Cadillac ALLANTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
86,147 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 to 1993 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 81 complaints (63.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 56 | 69.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 51 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 51; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Equipment: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 66 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 4; 2000: 34; 2001: 15; 2002: 11; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10054297 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED ALL CADILLAC DEALERS IN ST LOUIS AREA AND THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SYSTEM. IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVABLE NOW FOR 2 YEARS,AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1987 ALLANTES. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 99,157 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164725 · 2006-08-07 (August 7, 2006)
THIS PAST WEEKEND THE BRAKES ON MY 1987 ALLANTE COMPLETELY FAILED LEAVING ME WITH ONLY THE PARKING BRAKE AND DOWN SHIFTING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVELED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FROM THE PUMP TO THE BRAKE UNIT ON THE FIREWALL DEVELOPED A PIN-HOLE; THIS ALLOWED THE SYSTEM TO PUMP ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID OVERBOARD IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. FROM THE TIME THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNTIL I LOST ALL BRAKES WAS A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. HAD I BEEN ON A DIFFERENT ROAD OR HAD MY DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING THE CAR THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THERE WOUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 9003622 · 2001-09-18 (September 18, 2001)
ELECTRICAL WITH THE TRANSMISSION-A NEW MAIN COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION PRINDL SWITCH WERE INSTALLED. I STARTED OUT AND HEARD A BIG BOOM. THE INNER PLANETARY TRANSMISSION HOUSING UNIT EXPLODED INTO CHUNKS OF METAL ALL OVER THE ROAD AND SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO CATALYTIS CONVERTER CAUSING A FIRE. WIRING HARNESS AND RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE BURNT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9003622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 485150 · 1995-06-08 (June 8, 1995)
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL WIRE DANGLING OVER EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN AN INJURY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 485150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 859076 · 2000-03-23 (March 23, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 55 MPH ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. UPON APPLYING BRAKES, DRIVER HAD TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL REALLY HARD, AND PULL UP STEERING BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERHIP, WHERE THE ABS PUMP AND RELAY WERE REPLACED. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558882 · 2001-01-11 (January 11, 2001)
WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED, CONSUMER TRIED TO STEER CLEAR OF AN UTILITY POLE BUT THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE UTILITY POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT WRIST, FRACTURED RIGHT ANKLE, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LOWER ARM, LACERATIONS AROUND RIGHT EYE, BRUISED SHOULDER AND CHEST, BRUISED KNEE AND STRAINED MUSCLES IN LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204821 · 2007-10-04 (October 4, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC ELANTE. THE FRAM FUEL FILTER SPLIT IN HALF AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. APPROXIMATELY A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE BEGAN SPURTING FROM THE FILTER. THE FILTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS OVERWHELMING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVEWAY WAS DAMAGED FROM THE FUEL LEAK. HE HAS A PICTURES AND THE FILTER IF NEEDED. THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204821 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 |
1987: 0; 1988: 1; 1989: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 1