Home › Cadillac › Catera › 2000

2000 Cadillac Catera Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Cadillac Catera, most often about the electrical (36% of complaints, typically around 69,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Catera model year since 2000.

Complaints67
Recalls0
Crashes reported5
Fires reported1
Injuries reported4

Most common 2000 Cadillac Catera problems

  1. Electrical

    24 complaints · 36%

    Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator.

    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 69,715 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2000 Cadillac Catera. The contact was experiencing issues with the ABS locking. The failure also caused the speedometer to malfunction. The brakes worked intermittently. The dealer stated that the ABS repair would cost $2,000. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The current mileage was 74,232 and…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 73,000 miles

  2. Engine

    20 complaints · 30%

    Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 76,000 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2000 Cadillac Catera. The vehicle stalled whenever he stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was informed about the failures that…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 75,000 miles

  3. Wheels and tires

    8 complaints · 12%

    Parts named most often: tread/belt.

    Tires are wearing out from inside at 6,000 miles.. Heard noises and saw premature inner wearing of tires. Reported failure to dealer and tire distributo who were shown old tires and new tires. New tires were purchase at 27, 383 miles.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2003, at 6,000 miles
    The consumer stated that the tires wore out prematurely. The dealer confirmed that the tie rod was bent out of shape. As a result the consumer had to replace all four tires at 6,000 miles. The left front inside wire was showing.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 6,000 miles

  4. Air bags

    8 complaints · 12%

    Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.

    Passenger side air bag deployed while the consumer was driving the vehicle, causing him to loose a portion of his hearing. Manufacturer rectified the problem and made the repairs. Some months later while driving the same passenger side air bag deployed .
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2005, at 48,000 miles
    The contact owns a 2000 Cadillac Catera. The contact stated that while traveling 15 MPH, the passenger side curtain air bag erroneously deployed. The contact was able to merge the vehicle into a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's home. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic. The…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 47,200 miles

  5. Brakes

    6 complaints · 9%

    Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.

    : 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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2006, at 88,000 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2000 Cadillac Catera. The contact was experiencing issues with the ABS locking. The failure also caused the speedometer to malfunction. The brakes worked intermittently. The dealer stated that the ABS repair would cost $2,000. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The current mileage was 74,232 and…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 73,000 miles

  6. Fuel system

    4 complaints · 6%

    Parts named most often: delivery, storage.

    While driving the vehicle, the car stalled without cause. When we attempted to stop the car due to the car stall the car spun out and was hit by an oncoming vehicle. This car has been subject to several stallouts while driving at various speeds since purchased in 2002. This vehicle also has problems with not starting…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 80,000 miles

  7. Lights

    4 complaints · 6%

    Parts named most often: headlights.

    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 52,000 miles
    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.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2006, at 50,000 miles

  8. Steering

    4 complaints · 6%

    Parts named most often: rack and pinion, linkages.

    The consumer stated that the tires wore out prematurely. The dealer confirmed that the tie rod was bent out of shape. As a result the consumer had to replace all four tires at 6,000 miles. The left front inside wire was showing.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2004, at 6,000 miles
    While traveling an 8 mile trip to my mothers traveling at a speed of 45 miles per hour the speedometer just stopped working and the steering seemed to tighten up a little bit the next time I drove the car the steering was hard to maneuver and its almost as if the power steering is not functioning properly. I had the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 55,592 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2000 Cadillac Catera recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2000 Cadillac Catera

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Cadillac Catera?
By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (24 complaints, typically around 69,500 miles); engine (20 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles); wheels and tires (8 complaints).
How many recalls does the 2000 Cadillac Catera have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2000 Cadillac Catera. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
Is the 2000 a bad year for the Cadillac Catera?
It is the most complained-about Catera model year since 2000, with 67 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Cadillac Catera years

Cadillac Catera problems by year