AI Damage1987 Cadillac Brougham: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Cadillac Brougham filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Parking brake 17% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Parking brake: 1 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
Emergency brake designed to release whenever shifter moves, also when gears are disengaged, causing accident/injury/fatality.
Dt: while driving on the road at 65 mph,and using the cruise control the car kept accelerating, and the went up to 75 mph. It wouldn't slow down , even after trying to shut off the cruise control. Consumer was still driving trying to put the car into neutral, then tried to put the into low.
After killing the ignition the car started smoking after any about a min or less the front of the car was fully involved with flames. The fire department was dispatched and came and extinguished the fire. Everything from the firewall forward was burnt. The car was a total loss.
While coming out of a parking space vehicle lost complete steering control. Dealer/manufacturer was contacted.
An electrical short in the engine, caused the engine to catch on fire while driving the vehicle. Please describe.
A bolt in the cylinder head broke off, dealer removed cylinder head to replace bolt. Tt
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Brougham has 4 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Parking brake. Electric parking brake, codes, calipers.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Cadillac Brougham?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, parking brake. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Cadillac Brougham?
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 Brougham 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.