1987 Cadillac ALLANTE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
130,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 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 8 of 15 complaints (53.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 73.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
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 | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve): 1; Interior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 12 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 | 2 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 2; 2000: 8; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
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 10195650 · 2007-07-09 (July 9, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 CADILLAC ALLANTE. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI 2560VR15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A FIELD. SHE SUSTAINED CUTS TO THE FOREHEAD, A BRUISED LEFT LEG, AND A CONCUSSION. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE TIRES WERE NOT INSPECTED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000. UPDATED 09/18/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551867 · 2000-04-14 (April 14, 2000)
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718489 · 2000-02-08 (February 8, 2000)
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A NORMAL FASHION, THE ANTI-LOCK MESSAGE IS LIT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS A 'CLICK' FEEL TO IT AS PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE BRAKES DO LOCK UP IN A PANIC STOP. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, THE ANTI-LOCK MESSAGE WILL FLASH ON THE INFORMATION CENTER EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MOVED OR THE BRAKES APPLIED. WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN, IF THE PEDAL IS GENTLY PUSHED THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND WARN OF ANTI-LOCK DISABLING. THEY WORK FINE THEN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720604 · 2000-03-26 (March 26, 2000)
THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE ALLANTE IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IT IS A DANGER TO THOSE OF US WHO DRIVE THE CAR AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN COMLETE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED BY PULLING ON THE SHOULDER AND SLOWLY ROLLING TO A STOP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT NEARLY ALL ALLANTE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BREM FAILURES. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURY OCCURS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721637 · 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)
THE PROBLEM IS MY ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAIL AT TIMES AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL, I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 25 YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM . I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHER ALLANTE OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724611 · 2000-06-27 (June 27, 2000)
AT 65MPH APPLIED BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE AHEAD VEERED INTO MY LANE. BRAKE PEDAL SLAMMED TO THE FLOOR. RELEASED BRAKES AND SMOOTHLY REAPPLIED PRESSURE. PEDAL JUMPED UP APPROX HALF WAY. RELEASED PRESSURE AGAIN AND EASED PEDAL DOWN AGAIN. NORMAL BRAKING WAS REGAINED. HAD BRAKES REBUILT IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. NO APPARENT PROBLEMS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724611 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.