Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  This car could kill you - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Garrie - August 30 - 6:15 pm

  This car almost killed me when the engine literally blew up on the highway(It stopped dead and I was in the middle lane with a huge truck on my tail.) It had 62,000 miles on it and was regularly serviced. Like a fool I replaced the engine. At 92,000, just after it had been serviced, the motor froze and stopped dead again. Rather than get a new engine, I gave it to a charity and watched my beautiful car being dragged away.

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  Catera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By dp - December 10 - 2:35 pm

  Dont buy a Catera! We bought one in Feb. 07, and it ran great for 2 days total. Needed a new head gasket..it only had 60k miles on it. Great ride, great looking car but not reliable at all. The day we picked it up we were told by a mechanic that did not inspect the car that it was a piece of junk! He predicted either head gasket problems within 6 months. Two days after we got it, had a new radiator put in. Then, everything was leaking (transmission fluid, oil, water, brake fluid). We finally sold it for less than 1/4 of what we paid for it after 4 months..apparently everyone else knew about those problems but us!

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  Catera- its a terra! - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By micar - September 11 - 11:26 pm

  When running, my Catera looks and drives well. It loves visiting the mechanic though. The strangest things go wrong almost weekly. I expected better from Caddilac / German engineering!

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  Not Worth It - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By got used - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car 2 years ago with low mileage. Since then, the tension pulley for the timing belt let go damaging the engine (fortunately under recall), needed new coil, spark plugs and wires ($1,300), new tires (bought inexpensive Cooper tires at $795), needed new brakes (not done at the dealer at $500), and now all 24 valves are being replaced, along with the timing belt that was replaced last year ($2,700). The fog lamps dont work, the passenger client control doesnt work and the radio doesnt get any AM stations. While fun to drive, it has been a horrible car because of the repairs and its cost.

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  Buy Two for The Parts You will Need - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By caddyattack - December 19 - 2:00 am

  This is a great driving car and still looks good. It is the worst mechanical nightmare ever designed. The engine has been rebuilt 2X by Cadillac at no charge after the warranty because they were so embarrassed. Every repair is serious, frequent and costly. Truly an engineers disaster. Should never have been made.

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  Crapillac Crapera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By amy29 - April 4 - 2:00 am

  Over the past 2.3 years, I have had this car in the shop over 10 times. I also have had problems with the water pump, leaky oil cooler, leaky gasket (which caused $1200 worth of damage), tires replaced twice, new front brakes, extensive wear on the seats, 3 new headlights, and a computer failure.

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  Avoid at all costs - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By foster5j - February 28 - 2:00 am

  What a money pit! Timing belt broke at 38k miles, oil leaks, water pump,needs tires every 2 years, front brakes $500. at 43k miles, fog lights broke, brake switch NG, oil cooler seal went, runs hot, needed new heads, tensioner, valves. Poor, poor quality - high, high cost. Yuck.

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  lousy - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By a.nicol - February 19 - 2:00 am

  this car was great to drive, however i had to install two timing belts, one transmission, the previous owner also rebuilt the transmission. The drivers side heat and heated seat did not work.The price and convience of repairs were ridiculous. So much for German engineering and quality, stay away.

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  I shouldve bought a Camry. - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By carldhayesciw - February 6 - 2:00 am

  A total waste of money. Ive had this car for 3 years and only got about 8 months worth of driving out of it. The car has been in the shop longer than Ive driven it! In fact, its in the shop now! Im just getting reimbursed for the money Ive paid to repair the timing belt that broke @69k, a month after I just had the starter replaced. I wonder why Cadillac didnt recommend replacing the timing belt then. My advice is to buy Toyota. Leave Cadillac to the retired rich and rap stars.

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  Replace car before Timing belt gets you - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By TheeWhitehouse - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Yes a great driver but unscheduled repairs will double the cost of ownership. With less than 35K miles, this car has had the following problems. Failed ignition coil, lost break lights twice, once was all the lights the other was just the $360 one on the truck. $230 wheel speed indicator to TCS/ABS. $2600, yes $2600 to repair/replace timing belt/tensionor and associtated damages. Ask Your Deaaler about it and pick out another car while you are there!!! Driver door leaks air and is annoying at highway speeds.