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2000 Cadillac Catera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Cadillac Catera do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 67.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

34 reports with mileage · 33 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

67 reports
50,000 miles · Dec 7, 2006
Exterior Lighting

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.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10175537

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2006
Electrical SystemEquipment

WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO OR CD PLAYER..WHEN CHANGING FROM SOURCE TO SOURCE (CD TO RADIO OR RADIO TO CD) LEVELS (BASS AND TREBLE RESET TO NORMAL)....WHEN ADJUSTING MIRROR SETTINGS, CONTROLS DO NOT WORK AND MIRRORS ROTATE ALL THE WAY TO THE HOME POSITION AND HAVE TO MOVED MANUALLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175132

88,000 miles · Nov 20, 2006
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability ControlService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173840

16,000 miles · Aug 2, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, STOP LIGHT GOES OFF, IF I DRIVE ABOUT 10 MILES IT COMES BACK ON. DEALER HAS TRIED NUMEROUS CORRECTIONS. NONE WORKED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164182

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. SUCH AS STEERING PROBLEMS, QUIVERING ON THE ROAD, BURNING SMELL, ETC. AS OF FEB. 2006, CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 3 TIMES. AT THE TIME THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE ENGINE/COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON. VEHICLE CONSTANT IN SHOP FOR REPAIR, APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES A…

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CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. SUCH AS STEERING PROBLEMS, QUIVERING ON THE ROAD, BURNING SMELL, ETC. AS OF FEB. 2006, CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 3 TIMES. AT THE TIME THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE ENGINE/COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON. VEHICLE CONSTANT IN SHOP FOR REPAIR, APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES A MONTH; CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR ME. ENGINE SENSOR WAS CHANGED IN FEB. 2006; HOWEVER, BURNING SMELL CONTINUED, LEAKS BEGAN TO OCCUR,WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND THE COOLANT LIGHT CONTINUED TO BE ACTIVATED. A NUMBER OF LEAKS WERE DISCOVERED, AND THEY WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, PROBLEMS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. LIGHT WERE COMING ON AND OFF, "ONSTAR" LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND CD PLAYER/STEREO WOULD STAY ON WITH ENGINE OFF AND NO KEY IN IGNITION WITH DOORS OPEN, AND THE SUNROOF WOULD OPEN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BUTTON. WHEN TAKEN TO SHOP, RESULT WAS THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. AFTER THIS EVENT OCCURRED, CAR CREATED UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN STARTED AND AS ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. NOW CAR WILL NOT START ON ITS OWN, IT NEEDED A BOOST THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE DAY. WHEN TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, MARVIN STARR, REPORTED TO ME TAT CORROSION IS OCCURRING WITH WIRES THAT LEADS TO THE BATTERY. PLASTIC COVERING OF WIRE IS MELTING AND WORN AWAY LEAVING THE BARE WIRE EXPOSED. OVERHEATING IS OCCURRING BUT THE SOURCE IS UNKNOWN. BATTERY, WHICH WAS REPLACED IN 2005, HAS NOW STARTED WEARING AWAY. COMPANY WANTS APPROXIMATELY $1000 IN ORDER FOR WIRES TO BE FIXED; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THEY REPAIR IT THE MELTING OF THE WIRES WOULD STILL CONTINUE DUE TO THE OVER HEATING. DANGEROUS DRIVING VEHICLE AT MOMENT; HOWEVER, I NEED TO GET AROUND AND DRIVING IS A MAIN PART OF MY EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161462

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

2000 CATERA HAS HAD A POWER FAILURE AND ELECTRICAL DEFECTS, GASKET AND SEALS WERE REPLACED. *TS THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE HOT WATER VALVE WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. THE SIDE LIGHT WAS OUT. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE IGNITION HAD…

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2000 CATERA HAS HAD A POWER FAILURE AND ELECTRICAL DEFECTS, GASKET AND SEALS WERE REPLACED. *TS THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE HOT WATER VALVE WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. THE SIDE LIGHT WAS OUT. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE IGNITION HAD TO BE LUBED. THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE HEATING SYSTEM AND THE MOONROOF DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WHEN IT WAS USED IT CAUSED POWER FAILURES.. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158386

49,351 miles · Mar 31, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO RESOLVE IT. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER, BG44K, MODULE, AND THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM. TO NO AVAIL. I NOW HAVE A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND "GAS CAP" LIGHT ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154256

73,362 miles · Dec 22, 2005
SeatsFire

DT: THE CONTACT ACTIVATED BOTH FRONT SEAT WARMERS FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES. SHE AND THE PASSENGER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND FASTENED THE SEAT BELTS. SHORTLY AFTER, SHE NOTICED THE PASSENGER WAS SCOOTING TO THE EDGE OF HER SEAT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE BACK REST PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SEAT THROUGH …

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DT: THE CONTACT ACTIVATED BOTH FRONT SEAT WARMERS FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES. SHE AND THE PASSENGER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND FASTENED THE SEAT BELTS. SHORTLY AFTER, SHE NOTICED THE PASSENGER WAS SCOOTING TO THE EDGE OF HER SEAT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE BACK REST PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SEAT THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND BOTH PARTIES QUICKLY ESCAPED THE VEHICLE FREE OF INJURY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER STOOD OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SAW SMOKE, BUT NO FLAMES. THEY WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND REENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS COOL TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT PLACED THE SEAT HEATER DIAL TO ZERO. THERE WAS SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE SEAT. THE NEXT DAY SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER , WHO VISUALLY INSPECTED THE DAMAGE AND THE SEAT HEATER. HE DID NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE, BUT SCHEDULED THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. THE DEALER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OF THE SEAT HEATER. HE INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT NOT TO USE THE SEAT HEATER UNTIL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10145895

76,000 miles · Jun 20, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

DT: PROBLEM BEGAN IN NOVEMBER. WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED A FULL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD SLOWLY SLOW DOWN, DASHBOARD PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. BOTH THROUGH THE ENGINE AND ELECTRONICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DID SYSTEM CHECKING. DIAGNOSED A NEED FOR A NEW BATTERY AND ENGINE F…

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DT: PROBLEM BEGAN IN NOVEMBER. WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED A FULL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD SLOWLY SLOW DOWN, DASHBOARD PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. BOTH THROUGH THE ENGINE AND ELECTRONICALLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DID SYSTEM CHECKING. DIAGNOSED A NEED FOR A NEW BATTERY AND ENGINE FLUSH. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND ENGINE FLUSHED. AFTER THIS REPAIR, 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ,THE SAME THING OCCURRED. BACK TO DEALER, WHO WAS SHOCKED AND UNABLE TO DETERMINE, BUT NOTED A CRANK SHAFT AND A CAM SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THEM REPLACED. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN SAME THING. CALLED CADILLAC AND FILED COMPLAINT. BACK TO DEALERSHIP, THIS TIME CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. FAILED. AFTERWARDS, THIS AGAIN HAPPENED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER ,HAD NO REMEDY. HAD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THIS CAR WAS INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10125866

69,715 miles · Jun 19, 2005
Electrical System

THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON MY 2000 CATERA WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON CATERA'S. IT COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE CAR STALLS ON A FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10125719

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.