RoadVitals

1985 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.
6
Latest Sep 16, 1998
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.
3
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.
4
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood, most frequently naming the engine, other / unspecified and transmission categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

  • Engine213.3%
  • Other / unspecified213.3%
  • Transmission213.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning213.3%
  • Steering16.7%
  • Suspension16.7%
  • Brakes16.7%
  • Visibility16.7%

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

3 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
90V050000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Mar 6, 1990
223 units potentially affected
The defect: SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.
The risk: LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.
The remedy: INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.
ROYALE LIMOUSINE MFRS.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA88031ClosedEngineering Analysis

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

Opened Apr 22, 1988
Closed Oct 23, 1989

STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA88019ClosedEngineering Analysis

HYDRO BOOST

Opened Jan 28, 1988
Closed Oct 31, 1990

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
PE87038ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HYDROBOOST FAILURE

Opened Jul 9, 1987
Closed Jan 28, 1988

SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING FLUID PROVIDES POWER ASSIST TO BOKE BOOSTER.THE EFFECT OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE A LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND/OR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.STATUS:THE VOLUMINOUS AMOUNT OF DATA SUPPLIED BY GM IS PRESENTLY BEING CODED BY A CONTRACTOR AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 12/30/87. GM DATA INDICATED A 50% WEIBULL DISTRIBUTION FAILURE AT 50K MILES FOR THE PISTON PUSH-ROD SEAL. THIS PE LOOKS TO HAVE AN EXTRODINARILY HIGH FREQUENCY, ALTHOUGH THE SEVERITY APEARS TO BE LOW.SHOULD BE INTERESTING DISCUSSING THIS FOR UPGRADE/CLOSURE.===

STEERING
EA86025ClosedEngineering Analysis

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

Opened Aug 25, 1986
Closed Mar 2, 1988

SUMMARY:GM BELIEVES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED THROUGH ITS PUBLI-CATION OF 7 SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IN ADDITION, GMDOES NOT BELIEVE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: THREE FAILURE MODES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED; INSULATING FILM MAYBUILD UP BETWEEN THE BRUSH FACE AND THE COMMUTATOR OF THE WIPER MOTOR,CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE WIPER MOTOR BRUSH AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THEWIPER ARMS MAY OCCUR. IN VIEW OF THE EXISTING LEGAL PRECEDENT, THE LARGENUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING WIPER MOTOR FAILURES (114,000) ANDTHE HIGH WIPER MOTOR AND MOTOR KIT PART SALES (251,000), IT IS IMPERATIVETHAT THIS MATTER RECEIVE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT.STATUS: GM RESPONSE DATED 2/23/87. ANALYZING AS TIME PERMITS.EA CLOSED 3/2/88.=== D@

VISIBILITY

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 16, 1998

WHEEL FELL OFF OF VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

NHTSA ID
540097
Incident
Aug 31, 1998
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 1997

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE GEAR ,WITH NO ACCELERATION, VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS AND CAUSED ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
522074
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jul 8, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID
519237
Incident
May 20, 1987
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Mar 12, 1996

THROTTLE PEDAL LOCKS UP. *SD

NHTSA ID
500825
Incident
Jan 25, 1996
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 6, 1996

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR LEAKED/REPLACED. *SD

NHTSA ID
500931
Incident
Feb 6, 1996
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Mar 10, 1995

TRANSMISSION REPLACED DUE TO NOISE/SLIPPING. *SKD

NHTSA ID
482293
Incident
Jan 13, 1995

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—
1985Viewing634—
1984123—
1983123—
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.