10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,429 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #7

Feb 142012

Catera

  • 52,000 miles
Car shuts down when driving.

- Hazlet, NJ, USA

problem #6

May 012003

Catera 6-cyl

  • miles
Problems with handling and steering wheel locking up on 1999 Cadillac Catera. 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.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #5

Jun 092003

Catera

  • miles
While driving at very low speed in a parking lot steering wheel locked.

- Binghamton, NY, USA

problem #4

Jan 012001

Catera

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
This car wanders all over the road. First left, then right. We have had it aligned several times and is within specs but we still have a problem. Two dealers have now told us that this is how they drive. I fear that it will be the cause of an accident, and am actually scared to drive it for any distance. You must hold the steering wheel tight and with both hands at all times or it just seems to leap from one side of the road to the other.

- Defiance, OH, USA

problem #3

Apr 102002

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Consumer states the steering wheel will not turn left or right without a struggle, which has caused an acute stage of tendonitis in consumers right wrist and is now developing in her right wrist.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #2

May 292001

(reported on)

Catera

  • miles
Intermittently vehicle will stall out and die without warning, causing loss of steering. Dealer has repaired vehicle.

- San Marcus, TX, USA

problem #1

Sep 131999

Catera

  • miles
The steering system lacks equilibrium, lacks on-center feel and has a tendency to wander. A lack of a stable steering system causes the driver to have to apply torque to the steering sheel to keep the car on the road. The car does not steer in a straight line, a neutral steer condition does not exist. The vehicle rools in a circle unless the driver steers the front wheels by applying a torque to the steering wheel. The vehicle pulls to the left and will leave the lane within five - eight seconds at highway speeds in excess of 60 mph. The alignment is within the GM specification and the tires and wheels have been checked for defects. Three other brand new 1999 Cateras from other dealer inventories do the same or worse. GM has said that this is the way the car is expected to operate, it is a two handed steered car.

- Kettering, OH, USA