U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Cadillac CATERA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

67 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

63,393 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 67 complaints (19.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	10	14.9%
Electrical and battery issues	7	10.4%
Braking behavior	6	9.0%
Steering behavior	3	4.5%
Transmission and shifting	2	3.0%
Fuel system concerns	2	3.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Tires

Electrical System:Ignition

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System	13
Engine And Engine Cooling	7
Tires	6
Electrical System:Ignition	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	5
Air Bags	4
Air Bags:Frontal	3
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel	3

Electrical System: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Tires: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Air Bags: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 33 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2014

2016

2018

2000: 7; 2001: 8; 2002: 7; 2003: 6; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 8; 2007: 3; 2009: 5; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10009511 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 8 OCCASIONS.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009511 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10058262 · 2004-02-16 (February 16, 2004)

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 WHEN THE CAR IS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH FUEL. AFTER BEING FILLED COMPLETELY, THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL DAYS.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKS ANTIFREEZE FROM THE OIL COOLER AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 GALLON PER WEEK. CADILLAC AC…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058262 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10125866 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125866 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10145895 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)

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 MIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 73,362 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145895 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044182 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)

VEHICLE'S BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING ACCIDENT.*MR WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED, THE CONSUMER SPUN AROUND AND HIT A BRICK WALL FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE CADILLAC TO PAY HER $20,000 CASH TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *PH *JB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044182 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10173840 · 2006-11-20 (November 20, 2006)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173840 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10098020 · 2004-10-30 (October 30, 2004)

COMPLETE STEERING LOCK FOR LEFT TURN CAPABILITY OF VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 314,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10161462 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161462 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10207715 · 2007-11-02 (November 2, 2007)

RADIATOR, OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION, TIRES..ALL BAD...WORST CAR MAKER IN THIS WORLD (CADILLAC) ALL PARTS HAVE HAD TO BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207715 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 741425 · 2001-02-24 (February 24, 2001)

EXTREMLY HESITANT SHIFTING. FAILURE TO DOWNSHIFT ON COMMAND. RAPID THROTTLE POSITION CHANGE CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO 'HANG IN LIMBO'(SOMETIMES FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS) WHEN QUICK RESPONSE IS REQUIRED. HENCE, VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF TROUBLE SITUATIONS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10154256 · 2006-03-31 (March 31, 2006)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 49,351 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154256 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 863163 · 2000-06-07 (June 7, 2000)

WHEN FILLING UP FUELTANK FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF. BUT, WHEN REMOVING THE NOZZLE, GAS CAME OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. CONTACTED DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.*AK CONSUMER HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TANK AFTER REPLACED. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863163 at NHTSA ↗