Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Cadillac Catera problems

Owners filed 67 complaints about the 2000 Cadillac Catera with NHTSA between Jun 2000 and Sep 2018. The most-cited component is electrical system (24).

Complaints
67
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system24
  2. Engine and engine cooling17
  3. Air bags8
  4. Tires8
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  6. Steering4
  7. Fuel system, gasoline4
  8. Vehicle speed control3
  9. Latches/locks/linkages3
  10. Structure3
  11. Seats3
  12. Exterior lighting3
  13. Engine2
  14. Power train2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20007
20018
20027
20036
20048
20054
20068
20073
20080
20095
20102
20111
20124
20130
20142
20150
20161
20170
20181

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

24 reports2 crashes
“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 POWER STEERING LOOKED AT AND IT IS FINE THE OIL LIGHT IS NOW ON 24/7 BUT THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE AND WAS JUST RECENTLY CHANGED. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PRODUCED BY CADILLAC IT IS NOTHING BUT A DISGRACE TO THE NAME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2014Steering, Electrical systemODI 10577831

Engine and engine cooling

17 reports1 crash
“TL*THE 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 HAS OCCURRED; HOWEVER, THEY ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH COST HIM $100. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10341874

Air bags

8 reports1 crash
“PASSENGER SIDE "CURTAIN" AIRBAG IN SEAT WENT OFF WHILE MY CAR WAS STOPPED AND ENGINE NOT RUNNING WITH NO CAUSE OR IMPACT WHILE NOT CLOSE TO ANYTHING IN A PARKING LOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2018Air bagsODI 11128237

Tires

8 reports
“I HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 CATERA EVERY SINCE I BOUGH IT, FIRST THE SEAT WOULD NOT HEAT ,PUT THE KEY IN AND IT WOULD NOT TURN,TIRES WORE OUT IN LESS THAN A YEAR,DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS COMING A PART,GLOVE COMPARTMENT LOCK BROKEN ,BELT BROKE CAR RAN HOT HAD TO GET A NEW RADIATOR,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ,SECONDARY AIR INJECTION HOSE FAILURES,THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE TIMES THAN OUT, JUNK,AND G M DOES NOTHING TO HELP,WATER PUMP WENT OUT ,HEATER COIL HOSE LEAKING,VAULE COVER GASKET REPLACE , ALL BEFORE 60,000 MILES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2007Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure, Tires, SeatsODI 10191850

Service brakes, hydraulic

6 reports2 crashes
“TL*THE 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT ACCURATE. UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2009Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 10276962

Steering

4 reports
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2006Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10161462
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.