1999 Cadillac Catera 3.5 from North America
Summary:
This car is one HUGE ROTTEN LEMON!!!
Faults:
I have enjoyed reading this site; I am not alone anymore.
I do have to say that on a recent trip we did get 36 mpg, but that does not eliminate ALL the problems we have had with her.
We should have run the opposite direction when the mechanics at the dealer where we bought the car refused to work on it, but we didn't.
The check engine light is always on off, on, off since we have owned it. They tell us that it is because the gas tank was designed wrong & the cap doesn't seal properly (cost to replace gas tank $8000). Did not replace, we live with it.
Have replaced EVERY sensor in the car at least twice, if not more, at of cost of $1000 per sensor, or more depending on which sensor it is.
Transmission light comes on all the time, & when it does, the car refuses to move. If you put the car in park, turn the ignition on & off several times, drop her into 3rd & do finally get her moving, get it up to 40mph & turn the ignition on & off until the light goes out, it will run fine. No mechanic can find out why or how to fix it.
If the car sees a mountain, the leveling light starts flashing. It doesn't like hills.
Oil light & coolant lights go on & off on a regular basis. Have had the brain recently replaced in the hope to resolve the problems; just made things worse.
Tires don't hold air well.
Have had the master cylinder replaced, tie rods, just about everything on this car has been replaced with no solution to the problems.
Now it smokes all the time, and the headlights are so dim I can't drive any distance at night.
Mechanics have now refused to change the oil in the car, because there is some sort of leak all over the bottom of her. No one knows what it is, or where it is coming from, & no one wants to be held responsible.
No dealership will take her in on trade (gee wonder why), & we can't afford to get another car without using it for a trade. Anyone out there want to buy a 99 Cadillac Catera for $3500 so we can get a new car (a junker will be better then this)?
I do have to add that we have had Cadillacs for well over 50 years, & this is the last Cadillac we will ever own!!! How did GM get away with this without anyone going after them for fraud, lemon laws or something else.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 16th May, 2010