Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Cadillac Eldorado, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 30% |
| Steering | 4 | 13% |
| Engine | 3 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 10% |
| Visibility | 2 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Seats | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DEAR NHTSA, CADILLAC GM SHIPPED THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE WITH A KNOWN HEAD GASKET ISSUE INVOLVING THE THREADING AND THE SHORTNESS OF THE HEADBOLTS, WHEN THE THE COOLANT FLOWS THROUGH THE ENGINE, THE HEAT OF THE COOLANT GOING
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
CPSC:SEATS IN 2000 CADILLAC ELDORADO SUDDENLY DETERIORATED AND WIRING INSIDE CUSHIONS SEAMS EXPOSED AS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FELT ELECTRICAL PULSATING SENSATIONS FROM BACK AND BACK OF THIGHS CLOSE TO THE BACKS OF
NHTSA complaint: Seats
ENGINE TURNS OFF FOR NO REASON WHILE GOING UNDER 40 MILES. HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN. USUALLY ON CITY STREETS, IN MOTION. WE THINK MOST OF THE TIME AFTER TURNING.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HIS RIGHT FOOT AND NOTICED THAT AN UNKNOWN HOT LIQUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HIS RIGHT FOOT AND NOTICED THAT AN UN
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE YELLOW SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE TH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING SINCE 83600 MILES. WE CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AND IT STILL DID THE SAME THING. TOOK TO CADILLAC DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WENT GOT THE CAR AND PAID PRICE 3 DAYS LATER IT
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH THE ENGINE QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE I-35W BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN MINNEAPOLIS. I MANAGED TO COAST SAFELY TO A STOP ON AN EXIT RAMP ABOUT 200 FT FROM BOBBY AND STEVE'S AUTO WORLD.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2000 Cadillac Eldorado. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS ARE LOOSE AND CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD.
Risk: SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK AND ADJUST THE VEHICLE TOE-IN AND TIGHTEN THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 64 | average |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 34 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 9 of them (30%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.