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2000 Cadillac Catera

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Catera.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

Featuring an Automatic 4-spd transmission and EPA fuel economy ratings of 16/23/18 mpg, the 2000 Cadillac Catera requires 6.1 qt of 5W-30 API oil for engine maintenance. Across the model's documented history from 1997 to 2002, this specific year generated 68 total owner complaints, positioning it between the highest count recorded in 1997 and the lowest in 2002. Although there were 0 recalls noted for this vehicle, the Electrical System emerged as the top complaint area within a reliability trajectory that indicates a substantial reduction in reported issues as the production run progressed.

Model year2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.1 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 91 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 09192426. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 91 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified

Tire sizeSport P235-45HR17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	09192426
Engine air filter	90512851 discontinued
Fuel filter	90542540 discontinued · alt 90501397
Spark plug	09195166 discontinued
Front wiper blades	09195187 alt 09195186
Serpentine belt	93181720
Thermostat	09128363 discontinued · alt 55353492
Cabin air filter	93165208

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.1 in
Overall width	70.5 in
Overall height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	107.5 in
Curb weight	3770 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 23 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	99 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Catera of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.0–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2000 Sport Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2000	Sport Sedan 3.0L V6	8.00 sec	16.10 sec	200 hp	RWD
2000	Sport Sedan 3.0L V6	8.20 sec	16.30 sec	200 hp	RWD
2000	Sport Sedan 3.0L V6	8.30 sec	16.50 sec	200 hp	RWD
1997	Sedan 3.0L V6	8.50 sec	16.50 sec	200 hp	RWD
1997	Sedan 3.0L V6	8.90 sec	16.70 sec	200 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.1 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 8.8 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.6 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.1 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.1 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	15 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	30 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts	6 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	8.8 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

80 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Bosch
Spark Plug Type	Bosch (R) FLR-9LTE
Spark Plug Gap	0.035-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	19.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.56 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	91
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14.5 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
RPM	46-60 rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11.8-12.6 @ 50-95 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	140

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs / 59 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.102 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.102 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.043 in / 0.433 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.984 in / 0.393 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque Caliper to Bracket — tightening sequence 1 stages

70 FT. LBS., STEP 2: 37

70 FT. LBS

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60 degrees, Step 3: 15

37 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	18 ft. lbs.	18 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90 degrees	90 degrees
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	15 degrees	15 degrees
6	15 degrees	15 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2000 Cadillac Catera marks a notable inflection point in its generation’s federal record, with complaints dropping to 68—nearly half of 1999’s total and a third of 1997’s peak—while Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) surge to 179, the highest of any model year. This trend suggests Cadillac addressed early reliability concerns through extensive dealer-level guidance rather than recalls or investigations, which remain absent across all years. Compared to 2001’s further decline in complaints (30) and 2002’s near-absence (2), the 2000 model sits in a transitional phase: improved over its predecessors but not yet as refined as later examples. The top complaint areas—electrical system, air bags, and engine cooling—align with broader generation-wide patterns, though crash and fire complaints remain minimal (5 and 1, respectively). The data implies that while the 2000 Catera benefited from mid-cycle corrections, buyers should prioritize maintenance records to mitigate lingering electrical and engine risks. **Takeaway: The 2000 model is a relatively safer bet than earlier years, but only with verified service history.**

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

179

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’97 ’98 ’99’00’01 ’02

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 68 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System10

Air Bags8

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Tires5

Latches/Locks/Linkages3

Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System3

Seats2

Exterior Lighting2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 179 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5358A	2021-05-12	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5640A	2021-04-12	Wheels	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician to not…
PIP5163E	2021-03-30	Fuel System, Gasoline	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5540G	2021-03-22	Engine And Engine Cooling	This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the…
PIP5725A	2021-03-19	Equipment	This Preliminary information communicates the use of Winter grade fuel during the warm…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Catera. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 91 battery Vehicles taking 6.1 qt Engine oil filter 09192426 Engine air filter 90512851 Fuel filter 90542540 Spark plug 09195166

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Catera take?

6.1 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Catera have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Catera get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.