Model year record
1998 Cadillac Catera recalls & problems
The 1998 Cadillac Catera has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 123 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (69 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Cadillac Catera.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Catera
| City / highway | 16 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 69 | 60,000 mi |
| Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Ignition › Switch | 28 | 84,000 mi |
| SuspensionFront; Rear › Springs › Air suspension system › Lines and fittings | 25 | 63,500 mi |
| TiresTread/belt | 21 | 62,300 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor | 19 | 58,200 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module | 10 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Sun/moon roof assembly | 10 | 59,500 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly › Axle shaft | 10 | 60,000 mi |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Linkages | 9 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system; Delivery › Fuel pump | 9 | 38,000 mi |
| StructureBody › Door; Body › Door › Hinge and attachments | 8 | — |
| EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.; Appliance › Air conditioner | 8 | 90,000 mi |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine and engine cooling
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
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
THE WATER PUMP GAVE OUT. *TR
- Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
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
- Electrical system
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…
- Service brakes, electric
FAULTY BRAKING. *TR
- Fuel system, gasoline
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…
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
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…
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.