Model year record
2001 Cadillac Catera recalls & problems
The 2001 Cadillac Catera has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 30 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (8 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 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 coolingCooling system; Engine › Gasoline | 8 | 62,580 mi |
| Tires | 5 | 21,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 4 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Module | 3 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 3 | — |
| WheelsRim; Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 3 | 35,000 mi |
| StructureBody › Door | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 1 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist system | 1 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Retractor | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 1 | — |
*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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC CATERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE GASKETS, BELTS AND THE WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 01/09/14*LJ
- Air bags › Frontal
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC CATERA. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.
- Air bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC CATERA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH , THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OCCURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER HER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY CADILLAC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26000.
- Vehicle speed controlCrash
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE ACCELERATOR "TOOK OVER" AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. AT SOME POINT THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE SHEARED OFF AND FLEW OFF THE CAR CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. MY HUSBAND, A FORMER NAVY SEAL, MANAGED TO "MANHANDLE" THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO AVOID A LONG LINE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT CLIPPED THE TAIL END OF A TRAILER BEING PULLED BY A TRUCK. HE SURVIVED. WE HAD ONLY BOUGHT THE CAR 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHERE IT WAS TOTALED. IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 3 OF THE 5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP FOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS. NO ONE WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. GEICO PAID OFF THE LOAN AND WE GOT…
- Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC CATERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE GEARS THEN STARTED TO SHIFT VERY SLOWLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,484. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,486.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC CATERA. SINCE MAY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR GREATER. INITIALLY, THE STALLING OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON JUNE 28, 2009, THE STALLING OCCURS EVERY OTHER DAY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF THE MECHANIC STATED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. UPDATED 08/05/09.*JB
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
CHRONIC FAILURE OF GM PN# 90566947 CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND POSSIBLE FIRE DAMAGE DUE TO PROXIMITY OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE HAVE BEEN 3 REPLACEMENTS IN 62,580 MILES. THE FIRST @ 16,586 MILES, SECOND @ 34,503 MILES, AND THE LATEST AT 62,580 MILES. THE LEAKS BEGIN AS AN ODOR OF COOLANT, THEN SPOTS BEGIN ON THE PAVEMENT, THEN FINALLY THE COOLANT RESERVOIR EMPTIES ITSELF. THE VALVE IS LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE BLOCK UP AGAINST THE FIREWALL, AND ADJACENT TO THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED ALL 3 TIMES, ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND TWICE AT MY EXPENSE. GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DESIGN PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE…
- Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studsCrash
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 55 MPH, CAME UPON DRIVER MOVING SLOW, HAD TO BRAKE, THEN BEGAN TO PASS, FRONT END MADE A LOUD, HORRIBLE NOISE, AND WITHIN SECONDS THE FRONT WHEEL FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE, CATERA STRUCK ANOTHER PERSON'S TRAILER AND THE CATERA WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DEALER HAD CAR FOR REPAIRS ABOUT 3 OF THE 5 MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE CAR. *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.