Total Complaints
40 filings
CADILLAC ALLANTE · model year
40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991CADILLACALLANTE carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1991 ALLANTE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 20 filings, followed by service brakes, air:antilock (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder (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 1991 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.
Total Complaints
40 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 20 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC ELANTE. THE FRAM FUEL FILTER SPLIT IN HALF AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. APPROXIMATELY A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE BEGAN SPURTING FROM THE FILTER. THE FILTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS OVERWHELMING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVEWAY WAS DAMAGED FROM THE FUEL LEAK. HE HAS A PICTURES AND THE FILTER IF NEEDED. THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,900. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC ELANTE. THE FRAM FUEL FILTER SPLIT IN HALF AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. APPROXIMATELY A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE BEGAN SPURTING FROM THE FILTER. THE FILTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS OVERWHELMING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVEWAY WAS DAMAGED FROM THE FUEL LEAK. HE HAS A PICTURES AND THE FILTER IF NEEDED. THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,900. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC ELANTE. THE FRAM FUEL FILTER SPLIT IN HALF AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. APPROXIMATELY A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE BEGAN SPURTING FROM THE FILTER. THE FILTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS OVERWHELMING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVEWAY WAS DAMAGED FROM THE FUEL LEAK. HE HAS A PICTURES AND THE FILTER IF NEEDED. THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,900. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
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. *NM
Mileage: 105,336
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. *PH
Mileage: 160,000
BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT 2MPH IN TRAFFIC DURING A 400 MILE TRIP FROM PA TO MA. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS BRAKING ABILITY WAS NOT COMPROMISED. AFTER 200 MILES (NEXT DAY) BRAKING ABILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED, I PROCEEDED TO CADILLAC DEALER IN BROCKTON,MA. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HYDRAULIC MODULATOR ASSEMBLY PART# 3636719. ACCORDING TO DEALER THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS CAR. THE SYSTEM IS NOT WELL ENGINEERED (SEE NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION# EA99017).*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE DRIVER WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THIS VEHICLE FAILS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS EXTREMELY DAMGEROUS. *YH
REPAIRED 6/99, USED PARTS, FAILED AGAIN 9/99 (A LITTLE DIFFERENT), $4000 REPAIR, ALL ALLANTE'S EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS. VERY DANGEROUS, VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, BRAKES FAIL WITH NO WARNING. COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENT AND INJURE, KILL ALLANTE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. GM DISCONTINUED USING THIS SYSTEM INSTEAD OF DOING RECALL. IF YOU SENT QUESTIONAIRES OUT TO ALL ALLANTE' OWNERS, I'M SURE AT LEAST 70% WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND COUGH UP THE $4000 TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT IT'S CRIMMINAL FOR GM TO ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE ME TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM FIRST-HAND AS I'M TRYING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATISTICS ON ALLANTE' WRECKS AND HOW THEY HAPPENED. I'M SURE MANY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF THIS. THESE CARS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THE ROADWAYS UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN RETROFITTED WITH NEW SYSTEM. *AK
BRAKES FAILED IN THE PROCESS IN COMING TO A STOP. THEN VEHICLE WAS FREE WHEELING UNTIL THEY WERE PRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR.*AK
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND COASTED TO A STOP (FORTUNATE TIMING OF INCIDENT). I HAVE SINCE HEARD THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURENCE WITH THIS BOSCH BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO REFRENCE ODI ACTION NUMBER EA-99-017. THIS SITUATION IS REALLY FRIGHTENING. CAN YOU FORWARD TO ME ANY ADVICE? *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
THE BOSCH SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. LOST ALL HYDRALLIC PRESSURE AND HAD NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY ALL OWNERS AFTER 100K MILEAGE OR 7 YEARS OF AGE.*AK
NEED HELP FAST. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NA TIRE SIZE: NA )
I ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THIS REPORT WHEN IT HAPPENED. WHEN I SAW A LIST OF ALL THE ALLANTES WITH THE FAILURE, I NOTICED MU127092 WASN'T ON IT. I WAS TOLD TO RESUBMIT. ANYWAY, I RUN THE LOCAL ALLANTE CAR CLUB HERE IN ST. LOUIS AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW NERVOUS OUR 87-92 MEMBERS/OWNERS ARE. THEY ARE SCARED TO DRIVE THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEY COULD LOSE THEIR ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM WITH OUT ANY WARNING. ALMOST ALL OF THEM WON'T LET THEIR WIVES DRIVE OR LET THE KIDS RIDE ALONG BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED ON MY OTHER ALLANTE AS WELL (NU126027) THE CAR WAS LOW MILEAGE, IN PERFECT SHAPE, AND INSPECTED CONSTANTLY. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THAT CAR HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE HYDRO SYSTEM REPLACED ALONG WITH $6,000 IN OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS BEFORE THE COMPUTER SAID THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS SAFE (A TOTAL OF $8,500.IN PARTS/SERVICE). IT TOOK 7 WEEKS BECAUSE CADILLAC WOULDN'T RESPOND TO SERVICE QUERIES BY MY DEALER. CADILLAC IS TERRIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BRAKIN
ABS INDICATION LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF. DEALER STATED THAT ABS DOES NOT WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. THERE IS ALSO A RESISTANCE IN THE PEDAL APPLICATION. DEALER SAYS THE ABS IS BAD. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURERS RECALL REGARDING THE ABS PISTON/PUMP MIR ASSEMBLY. *SLC
CADDILAC WILL NOT REPLACE OR WARRANTY BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER UNABLE TO . *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. NLM
O-RING LEAKING AT PUMP CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. NLM
BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON - I WAS IN A PARKING LOT SO I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNDER BRAKING AND I DRIVE IT ONLY OCCASIONALLY NOW. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT ONCE AND REPLACED A SWITCH BUT THIS DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME THEY SAID THAT IT NEEDS A PART THAT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $2600.00, I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND SHOULD NOT FAIL TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS THIS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
Rear-View Camera Failure
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.