CADILLAC ALLANTE · model year

1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE

48 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990CADILLACALLANTE carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 ALLANTE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 27 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (6) and service brakes, air:antilock (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 1990 ALLANTE, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

48
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

48 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP27
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS6
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK3
STEERING2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SERVICE BRAKES1

Recent Complaints

20140920SERVICE BRAKES

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 *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20100419SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

POWER ASSIST BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES ARE OPERATING AT 10 PER CENT BY PUMPING TO A GRADUAL STOP. DOWN-SHIFTING AND PANIC PUMPING AVOIDED A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

20080410CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKES ON MY 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE FAILED AND I RAN INTO A TRUCK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20080410CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKES ON MY 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE FAILED AND I RAN INTO A TRUCK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20031027SERVICE 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 *PH

Mileage: 36,758

20020528SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

20020521SERVICE 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. *TT

20020128SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES FAILED ELECTRONICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

20011101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I RECIEVED AN ANTILOCK DISABLED MESSAGE AND WITHIN 1 MILE THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. THE CAR STILL HAD GOOD BRAKE PEDAL, BUT NO BRAKES AT ALL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS 3:30 AM AND NO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO SWING INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND CIRCLE UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. UPON TALKING TO SEVERAL OTHER ALLANTE OWNERS, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURANCE WITH THESE CARS. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE CADILLAC DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS POTIENTIALLY FATAL FLAW?*AK

20011101PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

I RECIEVED AN ANTILOCK DISABLED MESSAGE AND WITHIN 1 MILE THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. THE CAR STILL HAD GOOD BRAKE PEDAL, BUT NO BRAKES AT ALL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED AS WELL. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS 3:30 AM AND NO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO SWING INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND CIRCLE UNTIL THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. UPON TALKING TO SEVERAL OTHER ALLANTE OWNERS, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURANCE WITH THESE CARS. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE CADILLAC DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS POTIENTIALLY FATAL FLAW?*AK

20011101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

AFTER FAILURE AND NEAR ACCIDENT, CADILLAC CORPORATION SAID THEY HAD AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO REMEDY PROBLEM. THEY INSTALLED A BOOSTER TO ADD PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. COST WAS $700. THIS DID NOT WORK. ANOTHER FAILURE DRIVING HOME WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT. NOW TOLD MUST REPLACE THE PUMP WHICH I DID. COST $3,382. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PART. SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARE ME ANOTHER $500 CORE CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND THIS BOSH BRAKE SYSTEM WAS THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEM RECALLED ON CHRYSLER VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH MANY MORE CHRYSLERS WERE SOLD THEN CADILLAC ALLANTE'S THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE. I AM TOLD THIS IS A MAJOR FAILURE IN ALLANTES'*AK

20011101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

AFTER FAILURE AND NEAR ACCIDENT, CADILLAC CORPORATION SAID THEY HAD AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO REMEDY PROBLEM. THEY INSTALLED A BOOSTER TO ADD PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. COST WAS $700. THIS DID NOT WORK. ANOTHER FAILURE DRIVING HOME WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT. NOW TOLD MUST REPLACE THE PUMP WHICH I DID. COST $3,382. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PART. SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARE ME ANOTHER $500 CORE CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND THIS BOSH BRAKE SYSTEM WAS THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEM RECALLED ON CHRYSLER VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH MANY MORE CHRYSLERS WERE SOLD THEN CADILLAC ALLANTE'S THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE. I AM TOLD THIS IS A MAJOR FAILURE IN ALLANTES'*AK

20011015SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

ABS/MASTER CYL INDER FAILURE. CAR HAS A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND WILL NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD. REPLACEMENT PART FROM CADILLAC HAS A LIST PRICE OF $3,066.00 PLUS ABOUT $500.00 IN LABOR. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 87-93 ALLANTES AND SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THEM AND REPAIR THEM AT NO CHARGE. THEY SHOULD ALSO REINBURST ALL COMSUMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS TYPICAL GM NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

20011015SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS/MASTER CYL INDER FAILURE. CAR HAS A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND WILL NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD. REPLACEMENT PART FROM CADILLAC HAS A LIST PRICE OF $3,066.00 PLUS ABOUT $500.00 IN LABOR. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 87-93 ALLANTES AND SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THEM AND REPAIR THEM AT NO CHARGE. THEY SHOULD ALSO REINBURST ALL COMSUMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS TYPICAL GM NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

20010301SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

LOST ALL BRAKING WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. WHAT ARE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY?*AKK

20010129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED, CONSUMER TRIED TO STEER CLEAR OF AN UTILITY POLE BUT THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE UTILITY POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT WRIST, FRACTURED RIGHT ANKLE, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LOWER ARM, LACERATIONS AROUND RIGHT EYE, BRUISED SHOULDER AND CHEST, BRUISED KNEE AND STRAINED MUSCLES IN LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK. NLM

20010129STEERING

WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED, CONSUMER TRIED TO STEER CLEAR OF AN UTILITY POLE BUT THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE UTILITY POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT WRIST, FRACTURED RIGHT ANKLE, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LOWER ARM, LACERATIONS AROUND RIGHT EYE, BRUISED SHOULDER AND CHEST, BRUISED KNEE AND STRAINED MUSCLES IN LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK. NLM

20010123SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED, CONSUMER TRIED TO STEER CLEAR OF AN UTILITY POLE BUT THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE UTILITY POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT WRIST, FRACTURED RIGHT ANKLE, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LOWER ARM, LACERATIONS AROUND RIGHT EYE, BRUISED SHOULDER AND CHEST, BRUISED KNEE AND STRAINED MUSCLES IN LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK. NLM

20010123STEERING

WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED, CONSUMER TRIED TO STEER CLEAR OF AN UTILITY POLE BUT THE STEERING DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE UTILITY POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED A FRACTURED LEFT WRIST, FRACTURED RIGHT ANKLE, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LOWER ARM, LACERATIONS AROUND RIGHT EYE, BRUISED SHOULDER AND CHEST, BRUISED KNEE AND STRAINED MUSCLES IN LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK. NLM

20001101SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND PUMPED THE PARKING BRAKE.THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING EPISODE. *AK .

Compare 1990CADILLACALLANTE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE have?
The 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE has 48 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE?
The most-complained component for the 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 27 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK.
Is the 1990 CADILLAC ALLANTE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.