VehicleVerdict

1998 Cadillac Catera engine problems

The 1998 Cadillac Catera has 69 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

69

Engine complaints

26%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Catera engine complaints by model year78 complaints1997: 78 complaints1998: 69 complaints1999: 33 complaints2000: 23 complaints2001: 9 complaints
Catera engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH 1998 CATERA. HAD TIMING BELT TENSIONER-PULLEYS/CAM DRIVE REPLACED LAST YEAR(3-2002) WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. "SERVICE CAMPAIGN" WAS ISSUED BY CADILLAC IN SEPT 2002 FOR CATERA'S TO HAVE CAME DRIVE IDLER/TENSIONER PULLEY/WATER PUMP REPLACED WITH NEW VERSION. GOT VEHICLE SERVICED…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 27, 2003 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1998 Cadillac Catera have?

NHTSA has 69 complaints about the 1998 Cadillac Catera engine — 26% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.