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1996 problems

FaultScore report

1996 Cadillac Fleetwood problems

Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood with NHTSA between 1996 and 2018. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 4 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Cadillac Fleetwood All 1996 cars

FaultScore 65/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Cadillac Fleetwood.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 56: Against the median year of the Cadillac Fleetwood. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 79: 15.4% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported: Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1996 compares with every other Cadillac Fleetwood

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 1 1 6 1 17 10 8 4 16 22 22 13 51 27 22 39 4

72 78 81 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 98

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

What breaks on a 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood

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

Brakes 7 17.9%

Steering 5 12.8%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 4 10.3%

Fuel & Propulsion 3 7.7%

Other & Unspecified 2 5.1%

Median failure at 140,000 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 5.1%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 5.1%

Median failure at 109,000 miles

Body & Structure 2 5.1%

Airbags 2 5.1%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 2 5.1%

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 5.1%

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.6%

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 2.6%

Seats 1 2.6%

Seat Belts 1 2.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Lights 1 2.6%

Suspension 1 2.6%

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.

Jul 1996 peak 15 Apr 2018

NHTSA investigations into the 1996 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.

EA96007 Opened 31 May 1996 Closed 24 Dec 1996 SUSPENSION

REAR WHEEL SEPARATION

GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A RECALL TO RETORQUE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 1995.IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MOST VEHICLES WILL REQUIRE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS TO BE RETORQUED TO 135 N.M(100 LB. FT.).CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD ALL FOUR OF THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED SHOULD HAVE PROPERLY TORQUED LUG NUTS.HOWEVER, GM IS OFFERING CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED THE OPTION OF RETURNING TO THEIR DEALER FOR THIS REPAIR OR COMPLETING AND RETURNING AN OWNER REPLY CARD INCLUDED WITH THEIR RECALL NOTICE.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED...

Recalls on the 1996 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.

United States — NHTSA

96V245000 10 Dec 1996

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.

Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

96V018000 30 Jan 1996

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.

Risk: THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Canada — Transport Canada

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

Recall 1996205 13 Dec 1996 249 units in Canada

Suspension

THE WHEEL LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION.

Recall 1996025 12 Feb 1996 1,942 units in Canada

Suspension

NOTE: INCLUDES CAPRICE POLICE SEDANS, TAXI CABS AND SPECIAL SERVICE WAGONS; FLEETWOOD HEARSE AND LIMOUSINE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT MAY BE LOOSE. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT TO LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE. IF SEPARATION WERE TO OCCUR WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.

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.

Filed 20 Apr 1999 Petersburg, IN Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WORKED AS INTENDED BUT CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE AIRBAG WHICH MADE IT HARD TO BREATH AFTER ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #544932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 1996 Eutaw, AL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION/SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER AND PASSENGER PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #506118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 1996 Eutaw, AL Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION/SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER AND PASSENGER PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #506118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

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

Filed 13 Apr 2018 at 140,000 miles Reston, VA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11084953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 12 Mar 2010 at 109,000 miles Half Moon BAY, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10319251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Jan 2004 Baltimore, MD

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10057156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Mar 2003 Brandywine, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE FUEL PUMP CONTAINED A SHORTAGE, WHICH CAUSED A SPARK.

NHTSA complaint #10014587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Mar 2003 at 50,000 miles Union City, TN

STEERING

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE IT WAS BEING TURNED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10012010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2001 Naples, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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 REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, ALSO PASSENGER SIDE HAED REST WILL NOT STAY UP.*SLC

NHTSA complaint #899980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2001 Naples, FL

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

NHTSA complaint #899980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2001 Naples, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

NHTSA complaint #899980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2001 Naples, FL

SUSPENSION

NHTSA complaint #899980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2001 Naples, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

NHTSA complaint #899980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2001 Naples, FL

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

NHTSA complaint #899980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 12 Jul 2000 Redfield, SD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

NHTSA complaint #865279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Apr 1999 Petersburg, IN Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WORKED AS INTENDED BUT CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE AIRBAG WHICH MADE IT HARD TO BREATH AFTER ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #544932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Dec 1998 Manchester, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

REMOTE DOOR/REAR COMPARTMENT LOCK FAILED.