1991 Cadillac Allante Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Cadillac Allante, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes2882.4%
- Body & structure25.9%
- Fuel system12.9%
- Other / unspecified12.9%
- Steering12.9%
- Transmission12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONVERTIBLE TOP WILL NOT SECURE AND WILL FLY OPEN ,CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFTEY HAZARD TO ME OR, PASSENGER, OR OTHER DRIVERS. IT SEEMS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS SECURED, IT HAS A TENDENCY TO POP OPEN, CAUSING ME TO ATTEMPT TO GRAB THE TOP IN ORDE R TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND PREVENT A SAFETY HAZRD. FROM MY PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ALLANTE, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT IT. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO HELP CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE A DEADLY ACCIDENT OCCURS TO DRIVER/PASSENGER OR INNOCENT BY-STANDERS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. POWER ASSIST COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY FAILED. BREAKS WOULD BEARLY STOP CAR IN A LONG DISTANCE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A LONG GLIDE PATH WHEN THIS OCCURED. NO DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT RESULTED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT. DRIVER HAD TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ABS AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .