Cadillac Catera headlights problems

Filed May 2, 2012 · Electrical · 98,000 miles · NY

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. I did research and learned that this is a common manufacturing problem that the federal safety agency has directed to be fixed without cost, due to it being a safety issue that the gm lines have not adjusted and still offer on several vehicles. I contacted the local valley cadillac who declined to fix the problem. I contacted the cadillac customer service. I also declined to fix without charge. She wants to charge a diagnostic fee instead of making the permanent correction of exchanging the correct the device, properly once and for all. I told her I would contact the federal safety agency. I also asked her to send a message to cadillac/ gm's legal and I am informing my lawyer that if I should die, operating this vehicle, that I my children should file a wrongful death lawsuit against all involved. This problem could not be diagnosed a couple of months earlier, friendly fred's in erwin, ny could not find the problem because it corrected itself, until this past monday, 4-30-12. I do not know the exact date of the last occurrence but I also had a oil change which I think is the late fall of 2011. I am a disabled person who can't be exposed to the elements for very long. Since you, the federal safety agency has already called for all of these systems to be replaced, I want the federal safety agency to prompt and provoke gm's cadillac to make the repair. I work in the rochester and buffalo areas as there is no work in corning area. I can't afford to replace this car which is vital for my survival...updated 05/09/12 *bf updated 05/25/12 updated 06/19/2012

Filed Mar 5, 2010 · Lights · 87,000 miles · NC

My headlight assemblies (sealed beam) on 1999 cadillac catera are broken. These parts can not be repaired - bulbs will burn out in several months due to jarring/bouncing. We have owned this car for the previous 5.5 years and it has not been in an accident. I consider this a safety issue.

Filed Apr 13, 2009 · Lights · IN

Sealed headlights that have residue on the inside of the headlights that you can not replace just the bulbs. You have to replace the entire unit to resolve the problem, that cost over 600.00 each. This would be on a 2002 cadallac catera.

Filed Dec 7, 2006 · Lights · 50,000 miles · FL

I have a 2000 catera. The head lights had an internal failure because of the material used to support the lamp holder in the lights disintergrated over a 6 year period due to sun heat. This failure caused the internal lamp holders to fall and prevent the lights from illuminating the road at night at highway speed.

Filed Jul 28, 2005 · Electrical, Lights · TN

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 longer. Also, when the key was out of the ignition. After the vehicle was restarted and the control is pulled back the headlights functioned normally, the air condition controls did not work, and the o2 sensor did not respond. The spark plugs and wires havd been replaced.

Filed Jul 20, 2005 · Engine · 59,000 miles · MD

I would like to place a complaint on record about the poor quality of the cadillac catera. These vehicles should have all been bought back by gm to protect the american public from their poor quality. I have a 1998 cadillac catera ,well cared for. Over the past year though the car has begun to leak oil heavily,to the point of actually being an enviromental hazard. The other day I took it to a local cadillac dealer only to be told the car has leaking valve cover gaskets,cam cover gaskets and an oil cooling line. They say $1200 will seal up most of the leaks. The car only has an original 65,000 miles on it. Upon hearing this I did an internet search on cateras and the horror stories are endless. It seems they all including mine have broken headlight aligners. This is apparently caused by heat and cheap manufacturing. This off course makes the headlights impossible to align and aim.it also seems that all cateras wear out tires in a very rapid time frame due to poor front end design. My 1998 has all these problems plus all four radio speakers have blown although they were never played loudly. The headlight lenses have heavily yellowed over thus reducing greatly the headlight power. I would strongly suggest you review accidents involving cateras as they could easily relate to the all to common headlight adjustment problem on these cars not to mention the oil blow by from the engine onto the front brake rotors. Please help get these cars off the road.

Filed Aug 4, 2004 · Lights · IL

Misaligned headlamps and foglamps.

Filed Jul 7, 2004 · Lights · 52,000 miles · TX

Headlamp adjustment is defective. Headlights cannot be aimed properly due to internal breakage. This is apparently common to all models of cadillac cateras from 1997 to 2001.

Filed Jul 6, 2004 · Lights · 25,666 miles · MO

The aiming mechanism on both headlights on my 1997 cadillac catera failed and left me with the headlights aimed at the ground and unable to re-aim the headlights. This is extremely common on these headlights, and there is no fix from gm except to buy entire replacement headlight assemblies at $500 each. The replacement units are made entirely differently (and do not fail) so it obvious gm knows the original design was defective.

Filed Jul 3, 2004 · Lights · 35,253 miles · OH

Head light aimers broke, can not adjust head lamps. Plastic parts broke inside head lamp capsule.