NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
67 reportsMileage unknown · Apr 13, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
I WOULD DRIVE THE CATERA RIGHT ON THE MAIN BUSY ROAD MY CAR MADE A SUICIDAL STOP! I PANIC! IMMEDIATELY PUT THE EMERGENCY HAZARDOUS LIGHTS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE IS READING THE SENSOR ARE BAD, SO I SPENT OVER $300.00 DOLLARS REPLACING THEM, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I HAVE…
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I WOULD DRIVE THE CATERA RIGHT ON THE MAIN BUSY ROAD MY CAR MADE A SUICIDAL STOP! I PANIC! IMMEDIATELY PUT THE EMERGENCY HAZARDOUS LIGHTS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE IS READING THE SENSOR ARE BAD, SO I SPENT OVER $300.00 DOLLARS REPLACING THEM, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT OR IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AGAIN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC A DIFFERENT PERSON THIS TIME. HE SAID; IT WAS THE MANIFOLD INTAKE, THEY ARE PLASTIC AND THEY CRACK OR BEND WHEN THE CAR ENGINE HEATS, THE MECHANIC AND I LOOKED FOR DIFFERENT JUNKYARDS TO OUR SURPRISE MOST OF THE CADILLAC OF THAT MADE THE VERY PIECE WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS MISSING. (PLASTIC AIR TAKE AND THE HOSE) IT DOES NOT TAKE A ROCK SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH PUTTING A PLASTIC INTAKE INSIDE A ENGINE THAT HOLDS A LOT OF HEAT. SPECIALLY FOR ME I LIVE IN A YEAR AROUND HOT WEATHER. I WENT TO DIFFERENT AUTO PART STORES TO FIND THE PART BECAUSE THE JUNKYARD WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION WHAT I DID FIND ALL THE AUTO PARTS STORE HAD NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT THIS CAR. IT HAS A BAD REPUTATION THIS BEAUTIFUL DREAM CADILLAC CATEREA IS THE BAD APPLES OF THE CADILLAC, IT IS ASHAMED YOU DON'T HAVE A RECALL ON THESE CARS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT CHEAPER TO STOP MAKING THEM THAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM I SEE THEY ARE STILL OUT IN THE STREET. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE ONE. I CALLED GM AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM OR HAVE I REPAIRED THE CAR WITH THEM. BUT IS THIER CAR MODEL. DON'T GET IT. THEY GAVE BIRTH TO DEFECTIVE CARS NOW THEY WANT US TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325517
115,759 miles · Sep 22, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE MT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I THEN TOOK MY 2000 CADILLAC CATERA TO THE SHOP WHO GAVE THE INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL BULLETIN FROM YOUR WEB SITE # 623422 IT IS THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION HOSE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284949
73,000 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10276962
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2009
Electrical System
2000 CADILLAC CATERA. STEREO CUTS OFF ON ITS OWN AND DOES NOT CUT ON SOMETIMES. TRUNK BUTTON DOES NOT WORK UNLESS THE CAR IN ON AND IN GEAR. FUEL BUTTON DOES NOT WORK UNLESS CAR IN ON AND IN GEAR. MAJOR ELECTRICAL WIRE PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262517
98,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC CATERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT DOORS FAIL TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHILE UNLOCKED. HE MUST CLIMB THROUGH THE BACK SEAT IN ORDER TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CADILLAC DEALER STATED THAT BOTH FRONT DOOR LATCHES MUST BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $890. THE DEAL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC CATERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT DOORS FAIL TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHILE UNLOCKED. HE MUST CLIMB THROUGH THE BACK SEAT IN ORDER TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CADILLAC DEALER STATED THAT BOTH FRONT DOOR LATCHES MUST BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $890. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST OR PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA ODI #10255073
98,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages
SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL HAZARD: BOTH OF THE FRONT DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE WHILE UNLOCKED. WE HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE BACKSEAT TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. THE CADILLAC SHOP STATES BOTH FRONT DOOR LATCHES MUST BE REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $890. THE CADILLAC SHOP STATES THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND COULD N…
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SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL HAZARD: BOTH OF THE FRONT DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE WHILE UNLOCKED. WE HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE BACKSEAT TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. THE CADILLAC SHOP STATES BOTH FRONT DOOR LATCHES MUST BE REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $890. THE CADILLAC SHOP STATES THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND COULD NOT BE PREVENTED BY THE CUSTOMER. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AND NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON THE PHONE WITH CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 866-790-5700, CADILLAC DETERMINED (AFTER FOUR DAYS WITHOUT A CAR) THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY RESOLUTION OR COST ASSISTANCE FOR US. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SUPERVISOR AND WAS EVENTUALLY TRANSFERRED TO NICK OWENS. HE STATED THAT HE IS THE SUPERVISOR AND THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. I REQUESTED CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE TO BEGIN A RECALL OR BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE FRONT DOOR LATCHES AND FINANCIALLY ASSIST OTHER CADILLAC OWNERS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS (FRONT DOOR LATCHES) THAT PRESENT BOTH SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL HAZARDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255063
100,000 miles · Nov 2, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainTires
RADIATOR, OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION, TIRES..ALL BAD...WORST CAR MAKER IN THIS WORLD (CADILLAC) ALL PARTS HAVE HAD TO BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10207715
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeats
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 HOS…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10191850
57,070 miles · Jan 24, 2007
Seats
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 CADILLAC CATERA AT 65 MPH NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING. SHE TURNED OFF THE SEAT, THEN TURNED ON THE SEAT. AFTER ARRIVING AT HER DESTINATION, AND RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE NOTICED THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE END OF HER COAT WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE HASN'T…
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 CADILLAC CATERA AT 65 MPH NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING. SHE TURNED OFF THE SEAT, THEN TURNED ON THE SEAT. AFTER ARRIVING AT HER DESTINATION, AND RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE NOTICED THE FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE END OF HER COAT WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10180587
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2006
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER AND GAS HAND BOTH WORK INTERMITTENTLY..I WAS TOLD BY THE BRADSHAW DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CATERA'S...IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN, I THINK THE REPAIRS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE LARGE RECALL ON THE AUTOMOBILE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10175883