1999 Cadillac Catera: check engine light

Filed Oct 20, 2005 · Engine · 67,000 miles · AZ · 1 injury

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. An eighteen wheeler missed us by inches as I tried to get the car off to the side of the road. My daughter slammed her head against the side window. Gm and cadillac should be ashamed of putting this product out. They have all but washed and turned their back on catera owners. I am retiring from the u.s. Air force in two weeks after 25 years of service. I get chills when I think of americans who died in wars and contingencies to protect people and businesses like this. I can't believe there isn't one official recall on this vehicle. I've had nothing but trouble with this car from the beginning but none as dangerous as the current problem. I have read story after story on yours and other internet sites about this lemon of a car (1997 to 2001). Tomorrow I will take time off from work to bring this car to the dealer. Everything will be based on their schedule and I will have to find rides back and forth (30 minutes from my work and 45 minutes from my home). They will not be able to identify any dtc codes and I will pay for things that they think is wrong with it. Ironically, my research indicates that the problem may be a crankshaft sensor. They disagreed during the warranty period and did not replace it. It may or may not be the sensor, but someone must be responsible and accountable for identifying and fixing this common catera problem before someone gets killed!

Filed Jun 14, 2005 · TN · fire · 1 injury

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. Dealer replaced the switch twice, problem still occurred. The transmission went out at 60k and had to be replaced due to the *s* light flashing. The first radio would not pick up any stations, the radio was replaced by the dealer. 4k later after warranty expired, it happened again. At 65k, the cd player would no longer work. The locks would not completely lock with the remote or when the car was put into gear. At 90k, the drivers side heated seat literally caught fire while driving and burned a 4" diameter hole in front bolster. Gm stated that this is "normal wear and tear, but normally, they just stop functioning. They would not pay for the repairs of the seat at all. Almost caused me to wreck the car as the acbin quickly filled with smoke and as soon as I cracked the window, the fire started to get larger as it got more air to feed it. The check engine light showed cylinder misfires and I was told that it would be $2500 to $5000 to repair it. I traded the car on 6/11/05 for a new 2005 chevy silverado extended cab. I hope that gm reads this and calls me at the number I provided so I can provide more detailed info on this. I was literally screwed on this car. It was a lemon from the start and no one seemed to care!

Filed Feb 11, 2004 · Transmission · WI

I have a 1999 cadillac catera. It has been the most trouble some car I have ever had. The engine light comes on and reads mutiple cylender misfire. Also I had to replace the rear main seal at 60,000 miles. Which was six months after I bought the car. It costed me $600.00 to fix it. I also have alot of blow by in oil. Also the cams are leaking a littel bit. I bought the car from whiteker murcurey lincon in west st.paul mn. I did not even get a owners manuel. I called them and all they told me was the thirty day warrenty was up and there was notheing they could do. All I want is a nice running car not to get riped off. Now I have to spend more money just to get the misfire away. It still a new car but with to many problems it would be nice if cadillac could give me a deal on the repairs. Remember I now have had it for only 7/mo. The dealer also told me they have had notheing but problems with the catera. To late for who ever owns one.

Filed Jun 5, 2003 · Engine · MI

The engine light illuminated on the dash board, the problem occurred 5 times, the dealer was unsuccessful at finding the cause.

Filed Oct 23, 2000 · Acceleration, Brakes · TX

Accelerator does not give power from stop position unless the pedal is floor boarded. It will then creep up to desired speed. Brake light comes on as well as engine light. The cause has been undetected by the dealership. The prblem may last a day, maybe more maybe less, and then correct itself . You have no warning as to when this will happen. It starts from the stop position everytime but once. That time I was driving in traffic when it would not accelerate

Filed Aug 18, 2000 · Body, Electrical · MO

The day after the car was purchased, the consumer noticed the check engine light on, the light came on several times and the dealer stated that the main computer and some sensors went out, the bad main computer was also causing vehicle vibration.