Model year record
1999 Cadillac Catera recalls & problems
The 1999 Cadillac Catera has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 80 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (32 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1999 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 / 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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 › Gasoline; Engine | 32 | 86,900 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Module; Ignition | 13 | 60,000 mi |
| TiresTread/belt; Sidewall | 13 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Steering wheel/handle bar | 11 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 8 | — |
| Unknown or other | 8 | — |
| StructureBody › Door; Frame and members | 7 | — |
| SuspensionFront | 7 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 7 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 6 | — |
| VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Windshield wiper/washer | 5 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap | 5 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURN OFF FOR A WHILE IN ORDER TO RESET THE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
- Electrical system
CAR SHUTS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. *TR
- Electrical system
THE RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I WAS IN HARMS WAY IN THE RAIN AND HAD TO TAKE THE CARE 70 MORE MILES, WHILE I COULD GET OUT OF THE BUFFALO AREA TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR THE NIGHT. THE LIGHTS NEVER WENT OFF TILL THE BATTERY WAS EXHAUSTED. WHEN RECHARGED THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON AGAIN, UNABLE TO BE TURNED OFF. WHEN I MANAGED TO EXCHANGE A RELAY, THE NEXT PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DID RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT NHTSA HAS DIRECTED TO BE FIXED WITHOUT COST, DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE GM LINES HAVE NOT ADJUSTED AND STILL OFFER ON SEVERAL VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL VALLEY CADILLAC WHO DECLINED TO…
- Exterior lighting
MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES (SEALED BEAM) ON 1999 CADILLAC CATERA ARE BROKEN. THESE PARTS CAN NOT BE REPAIRED - BULBS WILL BURN OUT IN SEVERAL MONTHS DUE TO JARRING/BOUNCING. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THE PREVIOUS 5.5 YEARS AND IT HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
- Electrical system
I PURCHASED A 99 CATERA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND SENSE THEN THIS CAR IS A CARDBOARD BOX ON WHEELS. THE ALARM SYSTEM AS GONE LOOPY IN THE SENSE THAT I COULDN'T START MY VEHICLE UNLESS I CRANKED IT ONCE LEFT IT FOR 15-30 MIN AND THEN CRANKED IT AGAIN. AFTER DISABLING THE ALARM SYSTEM IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN ON OCCASION. THE AC/HEATER WENT OUT DUE TO THE COMPRESSOR HAVING TO MUCH COMPRESSION. THE SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF OR NOT AT ALL. THE VACUUM HOSES HAD HOLES IN IT WHICH WAS A RECALL BUT NOT TO KEN BATCHLEOR. THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HS GONE OUT THREE TIMES AND COSTS 300 TO REPLACE EVERYTIME. MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY BY THE CLAMP. THE LEVELING LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR…
- Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA. AFTER A RAINSTORM, THE CONTACT WOULD NOTICE A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANELS. DEPENDING ON THE PRECIPITATION, THERE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 INCHES OF WATER ON THE FLOOR. THE WATER ORIGINATED FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF MILDEW ON THE CARPET AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
- Engine and engine cooling
1999 CADILLAC CATERA WITH 34,000 ORIGINAL MILES COMPLETLY FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY. YOU LOSE ENGINE, BRAKES AND STEERING. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
OUR 1999 CADILLAC CATERA ENGINE SHELLED OUT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE SERPENTINE BEARING ASSEMBLY THAT GENERAL MOTORS ELECTED TO INSTALL ON THE 3.0 V-6 ENGINE FOR THIS CAR. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE DEFECTIVE BEARINGS FREEZE UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS,IT CAUSES A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE; HENCE RESULTING IN AN EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. BECAUSE GM DOES NO LONGER MAKE THE 3.0 V-6 MOTOR FOR THIS CAR, YOU ARE STUCK WITH PURCHASING ONE USED FROM WHEREVER YOU CAN FIND ONE. MY USED ENGINE COST $3,460 TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT WAS IN MY VEHICLE. THE MILES ON THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS STATED TO ME AS 39,000 + MILES. MY ORIGINAL MOTOR WENT OUT AT…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.