RoadVitals

1983 Cadillac Fleetwood

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Apr 26, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jun 4, 1993
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood, most frequently naming the heating & air conditioning, engine and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Heating & air conditioning120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Steering120.0%
  • Suspension120.0%
  • Transmission120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
93E019000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

Jun 4, 1993
10,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FUEL FILTERS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INCORRECT THREADED FITTING. THE INCORRECT FITTING IS SIMILIAR ENOUGH IN SIZE THAT THE FUEL FILTER MAY APPEAR TO BE CORRECTLY THREADED ONTO THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: REPLACE THE FILTERS WITH THE CORRECT FILTERS.
The remedy: THE IMPROPER THREADING COULD CAUSE A GASOLINE LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
PUROLATOR PRODUCTS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
90V093000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

May 9, 1990
544 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.
The risk: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.
The remedy: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
EMPIRE COACH COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA88019ClosedEngineering Analysis

HYDRO BOOST

Opened Jan 28, 1988
Closed Oct 31, 1990

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
PE87054ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TRUNK FIRES

Opened Sep 4, 1987
Closed Feb 8, 1988

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE REAR EXHAUST SYSTEM RESONATORS HAVE A VERY SHORTSERVICE LIFE, USUALLY RUPTURING ON THE END, VERY NEAR THE FLOOR OF THETRUNK.HOT EXHAUST GASES FROM THE BLOWN RESONATOR REPORTEDLY GET THEFLOOR OF THE TRUNK SO HOT THAT FIRES HAVE RESULTED.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS===

STRUCTURE
EA86003ClosedEngineering Analysis

SIDE DOOR FIRES

Opened Oct 28, 1985
Closed Feb 18, 1988

SUMMARY OF MANUFACTURER INFORMATION:GM HAS DUPLICATED A FIRE USING SALTWATER ON THE DOOR SWITCHES.WATER MAY DROP FROM AN OPEN WINDOW ONTO THESWITCH PANEL ON THE DOOR ARMREST.GM REVIEWING RISK, WILL NOTIFY ODIBY LATE SEPT ON POSSIBLE FUTURE GM ACTION.ANALYSIS:SALT WATER CONTAMINATION MAY OCCUR.INCREASED INCIDENTS AREREPORTED IN THE WINTER MONTHS.SALT WATER MAY PROVIDE A CONDUCTIVE PATHBELOW CURRENT RATING OF FUSE BUT SUFFICIENT TO OVERHEAT SWITCH PANEL.STATUS: GM RECALLED E-BODY CONVERTIBLES (87V-167).GM RESPONSE TO11/23/87 IR DATED 12/15/87. EA CLOSED 2/18/88.===

STRUCTURELed to recall 87V167000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Heating & air conditioningEngineSteering+2 more
Filed Apr 26, 1999

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
835822
Incident
Jun 10, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Fleetwood by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998400—
1996172152.5
1995185156.6
1994165061.0
1993323055.4
1992821—
1991143257.7
1990212158.3
1989152040.3
1988332—
1987742—
1986754—
1985634—
1984123—
1983Viewing123—
1982011—
1981100—
1979010—
1978120—
1977010—
1972110—
1971010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.