188 of the
232 complaints filed about the Cadillac Allante
are about the braking system —
81% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1990.
THESE VEHICLES HAVE BOSCHE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS ACTIVATED BY A RELAY. THAT AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS, ABOUT THIS SYSTEM, CAN CAUSE THESE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION OR TO FAIL COMPLETELY ANY TIME THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS GENERALLY KNOWN TO ANYONE WHO OWNS ONE OF THESE CARS, AND TO GENERAL MOTORS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION THAT CAN VERY EASILY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO ANYONE CLOSE TO THESE VEHICLES. I WAS BLESSED THAT THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 65 OR 70 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11113417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OVER THE LAST MONTH, WHILE BRAKING THE DRIVER INFO DISPLAY WOULD SHOW ANTILOCK-TRACTION DISABLED, THEN WOULD FLASH ANTILOCK OK, TRACTION OK. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BRAKE JUST FINE AND SINCE THE DISPLAY SAID IT WAS OK I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM, THEN ON 9/20/2014 WHILE DRIVING HOME DOWN MY STREET THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. THIS HAPPENED ALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE LAST TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE. FROM WHAT I HEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CADILLAC ALLANTE FROM 87-92. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE NOT MANY OF THESE CARS MADE (ABOUT 3000 PER YEAR) BUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEN I FEEL THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED, SINCE IT IS SAFETY RELATED. MY GRANDSON IS GETTING HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND I WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM THIS VEHICLE...NOW I HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS..I CAN'T BELIEVE GM WOULD ALLOW SUCH A VEHICLE TO BE ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
NHTSA complaint #10637771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10164725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING, DRIVING 45 MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN NO BRAKING AT ALL,I WENT INTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND SOME HOW MANAGE TO STOP BY DRIVING THE CAR THROUGH TALL WEEDS. FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10151219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, DRIVER PUMPED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES TO STOP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT A SOLUTION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10111643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10054297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE REVERSING AT 10 MPH BRAKES FAILED , CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN DEPRESSED. *AK CONSUMER READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DUAL BRAKES. MEANING, IF ONE PART FAILS THE OTHER PART WOULD WORK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY A PRIVATE DEALER AND CONSUMER LEARNED HE HAD BRAKES GOING FORWARD BUT NOT BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10046487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY FAILED COMPLETELY, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC STATED MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY WHICH CAUSED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10044750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRVING, ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. POWER WENT OUT, AND HAD TO APPLY BRAKES MANUALLY TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES UNABLE TO GET PARTS TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #8010233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES, THEN THE ABS PUMP STARTED AND BRAKES RETURNED. THE BRAKE SYSTEMS HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE. REAR BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL (CALIPERS FROZEN), AND ACCUMULATOR REPLACEMENT RETURNED NORMAL FUNCTION FOR LESS THAN 12 HOURS.
NHTSA complaint #759981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.