1999 Cadillac Catera Problems
- Complaints
- 80filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 64,000miles, 20 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 23 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Cadillac Catera (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often write about the engine cutting out or stalling while driving, and about front tires wearing out or developing bubbles and tread separation far earlier than expected despite repeated alignments. A second cluster involves a wandering, vague steering feel that owners say alignment work does not correct, along with assorted electrical faults such as lights that stay on and modules that leave the car unable to start.
- Engine cooling
Engine stalls or shuts off while driving
- 26 complaints (33%)
- median 63,500 mi at 8.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1999–2012
Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at highway speeds or while slowing down, in some cases after a restart delay of several minutes. Owners link it to a crankshaft position sensor, a pulley or belt tensioner in the charging system, or the engine computer, and report that the dealer sometimes reprogrammed the computer or replaced parts without eliminating the stall. Several owners mention losing power steering and power assist for braking when the engine cut out. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 34,000 to 118,000 miles, with several at highway speeds.
What to check: Ask whether the crankshaft position sensor, belt tensioner and computer software have been serviced, and whether any prior stall was ever diagnosed. A scan for stored codes and a highway test drive are worth requesting.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Intermittently while slowing down, the vehicle stalled without warning. The dealership was unable to locate an error code. The dealership wanted the consumer to inform them when the vehicle cut off again. They wanted him/her to leave it wherever it broke down so they could get and resolve the error code . Once the vehicle was started, the code was deleted.”
NHTSA complaint #10027084, filed 2003-08“Consumer states it's hard to take the key out the ignition and start the car at times.consumer stated it was towed to the dealership and they didn't fix the problem. Consumer states she would like the problem fixed or get her money back. Ph consumer stated the vehicle would stall at times.”
NHTSA complaint #568471, filed 2002-12 - Tires
Premature front tire wear, bubbles and tread separation
- 10 complaints (13%)
- typically at 2.9 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2001–2005
Owners report original-equipment tires worn to the belts or showing sidewall bubbles at low mileage, sometimes within about 10,000 to 25,000 miles, and repeat sets wearing out quickly even with regular rotations and alignments. Complaints describe the dealer replacing some tires and attributing the wear to the driver, while owners say the front-end alignment does not hold. Some owners note that camber specifications were later revised and tires were partly covered. Mostly reported in the first 10,000 to 45,000 miles on the original tires.
What to check: Inspect all four tires for uneven inner-edge wear and sidewall bulges, ask for the alignment printout, and check whether the front camber has been set to the revised specification.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“All four tires were showing tread separation. Metal was showing in front of tires. Also, rear tires were showing wear and tear on inner side of vehicle. Dealership was aware of problem. Dealer replaced two tires, however would not and hasnot replaced the other two, consumer is requesting that the other two tires be replaced, no specific tire information given. Hot water valve leaking coolant, dealer replaced”
NHTSA complaint #879625, filed 2001-02“Tire tread separated. Consumer stated that on 8/7/01 the left rear tire had bubble in it at 30764 miles. On 1/16/02 the right front tire had bulge on it at 36267 miles. On 6/19/02 the left front tire had bulge in it at 45169 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #8014169, filed 2002-07 - Electrical system
Electrical faults: lights stay on, no-start, dash lights out
Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners report headlights and parking lights that will not turn off until the battery drains, intermittent dash lighting, and vehicles that fail to start until left for a period; dealers have replaced relays, the anti-theft module and wiper motors, in some cases with the problem returning. Complaints also describe the sunroof and door locks operating on their own. Spread from roughly 49,000 to 98,000 miles; several owners describe the faults as intermittent.
What to check: Test the light switch, keyless entry and sunroof through several cycles, and ask whether the anti-theft module or any relays have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The running lights would not turn off. I was in harms way in the rain and had to take the care 70 more miles, while I could get out of the buffalo area to a safe location for the night. The lights never went off till the battery was exhausted. When recharged the headlights remained on again, unable to be turned off. When I managed to exchange a relay, the next problem occurred, the parking lights would not turn off. …”
NHTSA complaint #10457147, filed 2012-05, 98,000 miles“I purchased a 99 Catera about two years ago and sense then this car is a cardboard box on wheels. The alarm system as gone loopy in the sense that I couldn't start my vehicle unless I cranked it once left it for 15-30 min and then cranked it again. After disabling the alarm system it would only happen on occasion. The AC/heater went out due to the compressor having to much compression. The sunroof opens and closes by itself or not at all. The vacuum hoses had holes in it which was a recall but not to ken batchleor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10247392, filed 2008-10, 60,000 miles - Steering
Steering wanders and will not hold a straight line
Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the car drifting left or right and needing constant correction at highway speed, with owners saying alignments were performed and readings were within specification yet the behavior remained. Several owners report dealers telling them this is how the car drives; others mention a steering wheel that felt unresponsive or locked briefly and a steering coil that was replaced. Reported from low mileage up to around 100,000 miles; most descriptions involve highway driving.
What to check: Drive it on the highway at speed and see whether it tracks straight without corrections. Ask for recent alignment records and whether front suspension or steering components have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10003359, filed 2003-01“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10037987, filed 2003-08 - Other or unknown
Gas pump does not shut off and fuel spills at fill-up
- 6 complaints (8%)
- median 48,101 mi at 5.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2005
Owners describe the fuel nozzle failing to click off when the tank is full, so fuel overflows onto the ground and the pump has to be shut off by hand. Complaints mention repeated attempts at different stations with the same result, and dealers replacing the fuel tank or related parts without resolving it in some cases. Reported from around 49,000 miles upward, on nearly every fill-up once present.
What to check: Fill the tank during the test drive and watch whether the nozzle clicks off on its own. Ask whether the fuel tank or filler neck has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Where do I even start with the 1999 Catera that I just had to trade in this weekend due to so many things that had went wrong with that car. 1st, when filling the car up with gas, it would not automatically shut off. Dealer fixed 1st time, but messed up the gas gauge. It started doing it again 1 month later. You could not keep a set of tires on the car no matter how many alignments that you had performed. The sunroof would not open most of the time when you tried to open it, but it would open on it's own at random. …”
NHTSA complaint #10125205, filed 2005-06“Recently purchased a 1999 Cadillac Catera with approx 49000 miles on vehicle. First day of purchase son was filling vehicle with gasoline and auto fill shut off never shut pump off fuel spilled on ground until pump was manually shut off at hose. …”
NHTSA complaint #10088744, filed 2004-08, 48,101 miles
Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the tires, front-end alignment and steering feel, and drive the car at highway speed to check for stalling and wander. Maintenance records showing sensor, tensioner and computer work are worth asking for, and a scan for stored fault codes is inexpensive insurance on a car of this age.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 1999 Cadillac Catera. 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 26 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling30 38%
- Electrical system12 15%
- Tires12 15%
- Steering11 14%
- Other or unknown8 10%
- Brakes7 8.8%
- Vehicle speed control7 8.8%
- Suspension6 7.5%
- Fuel system5 6.3%
Also reported: Body and structure (5), Equipment (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4), Exterior lighting (3), Latches, locks and linkages (3), Seats (3), Air bags (2), Engine (1), Interior lighting (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “Car's check engine and transmission dash lights intermittently stay on and the car won't start. Sometimes the car will start and move with the transmission light on but the car is sluggish. Two or three hours later the car will start and run fine. This problem was identified a week after purchase (sep 2004) but the dealer couldn't identify a problem. It has gradually worsened, but none more than this evening when my family and I were almost killed! We were driving on an interstate at 70 MPH. No engine lights were on. The speedometer all of a sudden went to zero and I lost all power. …”
NHTSA complaint #10140293, filed 2005-10, 67,000 milesElectrical system: “Windshield wipers only worked on the fast setting, and failed to disengage unless the vehicle was completely turned off. Windshield wiper motor was replaced, however the problem continued. . The consumer believed the probelm was electrical.”
NHTSA complaint #10027086, filed 2003-08, 49,000 milesTires: “I brought this vehicle at enterprise used car sales on april 30,2002. I was guaranteed a bumber-to-bumber inspection of the car and was to be in operational condition. After I left the lot with the car; I could only go approximatly a 1/4 of mile before I needed to get gas in the car. That was the begining of the trouble. So far since april of this year I've had to replace all of the tires, brakes, and other repairs that thankfully was still under the warranty. The car had to be towed twice to the dealership. As we speak the car is being repaired again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070309, filed 2004-01Steering: “I have reported the tire defect to your office in a letter dated april 8th, 2002 and have not heard from you. Bbb auto line and Cadillac have been contacted and are working on a resolution. I have over 30 documented complaints on this vehicle. The vehicles transmission failed on 3/22/02 leaving my college daughter and myself stranded in arkansas. I have not yet been reimbursed for trip interruption expenses. My first transmission complaint was at 7140 miles, 02/02/00. The problems with this vehicle have been on-going and dangerous at times. Can you help? …”
NHTSA complaint #761391, filed 2002-04Mileage when problems were reported
20% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 53,000 and 87,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1999 Cadillac Catera version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catera RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1999 Cadillac Catera in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 26 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10232287Feb 21, 2023Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10171318Jan 31, 2020Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10168979Nov 22, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10165876Sep 5, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10141381May 31, 2018Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10157018Sep 20, 2017Fuel system, Equipment, Tires, Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10113443Feb 22, 2017Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in…
- 10114947Dec 4, 2015Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10115081Nov 2, 2015Transmission and drivetrain, Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about cooler line fittings that come with the 4T65E General Motors remanufactured transmission may not be the same…
Other model years of the Cadillac Catera
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 30 | 60,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 67 | 63,392 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 80 | 64,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 123 | 60,765 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 163 | 64,414 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Cadillac Catera model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Cadillac Catera?
Owners of this model year most often write about the engine cutting out or stalling while driving, and about front tires wearing out or developing bubbles and tread separation far earlier than expected despite repeated alignments. The issues reported most often: Engine stalls or shuts off while driving; Premature front tire wear, bubbles and tread separation; Electrical faults: lights stay on, no-start, dash lights out.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Cadillac Catera have?
NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 1999 Cadillac Catera as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1999 Cadillac Catera is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 30 complaints (38% of the total), followed by electrical system with 12.
Has the 1999 Cadillac Catera been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1999 Cadillac Catera get?
The EPA rates the 1999 Cadillac Catera (Catera, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Cadillac Catera reported?
Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,000 miles and the middle half falls between 53,000 and 87,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.