Consumer Report: What's YOUR opinion? We'd like to know...

[SD native]

Thanks for the input, but I did a carfax on it and it was clean. Also, the 2000 was supposed to be a fairly reliable car according to the websites. The service records were all solid and the car looked impeccable. The paint is original and very nice--I restore old cars and there is no body work in the car. That is why I thought it would be a great car for my son to take to college--safe and confortable, with reasonable reliability. It just didn't turn out that way. I just heard from Cadillac this afternoon and they told us the recall on the timing belt issue was closed--even though it was done in 2003 and still had the same failure--Cadillac won't consider even a partial assist in the repair. Considering the cost of this repair, we won't be fixing it. Given the situation and all of the problems with this car, I don't think I will be buying another GM product...My immediate family members are curious about how this will be handled by GM too as my sister and her husband currently own his and her Cadillacs and my brother and I both have Grand Prix's. Mine is due for replacement this year--I may have to postpone that to buy my son another car-- and I think I will head over to the blue oval if I stay domestic...I have heard nothing but positive things about Ford's new car platforms. I may check back on this forum from time to time though.
Everyone seems to be really helpful and genuine on this site. Best of luck with your Cateras'!

[eastsidercaddy]

Well here's my deal with the Catera. It's great. I got lucky with my car, as it had all the mantenence done on it around 80,000mi and that's when the entire engine compartment was replaced. I've got every record the original owner had from cadillac and everything was under warranty. I've had no mechanical trouble with my cadillac but must admit that parts are 1) hard to find and (2) expensive if you do need parts. I have a hard time with the space in the engine compartment due to small space, changing the spark plugs was a FOUR HOUR JOB. After that i experience overheating (just a little above the midline mark). Changed the radiator fluid and fixed that. Now my A/C blows cold on the passenger side when i have the heat on. That's easy to fix right now, but i had a small accident about 2 months ago.

Dark, rainy night i was making a left hand turn up a bridge and went over the ruts and spun-out, violently hitting the curb. Needles to say the car was F**KED. After looking at it in the front yard after the tow, I listed everything htat needed to be changed. The rear rotors were cracked all the way around the hubs, the left rear tie rod was bent at a 40degree angle, the LR caliper was cracked, the LR lower control arm needed replacing due to a mated bearing cylinder hub cracked on the CTRL arm. Front right tie rod needed changed, and the RR tie rod needed changed as well. New park brake shoes, and decided to get the Monroe Sensatracs for the 04 GTO as they are better and direct fit replacement for Catera. OH, DID I MENTION THAT THE CV JOINT WAS DESTROYED ON MY AXLE?? Guess not. Had to remove the exhaust from the resonators on in order to acces the driveshaft/differential connector bushing to remove the differential and axles. After 2 months of HARD LABOR INTENSIVE work ALL done by me, the car is at the body shop getting it's last make over before it's 100% again!!

Last but not least, the shop found that some idiot had re-routed the transmission line with a factory rubber hose ACROSS the lower exhaust manifold!!! It was melting slowly and had a pinhole size leak!!! Also the differential I got from the salvage place just needed a little sealant cause that was leaking too!! That's all fixed now, as I just have to pick it up!!! The catera experience is great, as it's my first car and it's a Cadillac!! I've got nearly everthing i wanted for it and the reliability is great for me. If you take METICULOUS care of it, you won't be dissapointed. Just my 2 cents.

[juneau69]

Here's my story, not that you haven't heard it before.

I bought a 99 Cat three years ago and fell in love with it. The owner told me the engine had been replaced and the tell tell signs of a junkyard yellow crayon was inscribed on the engine. I think I am stealing this car for I paid for it not realizing forum's like this existed. But as it turned out, I did not drive it much because my girlfriend likes the safety of the F-150. I started driving it more recently because of the price of gas. Had purple cloud lights on it and got pulled over by the cops, apparently it is against the law in Florida to have lights under a car. Put on a rear spoiler with led brake lights. Fog lights behind the grill. Had plans to install an amp and sub. I had recently installed a K&N intake and I get 22mpg and that is with my foot in it most of the time. The car was looking good and driving great.
Then some sort of evil force feeding off Catera's faults struck me. My black cat would refuse to start after it gets hot. I ordered a heat wrap for the starter and heat wire wrap for wires leading off the battery. As I was planning to install what I hope would fix my overheating problem, I can hear what sounds like a air leak behind the dash. How in the world do you get those darn center air conditioner vents off? While looking around I notice the rear passenger side window is almost fully open. The switch will not open or close the window. By the way the rear window on the driver side quit the same way a few weeks ago. I found a broken thing.... And the driver's side door hinge broke. The voltmeter gauge slowly lost voltage after driving a short distance. After testing the alternator, well, you guessed it. I've lost power steering although I can still steer ok. Yep, the fluid is where it should be. We all know about the headlights (my headlight points up into trees looking for squirrels) and cup holders. See what cup holders go for on ebay? Which I quickly learned about Catera's. Parts are stupidly high. The transmitter in the mirror don't work. And the air conditioner suddenly now only blows hot air and it seems to be full of a/c collant. And have you tried to troubleshoot a/c problems in the Catera manual? It seems anything wrong with the a/c is hi-tech electrical problems and if you don't understand the steps or have the right testing equipment; brings up the question, can afford to allow some guy who may or may not know what he is doing with a Cat? The windshield washer quit. I get scanner codes 100, MAF or VAF. Code 650-MIC Control Circuit, Code 155, OZ sensor heater Circuit Malf. I will not pretend I understand how to fix this stuff only it sounds expensive.
So do I part the car out on ebay or is there hope?


Dear God, could we please have another shot at that forbidden fruit thing?

[neiljmoore]

I have a 97 model that is a lemon . its got 100,000 miles on it . Problems with it so far
oil cooler leak
ignition coil failed 3 times in 1 year.
sunroof is wonky
remote key doesn't work
Alignment
Airbag light stays on
cd player quit working
replaced tie rod ends , control arm bushings, idler arm. sway bar links .
front rotors. Mass air flow sensor.rear shocks .Radiator
2 sets of front tires .Auxillary heater pump.cup holders.Plugs, wires, Heater control valve.Power steering pump.thermostat.
right now its not running right and no one seems to be able to tell me why. Scope shows no problems.
This car is a LEMON. A very expensive lemon.close to $4000.00 in repairs in the last 18 months.

[TitanCTS]

My car requires some of the same parts as yours does.. That doesn't make this car a lemon. Any car pushing 100k+ miles is bound to have many parts replaced. A lemon is best described as the same recurring issue that has been repaired or attempted to repair multiple times with the issue still occuring. If you think a 97 catera is bad.. Try owning a 97 Audi A4...