AI Damage1992 Cadillac Allante: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Cadillac Allante filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 87% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 3 Electronic stability control 4% of all complaints
- 4 Latches, locks, linkages 4% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 20 complaints (87% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (9% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (4% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (4% 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 23 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 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 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.
Top latch mechanism failed to hold, as investigated by nhtsa in pe97-050. Car had been inspected 9/99 at dealer, per cadillac special policy 98045. At that time, car had 35,000 miles. Car had 46,000 miles when latch disengaged from the windshield frame. Car now has 51,000 miles.
When the problem happended I had no brakes and if I had been on the interstate I would have been killed or someone elses family could have been killed.
Brake warning light is coming on and sometimes brakes are too hard to stop without pumping. Dealer wants $5000 to replace master cylinder but admits they don't know anything about the car they manufactured and can't tell me whats wrong.
This is the third time in less than a year and approximately 2500 miles that we have brake failure. The first time the vehicle only lost the abs -- the master cylinder was replaced with a cadillac re-manufactured unit.
Convertible top has flown off several times due to failure of the fastners, resulting in damage to vehicle.
My convertible top blew back; the jack screws which hold it down disengaged from the body of the vehicle.
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 7,735 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Allante has 25 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 23, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Cadillac Allante?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, structure, electronic stability control. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (13%), warning lights, check engine (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 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 1992 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 1992 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.