Total Complaints
3 filings
CADILLAC ELDORADO · model year
1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985CADILLACELDORADO carries 3 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 1985 ELDORADO is fuel system, gasoline with 1 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (1) and structure (1). 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 1985 ELDORADO, 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100527STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO. HE STATED THE PAINT ON BOTH THE HOOD AND TRUNK AREAS WERE BEGINNING TO PEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A REPAIR SHOP. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Mileage: 51,000
20030415FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE CONSUMED TOO MUCH FUEL WHICH CRYSTALLIZE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
20030415STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
Compare 1985CADILLACELDORADO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE24011Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001EQClosed
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017Engineering AnalysisClosed
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO have?▼
The 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and STRUCTURE.
Is the 1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.