AI Damage1989 Cadillac Allante: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Cadillac Allante filed 37 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 37
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 97% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 3% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 36 complaints (97% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (5% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (3% of all).
- Powertrain: 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.
- 4.5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 37 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 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
Pedal went to the floor, no brakes, then the abs pump started and brakes returned. The brake systems has become unreliable. Rear brakes were not functional (calipers frozen), and accumulator replacement returned normal function for less than 12 hours.
While coming to a stop at about 25 mph applied brakes and heard a clunking sound.then, brake pedal went to the floor. He was able to coast to side of road, got out, and noticed brake fliud on the gound. Mechanic determined brake master cylinder had failed, and needed to be replaced.
Understand you are reviewing anti-lock brakes failure on this car. I am also experiencing this problem and understand there have been many failures ,18 injuries and one death from this problem. Is there a recall for this system.
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 6,176 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Allante has 25 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 37, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Cadillac Allante?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, equipment. Total complaints: 37. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (16%), knocking, grinding or other noise (8%), warning lights, check engine (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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 2026-11-06.