FaultScore

FaultScore report

1986 Cadillac Fleetwood problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood with NHTSA between 1995 and 2007. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

4

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

4

Injuries reported

How 1986 compares with every other Cadillac Fleetwood

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 3 30.0%

1 crashes, 2 fires · median 90,000 mi

Fuel & Propulsion 2 20.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 90,000 mi

Seat Belts 1 10.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 90,000 mi

Wheels 1 10.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 10.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 10.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 90,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 1 10.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1995 peak 4 Nov 2007

NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE89098 Opened 10 Mar 1989 Closed 17 May 1989 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ANTI LOCK BRAKES

===

EA88031 Opened 22 Apr 1988 Closed 23 Oct 1989 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===

EA88019 Opened 28 Jan 1988 Closed 31 Oct 1990 STEERING

HYDRO BOOST

PE87038 Opened 9 Jul 1987 Closed 28 Jan 1988 STEERING

HYDROBOOST FAILURE

SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING...

Recalls on the 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1989092 78,600 units in Canada

Engine

A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL (BRACKET) MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO CAUSE THE SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY TO WEAR THROUGH THE BALL AND CATCH ON OTHER COMPONENTS POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A STUCK THROTTLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: A BUSHING KIT WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.

Recall 1987078 378 units in Canada

Brakes

ON VEHICLES WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES,BRAKE FLUID MAY SEEP FROM THE ABS PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH,EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR.ALSO THE PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR &/OR THE ABS FUNCTION.LOSS OF THE PUMP MOTOR WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES & LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES.THIS WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE.AN INOPERATIVE ABS RELAY COULD CAUSE LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.ABS,PUMP MOTOR RELAYS,& 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall 1987066 13 units in Canada

Emissions

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS.

Recall 1986051 23,158 units in Canada

Lights And Instruments

On certain vehicles, the push-pull headlight switch may have been manufactured with electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit. An intermittent circuit could cause the headlights to suddenly go out. Under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions, driver visibility could be reduced, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

STEERING COLUMN HAS CAUGHT FIRE TWICE, BLOWER HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE COMPUTER.

NHTSA complaint #825057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orchard Park, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERHOOD NEAR THE FIRE WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #978743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10209653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Many, LA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

VEHICLE BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR WATER LEAK AT WINDSHIELD, AFTER THE WINDSHEILD WAS REMOVED, ADVANCED RUST WAS FOUND IN THE PINCHWELD AREA, PARTICULARLY ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, OWNER ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE. CJ

NHTSA complaint #559385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Progreso, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN THE CAR IS OVER 60MHR IT TURNES OFF, ALSO MOST OF THE TIME IT TURNES OFF WHEN IT IS VEARY HOT OUT SIDE AND WHEN I WANT TO TERN IT ON AGAIN IT GO LIKE ABOUT 30SEC ON THEN IT TURNES OFF AGAIN. SOMETIMES WHEN I LET IT OFF FOR LIKE ABOUT AN HOUR IT TURNS ON AGAIN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN OFF AGIAN.

NHTSA complaint #703894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

STEERING COLUMN HAS CAUGHT FIRE TWICE, BLOWER HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE COMPUTER.

NHTSA complaint #825057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashtabula, OH

WHEELS

LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT SLID OFF ROAD INTO DITCH. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA complaint #539052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orchard Park, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERHOOD NEAR THE FIRE WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #978743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wellesley HI, MA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, NOTICED LEAKAGE. DEALERSHIPS DIAGNOSIS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. TT

NHTSA complaint #960491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.