moment. They have put a set of double platinum plugs in it and changed one set of wires. These items are costly, but they were bad. Before they move on to injectors, I was curious if anyone has experienced this problem or has any information that might help my wife's mechanic to troubleshoot it.
I have a 2000 Catera with 33000 miles that has two current problems: the radio and clock work only when the ignition is in the off position. Is a faulty TheftLock the problem? Also car runs hot and sometimes the warning light comes on and I have to shut down the air conditioner. Faulty water pump? Would like to find out if anyone had similar problems and had them solved. It's a temperamental car, but I like driving it.
I bought a 1998 Cadillac Catera in 2001. Second and third gear decided to just stop working all of sudden on my way to work. I currently have it in the shop, but I can't find a good used transmission. I am looking at 1800 - 2500 dollars to have the one in it rebuilt. Also I found that the link stabilizer bars go bad about every 10-12 thousand miles. Every time they have been replaced you then have to get the wheels realigned. I love the way the car rides, but I hate the price. I started out with a $10K loan and due to all the repairs that the warranty doesn't cover I still owe about $8K. What was supposed to be a 5 year loan has now become an 8 year loan due to costly repairs.
My 1997 Catera has incurred close to $10k worth of repairs since I bought it with less tha 14k miles in Sept of 2000. Fortunately, Cadillac has covered the new head assembly with plugs and all new valves, a water pump, new timing belt, new tensioner pulley, and new emissions computer. I also have had to replace the motor mounts, water control value, coolant tank, front control arms, air conditioning compressor, coolant seals, 2 ignition switches, faulty wiring, brake switch, rotors/pads, and the usual such as mis-worn tires, etc. The car pulls to the right, even after alignments, the headlights are not adjustable because the reflectors separate from the assembly and cost $500 each to replace - my fog lights keep going out - can you imagine? Worse car I ever owned.
I own a 1998 catera #3&6 PLUGS are misfiring we checked it with code finder could be just plugs at 6.00 each we hope or wires at $300.for a set of 6 or a coil. I don't yet what that costs.
I just bought a 1997 Catera. It was very appealing at first, but I have become frustrated by all of the little things that are wrong with it. I thought I could put up with them, but I can't, and repairing everything would cost a fortune! For example, I just had an alignment because the car was pulling all over the place. In doing the alignment, a tie rod snapped because it had seized. A simple alignment ended up costing me $500 (at a cheap mechanic). And now it still pulls as much as it did before! Also, the driver's door won't stay open ($650 to repair); it needs a new wiper motor ($350); the driver's seat warmer doesn't work (I'm afraid to find out how much to repair); the air filters need to be replaced ($60 and $95); these are just a few of the problems - and the gas mileage...I'm only getting 350 kms on a full tank. I can't wait to get rid of it!
I have a '98 Catera and it has been nothing but problems from the first week. The electricals went haywire, the sunroof wouldn't close for 3 days, finally it shuts as I'm driving, lights go on and off, and with only 65k miles the transmissions going bad. Worst car I have ever had. Looks nice, but you wonder why a CADILLAC is so affordable. I learned the hard way.
Earnest: let me know if you do anything about this. I bought a 2000 cadillac catera two years ago w/49,000 miles and has been a HUGE problem ever since. It had a clean CARFAX when I bought it. Since then, I've spent close to $2,000 as a result of damages. Below summarizes my problems.
1: car leaks water when it rains on right passenger side, driver door w
2. Heater Valve part 90566947 replaced @ 63K miles due to coolant leak ($300)
3. timing belt tension pulley broke off few months later ($400, car had to be towed to firestone)
4. @ 78K need to replace UPPER LOWER intake manifold gaskets coolant as a result of coolant leak AGAIN!! (close to $800) Also told heater valve needs to be replaced a year after 2nd one put in due to leak.
I have all left over pieces of old gaskets and reciepts for all work done in case claims can be filed. I'm so upset about this I can't even begin to explain. I've had the car two years and did everything possible to ensure this car wasn't a LEMON, but it is.
Last year, I bought a used 1997 Cadillac Catera which had about 81,000 miles on it. The car is the worst car ever made. The coolant leaks and it costs about $2500 to fix. The ignition went out and that cost about $500. The coolant leaking seems like it's happening with every single Catera. Because of this horrible car, I am NEVER EVER going to buy another used car again. A very expensive lesson learned.