Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Cadillac Catera problems

Owners filed 80 complaints about the 1999 Cadillac Catera with NHTSA between Apr 1999 and Sep 2012. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (28).

Complaints
80
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling28
  2. Electrical system11
  3. Tires11
  4. Steering10
  5. Vehicle speed control7
  6. Fuel system, gasoline5
  7. Equipment5
  8. Power train5
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic5
  10. Suspension5
  11. Structure4
  12. Latches/locks/linkages3
  13. Visibility3
  14. Seats3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19994
200014
200112
200215
200312
20046
20054
20064
20071
20084
20090
20101
20110
20123

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

28 reports1 fire
“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 DAYS AT A TIME. THE ARM THAT KEEPS MY DRIVERS DOOR OPEN BROKE THROUGH THE DOOR WELDINGS AND IS DANGLING IN THE DOOR. THE SEALS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER IN THE ENGINE. I PAID MORE IN REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE THEN WHAT IT ORIGINALLY COST. THE DRIVERS FRONT AND REAR WINDOW GETS STUCK AND OPENS BY THEIR SELVES. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT LOCK FULLY OR OPEN FULLY. THE HORN WILL GO OUT ALL TOGETHER IN THE RAIN. EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN THEY CAN NEVER READ ANY ERR CODES AND IT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 31, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, EquipmentODI 10247392

Electrical system

11 reports
“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 FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE. I ALSO DECLINED TO FIX WITHOUT CHARGE. SHE WANTS TO CHARGE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE PERMANENT CORRECTION OF EXCHANGING THE CORRECT THE DEVICE, PROPERLY ONCE AND FOR ALL. I TOLD HER I WOULD CONTACT NHTSA. I ALSO ASKED HER TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CADILLAC/ GM'S LEGAL AND I AM INFORMING MY LAWYER THAT IF I SHOULD DIE, OPERATING THIS VEHICLE, THAT I MY CHILDREN SHOULD FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST ALL…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2012Electrical systemODI 10457147

Tires

11 reports
“I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT ENTERPRISE USED CAR SALES ON APRIL 30,2002. I WAS GUARANTEED A BUMBER-TO-BUMBER INSPECTION OF THE CAR AND WAS TO BE IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION. AFTER I LEFT THE LOT WITH THE CAR; I COULD ONLY GO APPROXIMATLY A 1/4 OF MILE BEFORE I NEEDED TO GET GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS THE BEGINING OF THE TROUBLE. SO FAR SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES, BRAKES, AND OTHER REPAIRS THAT THANKFULLY WAS STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS WE SPEAK THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE THREE HOLES IN THE CAR THAT HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO OVERHEAT, PLUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND. WHEN IT RAINED THE CAR LEAKED INSIDE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE FORGOTEN TO ROLL UP A WINDOW. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I KNEW BETTER AND TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ENTERPRISE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN I EXPERINCED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE I WENT TO INVESTGATE. THE REASON THAT I'M CONTACTING YOU IS THAT AFTER TALKING TO A REPERSENATIVE OF ENTERPRISE, AND INFORMING HIM OF THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I HAVE JUST INFORMED YOU OF; I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2004Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Tires, Unknown or otherODI 10070309

Steering

10 reports
“PROBLEMS WITH HANDLING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP ON 1999 CADILLAC CATERA.*MR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND ON ONE OCCASION THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE DRIVER PULLED ONTO A HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES THERE WAS A CRUNCHING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COIL. *NLM *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2003SteeringODI 10037987

Vehicle speed control

7 reports2 crashes
“CONSUMER STATES THE ACCELERATOR DOES NOT GIVE POWER FROM A STOP POSITION UNLESS THE PEDAL IS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2002Vehicle speed controlODI 564987

Fuel system, gasoline

5 reports
“RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 CADILLAC CATERA WITH APPROX 49000 MILES ON VEHICLE. FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE SON WAS FILLING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE AND AUTO FILL SHUT OFF NEVER SHUT PUMP OFF FUEL SPILLED ON GROUND UNTIL PUMP WAS MANUALLY SHUT OFF AT HOSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE SON TRIED DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS THINKING IT MIGHT BE THE PUMP - HAPPENED AT EVERY PUMP AND TODAY I FILLED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS THREE THREE FEET AWAY CLEANING BACK WINDOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND APPROX 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL SPILLED FROM OVER FLOWING UNTIL I COULD RELEASE THE FUEL HANDLE FROM PUMP. START JUNE 4TH THROUGH PRESENT PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. FIRE COULD EASILY HAVE STARTED AND CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE AND OR INJURY OR DEATH IF FIRE HAD STARTED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2004Fuel system, gasolineODI 10088744
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.