Cadillac FLEETWOOD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
103 owner complaints analyzed
20 distinct recall campaigns
92,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1971 to 1998 model years. Data snapshot: . 14 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 13 of 103 complaints (12.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 22.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 6.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.9% |
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 | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 89 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 | 29 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 29; 1996: 15; 2000: 19; 2001: 13; 2002: 6; 2003: 6; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 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 500825 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)
ABS BRAKES LOCKS UP. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209653 · 2007-11-21 (November 21, 2007)
MY VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I CHANGE IT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND WHEN I PRESS ON MY BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT FEELS LIKE IS STILL ACCELERATING AND WANTS TO GO FASTER. I HAD TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT CHANGING GEAR ANYMORE AND THIS VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC FOR THIS REASON. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM BUT IT WAS FIXED BY MY MECHANIC. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SEAT BELTS DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041393 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
STEERING LOCKS UP AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING HARD LEFT AT A SLOW SPEED. 1987 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD WITH RACK AND PINION. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 4 YEARS BUT IS MUCH WORSE LATELY. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT WOULD COST A LOT TO FIX SO HE'S BEEN KIND OF IGNORING IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 861716 · 2000-05-10 (May 10, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE POWER STEERING WAS GONE. ALSO, UNDERNEATH THE COLUMN FRAME FELL APART, IT WAS HOLDING ON BY A FEW BOLTS. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483949 · 1995-09-11 (September 11, 1995)
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960893 · 1995-03-01 (March 1, 1995)
GAS TANK SPLIT IN THE SEAM AT THE RIGHT TANK ON THE ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT, RESULTING IN GAS LEAK. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 746712 · 2001-06-12 (June 12, 2001)
FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS, THE ENGINE HAS DIED WHEN THERE IS LESS THAN 5 GAL. OF GAS IN THE TANK AND I'M DRIVING DOWNHILL. THE CAR DIES AT THE BOTTOM. I SHIFT INTO PARK AND THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP. I'VE ASK TWO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN AND DON'T WANT TO START REPLACING PARTS UNTIL THEY ARE SURE WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED AND I JUST GAVE UP. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING AND IF SO, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION. I DON'T MIND HAVING IT FIXED BUT IT IS HA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 746712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166830 · 2006-08-29 (August 29, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE WAS EASILY RESTARTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 94V199000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN AXLE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A NEW PCM WAS INSTALLED. THE GAS TANK FLOAT WAS BAD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979265 · 1996-02-15 (February 15, 1996)
THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES/STUMBLES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864139 · 2000-06-23 (June 23, 2000)
BATTERY HOLDER CABLE DISCONNECTED, CAUSING ACID TO LEAK FROM THE BATTERY. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY AT CONUMSER'S COST. PROLBEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864139 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 |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 |
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0 |
1983: 1; 1984: 1; 1985: 2; 1986: 4; 1987: 3; 1988: 2; 1989: 1; 1990: 0; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 2; 1994: 5; 1995: 5; 1996: 2; 1998: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1978 | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| 1979 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1984 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 1986 | 4 | 4 | +2 |
| 1987 | 6 | 3 | -1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| 1989 | 8 | 1 | -1 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 | -1 |
| 1991 | 7 | 2 | +2 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 | -1 |
| 1993 | 26 | 2 | +1 |
| 1994 | 7 | 5 | +3 |
| 1995 | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 2 | -3 |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | Not available |