1998 Cadillac Catera vs 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Cadillac Catera | 1998 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 123 | 976 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 56 | 115 |
| Investigations | 0 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 34 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18 | 21–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,765 mi | 80,731 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac Catera | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 347 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 56 | 144 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 130 |
| Suspension | 22 | 108 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 79 |
| Steering | 8 | 74 |
| Tires | 19 | 58 |
| Visibility | 8 | 63 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 12 | 37 |
| Overheating | 7 | 21 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 87 |
| Won’t start | 5 | 14 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 22 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 15 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 15 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 8 |
1998 Cadillac Catera
1998 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Cadillac Catera vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.