CADILLAC ALLANTE · model year

1992 CADILLAC ALLANTE

25 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992CADILLACALLANTE carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1992 ALLANTE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 13 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder (4) and structure:body:roof and pillars (2). 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 1992 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.

25
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

0 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 SLIP13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER4
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1

Recent Complaints

20180724SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 86,147

20180724ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

Mileage: 86,147

20030424SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. *JB PH

Mileage: 20,127

20021105LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TOP LATCH MECHANISM FAILED TO HOLD, AS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA IN PE97-050. CAR HAD BEEN INSPECTED 9/99 AT DEALER, PER CADILLAC SPECIAL POLICY 98045. AT THAT TIME, CAR HAD 35,000 MILES. CAR HAD 46,000 MILES WHEN LATCH DISENGAGED FROM THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. CAR NOW HAS 51,000 MILES. AT TIME OF INCIDENT, LATCH WAS CYCLED TO REENGAGE. CONCERNED ABOUT PERMANENT FIX, DEALER REFERED ME TO CADILLAC. CADILLAC REFERED ME TO DEALER. DEALER'S ORIGINAL INSPECTION PER THE SPECIAL POLICY DID NOT PREVENT THE INCIDENT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PREVENT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. DT

20020802SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

20010628SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010523SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS SYSTEM WS REPLACED APPROX. RWO THOUSAND MILES AND TWO YEARS AGO. IT HAS NOW FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE CART HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES AND AT LEAST 1/4TH OF THE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS LEFT. MANUFACTURE CHARGED $200 TOWARDS FIRST FAILURE AND NOW WANTS ME TO PAY HALF OF PART COST AND ALL OF LABOR TO REPLACE A PART WITH ONLY TWO THOUSAND MILES ON IT. *AK

20000215SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMPLETE ABS SYSTEM WAS ACTUALLY REPLACED TWICE ( AGAIN ON 09/22/1999 AT 62,434 MILES ) AS THE UNIT INSTALLED ON 09/17/1999, REPORTED HEREIN, WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. PLEASE ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO YOUR FILES RELATING TO THE CURRENTLY OPEN INVESTIGATION OF THE ALLEGED BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURES ON 1987-1992 CADILLAC ALLANTE ODI ACTION NUMBER: EA99-017. *AK

19991212SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE ABS AND MASTER CYLINDAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL OWNER ONCE AND MYSELF ONCE AT 3,000 DOLLARS EACH. WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENDED I HAD NO BRAKES AND IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SOMEONE ELSES FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK

19991212SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE ABS AND MASTER CYLINDAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL OWNER ONCE AND MYSELF ONCE AT 3,000 DOLLARS EACH. WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENDED I HAD NO BRAKES AND IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SOMEONE ELSES FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK

19991119SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS COMING ON AND SOMETIMES BRAKES ARE TOO HARD TO STOP WITHOUT PUMPING. DEALER WANTS $5000 TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER BUT ADMITS THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAR THEY MANUFACTURED AND CAN'T TELL ME WHATS WRONG. I CONTACTED CADILLAC ABOUT THE INCOMPETENCE OF THEIR AGENTS AND THEY REPLYED THAT THE DEALER WAS INDEPENDENT. I CAN'T SPEND $5000 TO FIND OUT IF THIS WILL FIX IT. THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH THEY WANT TO REPLACE HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE IN A 59000 MILE CAR. I BELIEVE THE BRAKES ARE A SAFETY HAZARD ON THESE CARS AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER OUGHT TO HAVE TO REPAIR THEM UNDER A RECALL TO CORRECT THE DEFECTS.

19991108SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 2500 MILES THAT WE HAVE BRAKE FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE ONLY LOST THE ABS -- THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH A CADILLAC RE-MANUFACTURED UNIT. THE 2ND FAILURE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING -- A DIFFERENT CADILLAC DEALER (JACK WOLF, BELVIDERE, IL) REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED. THE LAST BRAKING SYSTEM WAS AGAIN A TOTAL FAILURE !!/6/1999. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JACK WOLF , BELVIDERE,IL 11/08/1999. HAVE NOT HEARD STATUS AS OF THIS A.M.

19991018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AT 62,000 MILES DUE TO POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *YC

19990830SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. NLM

19990826SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

SAME ABS BRAKE PART REPLACED WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED PART (NO NEW PARTS AVAILABLE) AT AROUND 32,000 MILES AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS THE HYDRAULIC SERVO AND NOTHING TO DO WITH BRAKE PADS OR OTHER BRAKE PARTS THAT CAN WEAR FAST BECAUSE OF DRIVER.

19990801SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE OPENED AN "ENGINEERING ANALYSIS" ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON 1987-1992 CADILLAC ALLANTES. I PURCHASED MY ALLANTE IN NOV 1998, AND A "REMANUFACTURED FOR GM" STICKER IS ON THE FLUID RESERVOIR ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, INDICATING THAT AT SOME POINT THIS COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY CAR TO YOUR LIST OF ALLANTES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGHLY COMPLICATED SYSTEM FOUND ON THE 87-92 ALLANTE. I HAVE FORWARDED COPIES OF THIS FORM TO TWO ACQUAINTANCES WHO ALSO OWN ALLANTES AND HAVE ALSO HAD ANTILOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS.

19990529SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE--NO BRAKING FUNCTION AT ALL. *AK

19990426SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

ABS MASTER CYLINDER FAILED RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE PEDAL PRESSURE AND LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY.

19990405SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES DO NOT STOP CAR PROPERLY. *AK

19990112SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN THE BRAKES GO OUT IT IS ALL YOU CAN DO TO STOP THE CAR.

Compare 1992CADILLACALLANTE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 CADILLAC ALLANTE have?
The 1992 CADILLAC ALLANTE has 25 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 CADILLAC ALLANTE?
The most-complained component for the 1992 CADILLAC ALLANTE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER and STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS.
Is the 1992 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.