Cadillac Catera Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

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 PART. IT IS CONSTRUCTED FROM PLASTIC AND DOES NOT WITHSTAND THE HOT ENVIRONMENT OF THE APPLICATION. IT IS USED ON THE 3 LITRE 6 CYLINDER ENGINE OF THE CADILLAC CATERA AND CTS, AND THE SAAB 9-5. DEALER USE RECORDS SHOW A VERY HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY VEHICLES USING THIS ENGINE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE DUE TO THE COOLANT SPRAYING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHEN MOVING, AS WELL AS DISABLING THE ENGINE DUE TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT. *TR

PURCHASED 4 PIRELLIE TIRES (PR00523457V) - PIR P6 FOUR SEASONS P235/45R17 ON 2/18/05 WITH LIFETIME ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. REPLACED 2 TRES 04/08/05 - IMPACT BULDGE ON OUTER EDGE OF TIRES. REPLACED ANOTHER TIRE (TIRE WAS RIPPED/CUT COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF STATE, WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN) ON 11/27/05. AGAIN ON 08/19/06 HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER TIRE REPLACED RIP COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE. ON 12-05-07 ANOTHER RIP IN TIRE WAS TOLD THAT TIRES WERE WORN, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (ALL 4). *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 CETERA. MY CAR NOW HAS 42,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 22000 MILES , HAVING ROTATED THE TIRES FAITHFULLY EVERY 3000 MILES, I WENT TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THEM ROTATED, AND WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE ON THEM ANYMORE AS THE EDGES WERE TOTALLY WORN OUT, EXPOSING THE CANVAS. I HAD BEEN TOLD ALL ALONG THAT THEY WERE WEARING UNEVENLY, BUT CHALKED IT UP TO THE ORIGINAL TIRES ,SOMETIMES NOT BEING AS GOOD AS THEY SHOULD BE. REPLACED WITH ORIGINAL , VERY EXPENSIVE TIRES. NOW AT 42,000 MILES, HAVING FAITHFULLY ROTATED EVERY 2 TO 3000 MILES , I AM TOLD THAT THEY NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN, HAVING BEEN TOLD AT EVERY ROTATION THAT THEY WERE WEARING UNEVENLY EVERY MILE THAT I DRIVE, I FELT AS IF I WAS LEAVING MONEY ON THE PAVEMENT. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT' WAS THE TIRES THEMSELVES , $160 EACH, AND BECAME VERY IRRITATED AND INDIGNANT WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT THE TIRE DEALER SAID THAT EVERY ONE OF THE CATERAS ATE TIRES. ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM ON CATERAS, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER QUICKLY JUMPED IN AND TOLD ME AGAIN THAT IT WAS THE TIRES THEMSELVES AND NOT THE CAR. HE WAS VERY UNHAPPY THAT ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES TOLD ME THE TRUTH. NOW THAT I SAW THAT OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, JUST AS THE TIRE DEALER HAD TOLD ME, I WAS VERY IRRITATED THAT THE CAR DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN COVERING IT UP ALL OF THIS TIME. I SPOKE TO GM HEADQUARTERS, BUT THEY ALSO DENIED KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THERE BEING A DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEMO IS TO REQUEST NHTSA TO EVALUATE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER CORRECT DESIGN DEFECT IN THE HOT WATER VALVE OF THE 2001 CADILLAC CATERA COOLING SYSTEM. *AK RECENTLY THE HOT WATER VALVE, FP NUMBER 90566947, IN THE COOLING SYSTEM OF MY 2001 CATERA FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN 2005 WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED LAST MONTH WITH LESS THAN 75,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WAS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. BOTH REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY VAL WARD CADILLAC, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, INCLUDING FOUR GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CARS, AND THIS COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM HAS NEVER OCCURRED ON ANY OF THEM. ON JUNE 5, 2007 I SENT A LETTER TO GM ASKING THAT THEY ISSUE A RECALL OF THE 2001 CATERA TO CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I WAS ADVISED, VIA A TELEPHONE CALL FROM MS. JOLENE BLAZUKIEWICZ, IN THEIR EXECUTIVE OFFICE, THAT GM DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT OR SAFETY HAZARD AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. SHE WENT ON TO SAY THE FAILED PART IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AS THOUGH THIS WAS A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. I SUGGESTED THEY MAY WANT TO CONSIDER MAKING THE PART FROM A STRONGER MATERIAL, SHE SAID SHE WOULD FORWARD MY LETTER TO THE DESIGN DEPARTMENT. I LIVE IN A RELATIVELY RURAL PART OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLING FLUID ON A ROAD FAR FROM A TOWN OR SERVICE STATION, COULD PRESENT A VERY REAL AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND RESULT IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FACT THAT THIS VALVE HAS NOW FAILED TWICE INDICATES IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. IT WOULD SEEM APPROPRIATE FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THE VALVE WITH A MORE ROBUST PART. I THEREFORE REQUEST THE NHTSA TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM AND, IF APPROPRIATE, DIRECT GM TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. SINCERELY, TORSTEN ROTHMAN

TL*- WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 CADILLAC CATERA WITH 76000 MILES FAILURE FOR 15 MILES HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR A HALF HOUR WHEN HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF BECAUSE IT FELT HOT AND HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER'S COAT WAS BURNED, AND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD A BLACK BURN MARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT, NEAR THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT IT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76882. *AK

PURCHASED 2001 CATERA NEW FROM SIOUX FALLS CAD., SIOUX FALLS, SD. WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON CAR, TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN. CAD. REPLACED TIRES, ALIGNED THE WHEELS WHICH WERE WITHIN CAD. GUIDE. WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON THE REPLACED TIRES, TIRES WERE IRREGULARLY WORN OUT, REPLACED AT HAMIL MOTORS OF SHELDON, IA. WHICH I PAID FOR. CAR ALIGNED AND ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN CAD. GUIDE. BOTH ALIGNMENTS WERE COMPLETED BY CAD. DEALERS. REPLACED TIRES WORE OUT WITHIN 15,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED BY ME FROM OK ONE STOP IN HOSPERS, IA. CAR TAKEN TO SIOUX FALLS CAD FOR ANOTHER ALIGNMENT WHICH WAS WITHIN CAD. GUIDE. WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES TIRES WERE AGAIN IRREGULARLY WORN, REPLACED AT MORGAN TIRE CO. AND WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES BLOWOUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING CAUSING MUCH EMOTIONAL STRESS FOR MY WIFE. TIRES REPLACED AT MORGAN TIRE, ALIGNMENT COMPLETED WITH MORGAN CALLING CAD FOR CORRECTION. STATED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CATERA AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GMAC - 800-458-8006 4 WEEKS AGO, WAS ASSIGNED FILE #1-431277521, WAS INSTRUCTED TO HAVE TIRES BROUGHT TO CAD DEALER WHICH WAS COMPLETED BY MORGAN TIRE CO. TO HAMILL MOTORS OF SHELDON. DEALER WAS TO CALL CAD. WITH RESULT OF TIRE INSPECTION AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM CAD. SINCE.*JB

ON 8/20/05, I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT (FILE # 1-357-445-124) WITH CADILLAC CUSTOMER RELATIONS, IN ORDER TO REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR OF TWO SAFETY-RELATED ISSUES AND ONE SERVICE-RELATED ISSUE THAT HAVE COME TO MY KNOWLEDGE RECENTLY. I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES DID NOT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT AND HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING PRIOR TO THE EXPIRING OF THE WARRANTY IN DECEMBER 2004. CAR HAS ONLY 35K MILES AND IS DRIVEN AVG OF 4K MILES PER YEAR. COMPLAINT IS AS FOLLOWS: 1) DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL FACTORY CHROME RIMS: AS PER TIRES PLUS AND LINDSAY CADILLAC SERVICE SHOP TECHNICIANS, THE CHROME IS PEELING FROM INSIDE RIM, CAUSING TIRES TO CONSTANTLY LOSE AIR (DEFLATE), WHICH AT ANY TIME MAY BE A HAZARD TO MY SAFETY, AS WELL AS FOR OTHER PASSENGERS). I HAVE ASKED CADILLAC TO REPAIR/REPLACE 4 RIMS; 2) DEFECTIVE CAR JACK: ALTHOUGH NOT PREVIOUSLY USED, ON 8/19/05 THE NEW JACK SLID AND BENDED WHEN I USED IT ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS TO REPLACE A FLAT TIRE, ALMOST CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND CAR DAMAGE). I HAVE ASKED CADILLAC TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE JACK; AND, 3) LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT: ACCORDING TO LINDSAY'S CADILLAC DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS, ENGINE COOLANT IS LEAKING THROUGH WATER HEATER CONTROL VALVE (AS PER ARCHIVES FROM WWW.CADILLACFORUMS.COM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN AND RECURRING ISSUE REPORTED BY CADILLAC CATERA OWNERS, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED UNDER CADILLAC'S WARRANTY AND THEY SHOULD ASSUME THE COST OF REPAIRS). CADILLAC PRESSURED ME OVER THE PHONE TO TAKE 50% COST ASSISTANCE ON REPAIRS (APPROX $3,500.00 ESTIMATED), AND WHEN I REFUSED, OFFER WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE TABLE. I COMPLAINED THAT PROCESS WAS NOT TRANSPARENT, AND WHEN I REQUESTED THAT CADILLAC'S OFFER AND CLAIM INFORMATION BE IN WRITING, REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH COPIES OF CASE FILE. *JB

MY VEHICLE'S SPORT SHIFTING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MY CAR WOULD REFUSE TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR UNTIL I DROVE IT FOR A FEW MILES AND/OR TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I WAS IN A LOCAL TOWN WHEN THE FRONT END STARTED TO SHUDDER AND MAKE NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO STATED THE SENDING UNIT FOR THE FLUID FAILED AND IT HAD BURNED OUT THE FIRST GEAR. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I CONTACTED GM HEADQUARTERS AND WAS REFUSED ANY HELP IN FIXING THE ISSUE OR RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE IT HAD NOT HAD A SUFFICIENT HISTORY WITH GM DEALERSHIPS GETTING MAINTENANCE, AND THAT I WAS THE THIRD OWNER. KEEP IN MIND, THIS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER MY OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY 9 MOS, PAID 14,000.00 FOR THE CAR AND ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT. I NOW AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED, WHICH I AM QUOTED 1500.00 FOR A REBUILD AND A YEAR WARRANTY THAT I CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME AND HAVING TO DRIVE A VERY UNRELIABLE AND VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. I JUST WANT MY CAR BACK.

FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES ON 3 OCCASIONS. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 40,501MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE 1% NEGATIVE CAMBER WHICH INVOLVED THE ALIGNMENT WAS CAUSING THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE INNER TIRES. *AK

NO MONEY HAS CHANGED HANDS YET. 2001 CADILLAC CATERRA IS UNDER WARANTY. FUEL LINE RUPTURED FROM HIGHWAY DEBRIS. PARTS WERE DIFFICULT TO GET. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BY SCHOOLING AND PROFESSION. THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINE IS OF A BAD DESIGN, EXPOSED TO HIGHWAY DEBRIS. IT IS NOT COMPLETELY ARMORED OR SHIELDED. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, I WAS OUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS. SHE WAS NOT SURE WHAT SHE HIT, BUT SMELLED GASOLINE IMMEDIATELY, PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. APPROX. 1/2 TANK FULL OF GAS WAS QUICKLY PUMPED TO ATMOSPHERE AND TO THE GROUND, DUE TO THE TUBING FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE CADILLAC CORPORATION, SPOKE WITH A MS. STACY ADAMS, MANAGER CUSTOMER RELATIONS, SHE STATED THAT THE WARANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS DAMAGE. I DISAGREE. THE CADILLAC FILE NUMBER IS 1-255444062. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN PLACEMENT OF THE GASOLINE SUPPLY LINES, 3-LINES, SUPPLY, RETURN AND VAPOR. THE SUPPLY LINE RUPTURED. I AM REPORTING THIS DUE TO THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED. HAD MY WIFE NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES IF IT CONTINUED RUNNING. THIS WAS ALSO EVIDENCED BY THE MECHANIC WHO CAME TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO DEMONTROND CADILLAC. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEMONTROND CADILLAC, 888 I-45 SOUTH, CONROE, TX 77304. AS OF THIS DATE IT IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 9/8/01. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER, I DRIVE IT SOMETIMES. I REVIEWED THE INCIDENTS / COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE LISTED ON THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE HAS SUFFERED MOST OF THE PROBLEMS LISTED, THE MAJORITY.*AK

THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT WHEELS WAS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD AT AN ANGLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK BASED FROM INVOICE FROM DEALER, THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE CATERA ARE DESIGNED TO PITCHED SLIGHTLY INWARD, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR FASTER. ALSO, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT TIRES HAVE TO BE ROTATED REGULARLY. *LA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED GOODYEAR, EAGLE TIRES, SIZE# P255/55R16, DOT UNKNOWN BLEW OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO SET OF TIRES. *AK

THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND ENGINE PULLEY, HOWEVER THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP.*JB *JB