AI Damage1987 Cadillac Allante: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Cadillac Allante filed 34 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 34
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 94% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 3% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints
- 5 Seats 3% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 3% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 3% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 3% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 32 complaints (94% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (6% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (3% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (3% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (3% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.1 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 34 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving 30 mph, the passenger side front tire blew out, which caused the contact to crash into a field. She sustained cuts to the forehead, a bruised left leg, and a concussion. The road conditions were clear. The vehicle was destroyed. The tires were not inspected. The dot number was unknown.
This past weekend the brakes on my 1987 allante completely failed leaving me with only the parking brake and down shifting. Further investigation reveled that the high pressure hose from the pump to the brake unit on the firewall developed a pin-hole; this allowed the system to pump all of the brake fluid overboard in…
Abs brake failure. I have contacted all cadillac dealers in st louis area and they don't know anything about system. It has not been drivable now for 2 years,and it seems to be a very common problem with 1987 allantes.
The inner planetary transmission housing unit exploded into chunks of metal all over the road and spraying transmission fluid onto catalytis converter causing a fire. Wiring harness and right side of vehicle burnt.
I have communicated with other allante owners who have reported brake failures with the bosch iii abs system installed on these cars. This failure is catastrophic because the emergency brake system requires at least 3 1/2 pumps of the actuator, but cannot be engaged with the car in gear.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,426 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Allante has 25 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 34, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Cadillac Allante?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 34. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (29%), warning lights, check engine (6%), hesitation when accelerating (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Cadillac Allante?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Cadillac Allante from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.