1996 Cadillac FLEETWOOD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
109,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve): 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2010: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10012010 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE IT WAS BEING TURNED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014587 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE FUEL PUMP CONTAINED A SHORTAGE, WHICH CAUSED A SPARK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057156 · 2004-01-30 (January 30, 2004)
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319251 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084953 · 2018-04-13 (April 13, 2018)
CAR HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY - LEFT REAR. HAD JACKED IT UP, AND CHANGED TIRE. WAS LETTING JACK DOWN WHEN IT COLLAPSED. SCISSORS TYPE JACK. ONE OF THE CAPTIVE NUTS THAT THE MAIN BOLT RUNS THROUGH TO RAISE THE JACK ASSEMBLY FAILED, DROPPING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. LUCKILY, THE TIRE HAD BEEN CHANGED, AND NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE CAR DROPPED. I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE ON MY 1993 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD, AND WONDER IF THIS IS NOT COMMON TO ALL OF THE GM CARS USING THIS JACK.
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506832 · 1996-07-30 (July 30, 1996)
TRANSMISSION POUNDS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 865279 · 2000-07-12 (July 12, 2000)
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE JUST STALLED. WHEN PRESSING DOWN A LITTLE HARDER VEHICLE TOOK OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM YET. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899980 · 2001-12-07 (December 7, 2001)
POWER STEERING GOES OUT TEMPORARILY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THEN IT RELEASES BY ITSELF, DEALERSHIPOP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, MECHANIC REPLACED STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE REMOTE WAS INOPERABLE, KEYLESS ENTRY PAD WILLNOT OPEN DOOR UNLESS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO IT, R/R DOOR IS HARD TO CLOSE WHEN ALL OTHER DOORS ARE CLOSED, BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DRAGGING, DEALER ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HESITATES AT TIMES, DEALER REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899980 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V018000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1996-01-30 (January 30, 1996)
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Consequence: THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V245000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 1996-12-10 (December 10, 1996)
THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗