Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK | |||
| 08/27/2003 | 2 | 09/06/2000 | |
| Numerous issues with 1998 catera. had timing belt tensioner-pulleys/cam drive replaced last year(3-2002) while under warranty. service campaign was issued by cadillac in sept 2002 for catera's to have came drive idler/tensioner pulley/water pump replaced with new version. got vehicle serviced today and was informed that car had another serious problem that needed to be corrected-out of pocket-coolant crossover leaking into oil cooler, and valve cover was leaking oil.....the car runs extremely hot, has poor performance, gets terrible gas millage, battery has low voltage when nothing is left on by mistake, replaced the battery 4 time in two years, a/c had new compressor replaced past summer 2002 still not able to cool car and while in use the car sounds like a tractor, boggs down the perfromance. had to have entire brake system replaced (cost over 800.00) at 34,000, purchased 4 sets of michellan mxv4 tires in last 2 years-inside tread seperation on front tires caused blow out twice. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - DISC | |||
| 01/20/2000 | 90000 | 01/29/1999 | |
| 1998 catera problems: transmission failed 3 times caused by electronic part mal function; alternator failure; battery has been replaced 3 times; heater and a/c inoperative-burned harness and electronic component; door hinges failed; engine oil leak; vehicle cranks but will not start; premature tire wear; vehicle wanders; front end aligned 3 times in one year; warped disc rotors twice in two year period; differential seals leak; vaoltage meter ambiguos reading; sidemarkers inoperative and corroded; high underhood temperature; remote keys filed; rear view mirrors do not adjust to night driving. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | |||
| 03/20/2005 | 55000 | 1 | |
| Faulty braking. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| 1998 cad. catera - no incident started the problems - a mechanic knew it had a bad head gasket before opening the hood or being told why i was there because he said 9 out of 10 cateras have this problem. consumer reports lists this year and model as a must to avoid car. at 60k miles had a bad head gasket, oil had gone through the system, car overheats, the hoses had to be replaced, it has to be flushed regularly, now at 80k miles, the power steering fluid is leaking, the coolant is leaking, the bearings and brakes are failing, the oil cannot be changed because the pan will break because the cap is welded on because of the heat in the engine. why wasn't there a recall. this is too young a car to be failing like this. i would like compensation! *tr | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 04/23/2007 | 14145 | 1 | 01/01/2004 |
| A/c compressor leaking and a/c compressor not cycling and leaking from the chase valve system. compressor had to be replaced. *jb updated 01/11/08. *lj the heater coolant valve had to be replaced. the front brake pads and sensor were replaced and the rotors had to be resurfaced. updated. | |||
| 12/26/2000 | 27191 | 4 | |
| Cadillac catera 1998, driver seat became extremely hot that consumer back was burned. *bf the consumer first had a problem with the seat not heating was back in december of 2000 which was repaired. on previous occasion the consumer had work done. the molding around the windshield was loose, the consumer reported a wobble in the tire, one month later the consumer had a flat tire, he was then told the tires needed to replaced, there was static from the radio, the front pads were replaced and the brake sensor was replaced twice. *jb | |||
| 06/15/2001 | 60000 | ||
| Sensors went bad. oil currently in the engine, head gaskets gone. too much play in the steering column. crank sensor and ignition coil pack repair | |||
| 07/14/1998 | |||
| Windshield wipers. squeaky brakes. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 08/06/2001 | 2 | 10/30/2000 | |
| Due to a defect in front aligment tires wore excessively.*ak the rotors were turned and resurfaced several times. the brakes pulsate, squeak and go too low to the floor. the third set of tires that were on the vehicle were wearing out due to an alignment problem, also another tire was leaking air. the passenger rear door handle broke and the driver's rear door hinge was unstable, also the driver's door lock sticks. the wipers scrub. the steering column makes noise. the right side head light shines too high. *yh | |||
| 07/24/2001 | 1 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Brake insp.brake replaced3/9/00;check engine light on 5/12/00-fuel injector dirty, replace sensor; left window slow in operation - 6/23/00;ingintion remote key not working- two replacement 6/23/00;car jerking in sport mode, prblems with headlights, sunroof slides back an forth without turning dial,recall on engine check pulley 7/05/000; check engine light on car stalls7/31/00; vibration on acceleration told nothing wrong with car but tires, replace two front tires, i was told to replace tire rods. i ask for a rea susp. i was told it was not necessary and that they did not have time to do it that day. right front headlamp out 3/01/01; left head light out 4/13/01;check engine light on, sunroof opens while driving w/o turning dial,5/24/01; remote key not working replace key , check engine light on, 6/21/01; check engine light on , slow pickup, rear sus. rough ride help-recall emission 7/26/01; check engine light on contact dealer on my way out of town told not to worry about the check engine light and to adjust the knob on the gas tank by turning it several times. 8/6/01; car will not start battery dead, sunroof not working. contact tow service they refuse to take car to dealer. tow service boost car battery and left. sunroof refuse to operate. check engine light on 8/13/01-car parked going on vacation; check engine light on return from vacation 8/23/01-help- doing the first year of 1999 i had problems with my breaks thoses documents were destroyed in a house fire. my house caught on fire on 11/24/99.*ak (tiresize: 14rhs) | |||
| 06/27/2000 | 03/01/1998 | ||
| Contacted dealer immediately upon receipt of recall notice for engiine problem-was not advised of any imminent danger-lost power steering-car overheated & engine failure, brakes continue to squeal intermittently, steering pulls to side. *ak | |||
| 03/11/2000 | 06/01/1998 | ||
| Intermittent brake failure. complete form. *ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | |||
| 06/15/2005 | 69140 | 1 | 11/20/1998 |
| Mid-june abs tc warning lights appear in 1998 cadillac catera. ebtcm diagnosed as failed. dealer ordered new ebtcm, not available. cadillac customer service confirms national backorder not a single one of these parts in gm warehouse systems, dealer system, etc. took car to chevy (gm) dealer (7/9/05) to diagnose. confirm failure of ebtcm; part not available. called cadillac customer service, e-mailed multiple times. response remains constant...national back order, no knowledge when part will be available. we must drive car with no abs, tc, or speedometer (which doesn't work when abs tc are nonfunctional) and stiff power steering which is also a result of no abs tc. neither cadillac nor gm can specify when such part will be available, nor have they proposed a loaner car to drive until part arrives. we are driving a car that, in my opinion, is unsafe should we find ourselves in a situation that requires the abs or traction control. the speedometer is non-functional and steering becomes stiff due to the failure of this module. gm needs to remedy this situation. how can they sell cars that they cannot provide parts for. safety seems to be my problem, not theirs as it is my ebtcm that has failed now that it is out of warranty. *nm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | |||
| 08/06/2001 | 2 | 10/30/2000 | |
| Due to a defect in front aligment tires wore excessively.*ak the rotors were turned and resurfaced several times. the brakes pulsate, squeak and go too low to the floor. the third set of tires that were on the vehicle were wearing out due to an alignment problem, also another tire was leaking air. the passenger rear door handle broke and the driver's rear door hinge was unstable, also the driver's door lock sticks. the wipers scrub. the steering column makes noise. the right side head light shines too high. *yh | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 58200 | 1 | 09/04/2002 |
| The brake maintainence warning is defective and insufficent. according the owner's manual when the warning light appears the consumer will need to have brakes serviced soon. the warning light does not appear when the brake pads need changing, which is a warning. the brakes do not have a sensor which causes the brakes to squeal when pads need replacing. therefore, not giving the consumer the opportunity to make minor repairs before serious damage and injury occur. however, the brake maintainence light does appear when your pads have completely worn out, you now have damage to your rotors, and damage to your cylinders now turning an $200-$300 repair to a $1000 repair. this is unfair and deceitful to the consumer. discussed issue with gm customer assistant supervisor who basically told me ole' well, too bad-so sad.*ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - PADS | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 58200 | 1 | 09/04/2002 |
| The brake maintainence warning is defective and insufficent. according the owner's manual when the warning light appears the consumer will need to have brakes serviced soon. the warning light does not appear when the brake pads need changing, which is a warning. the brakes do not have a sensor which causes the brakes to squeal when pads need replacing. therefore, not giving the consumer the opportunity to make minor repairs before serious damage and injury occur. however, the brake maintainence light does appear when your pads have completely worn out, you now have damage to your rotors, and damage to your cylinders now turning an $200-$300 repair to a $1000 repair. this is unfair and deceitful to the consumer. discussed issue with gm customer assistant supervisor who basically told me ole' well, too bad-so sad.*ak | |||
| 06/24/1999 | 2 | 07/09/1998 | |
| The brakes vibrate due to faulty front and rear rotors, on another occasion the brake light illuminated, it was determined that the front pads, rotors and sensors needed to be replaced. nlm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 07/15/2003 | 58200 | 1 | 09/04/2002 |
| The brake maintainence warning is defective and insufficent. according the owner's manual when the warning light appears the consumer will need to have brakes serviced soon. the warning light does not appear when the brake pads need changing, which is a warning. the brakes do not have a sensor which causes the brakes to squeal when pads need replacing. therefore, not giving the consumer the opportunity to make minor repairs before serious damage and injury occur. however, the brake maintainence light does appear when your pads have completely worn out, you now have damage to your rotors, and damage to your cylinders now turning an $200-$300 repair to a $1000 repair. this is unfair and deceitful to the consumer. discussed issue with gm customer assistant supervisor who basically told me ole' well, too bad-so sad.*ak | |||
| 06/24/1999 | 2 | 07/09/1998 | |
| The brakes vibrate due to faulty front and rear rotors, on another occasion the brake light illuminated, it was determined that the front pads, rotors and sensors needed to be replaced. nlm | |||
| 08/06/2001 | |||
| Rotors have been turned and resurfaced to frequently.*ak | |||
| 06/24/1999 | 2 | 07/09/1998 | |
| The brakes vibrate due to faulty front and rear rotors, on another occasion the brake light illuminated, it was determined that the front pads, rotors and sensors needed to be replaced. nlm | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER | |||
| 06/21/2000 | |||
| Error in diagnosis provided to nhtsa. request to purge information submitted on initial contact. *ml | |||