1997 Cadillac Catera

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

68/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Cadillac Catera, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	58	31%
Steering	13	7%
Suspension	12	6%
Electrical system	10	5%
Exterior lighting	8	4%
Visibility	8	4%
Air bags	7	4%
Service brakes	7	4%
Structure	6	3%
Tires	5	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE AND DRIVING OUT OF MY COMPLEX WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TURN IT FOR TWO DAYS. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Steering

TENSIONER PULLEY LOCKED UP. THE TENSIONER STOPPED TURNING. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE DRIVE BELT SHREDDED LIKE SPAGHETTI AND THEN MELTED. I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY APPLYING BRAKES AND THEN HAVING THE CAR TOWED. TOTAL REPA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC CATERA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. ON MAY 2, 2007 THE VEHICLE WAS TA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

1997-1999 CADILLAC CATERA DOOR LATCH FAILURES. PER THE YAHOO GROUP WEB SITE I BELONG TO, CATERA OWNERS, THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS CHRONIC DOOR LATCH FAILURES, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE OR NOT LATCHING. THIS CAN BE AN EXTREMEL
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER OPENING THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE THE TRUNK FELL ON HIM. THE SUPPORTS THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO KEEP THE TRUNK IN THE OPEN POSITION FAILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP
NHTSA complaint: Structure

MY VEHICLE IS A 97 CADILLAC CATERA AND HAS HAD THE STARTER REPLACED AND STILL WILL NOT START. TWO CAR LOTS HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP NOW AND THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THEY SAY THAT ITS TH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ON, ALL THE GAUGES STARTED JUMPING AROUND, WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS PUSHED FORWARD THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR LON
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND PERFORMANCE IS STILL UNSATISFACTORY. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE REAR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	75	good
Depreciation	52	average
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	34	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 42% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 49% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 51% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 22% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1997 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 75: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1997 Cadillac Catera?

Owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 58 of them (31%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1997 Cadillac Catera reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1997 Cadillac Catera last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1997 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1997 Cadillac Catera?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.