1997 Cadillac Catera Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1997 Cadillac Catera, and owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 Cadillac Catera. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Cadillac Catera have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA; 8 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 63,980 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 42 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 7, 2014 · 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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 18, 2009 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Cadillac Catera. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16 / 23 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Cadillac Catera model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Catera model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 163 |
| 1998 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 123 |
| 1999 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 80 |
| 2000 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 67 |
| 2001 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 30 |
| 2002 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 Cadillac Catera | 0 | 3 |
Checking a specific 1997 Cadillac Catera
How do I know if my 1997 Cadillac Catera has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Cadillac models
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- CTS2,217 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- Escalade ESV533 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- STS430 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.