Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reports
160,000 miles · Dec 27, 2012
Equipment
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CADILLAC ALLANTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CADILLAC ALLANTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. ..UPDATED 03/18/13 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE AC MALFUNCTIONED COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED A 1994 RECALL# 94V158000. UPDATED 03/27/13
NHTSA ODI #10490179
77,545 miles · Sep 4, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
1993 ALLANTE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT AREA, BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS ACCOUNT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE PER STATE FARM INS CO. DAMAGE APPEARED SLIGHT, JUST BURNT WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND RELAYS. FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH GARDEN HOSE. SIMILAR OCCURRENCE TO MR KIT BONHAM JUN 03. FIRE STARTED …
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1993 ALLANTE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT AREA, BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS ACCOUNT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE PER STATE FARM INS CO. DAMAGE APPEARED SLIGHT, JUST BURNT WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND RELAYS. FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH GARDEN HOSE. SIMILAR OCCURRENCE TO MR KIT BONHAM JUN 03. FIRE STARTED IN SAME PLACE, UNABLE TO PUT IT OUT, WAS ON INTERSTATE, VEHICLE TOTALLY BURNED. ALSO TOTAL LOSS PER INSURANCE CO. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10135307
44,000 miles · Feb 10, 2004
Interior Lighting
WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON THEY COULD BE SEEN EXTERNALLY BUT COULD NOT BE SEEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE TOO FAINT TO BE SEEN BY THE CONSUMER AND THE CLICKING INDICATOR COULD NOT BE HEARD. AT NIGHT THE DASH INDICATOR WAS VISIBLE. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO VEHICLES THAT ARE IDENTICA…
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WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON THEY COULD BE SEEN EXTERNALLY BUT COULD NOT BE SEEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE TOO FAINT TO BE SEEN BY THE CONSUMER AND THE CLICKING INDICATOR COULD NOT BE HEARD. AT NIGHT THE DASH INDICATOR WAS VISIBLE. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO VEHICLES THAT ARE IDENTICAL IN MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND BOTH ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *NLM *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10040543
22,000 miles · Sep 24, 2003
Exterior Lighting
WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON IN THE VEHICLE THEY CAN BE SEEN EXTERNALLY, BUT CAN NOT BE DETECTED INTERNALLY. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT IS TO FAINT TO BE SEEN NOR CAN THE CLICKING SOUND BE HEARD. AT NIGHT THE DASH INDICATOR IS VISIBLE. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO VEHICLES THAT ARE IDENTICAL IN MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND BOTH AR…
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WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON IN THE VEHICLE THEY CAN BE SEEN EXTERNALLY, BUT CAN NOT BE DETECTED INTERNALLY. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT IS TO FAINT TO BE SEEN NOR CAN THE CLICKING SOUND BE HEARD. AT NIGHT THE DASH INDICATOR IS VISIBLE. THE CONSUMER OWNS TWO VEHICLES THAT ARE IDENTICAL IN MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND BOTH ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *CT *SC
NHTSA ODI #10040539
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, BILLOWS OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. *JG *AK
NHTSA ODI #886844
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD AT ALL. HE HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE CURRENT BRAKE FAILURES. THE CONSUMER SAYS THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #884860
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2000
Electrical System
ABOUT 2 AM WHILE MY CAR WAS IN MY LOCKED GARAGE THE HORN WENT OFF. I INVESTIGATED AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE HORN PAD IT STOPPED. WENT BACK TO BED. AN HOUR OR SO LATER IT WENT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I OPENED THE CAR DOOR IT STOPPED. SOMETIME LATER I WENT TO A DEALER AND HAD THE HORN DISCONNECTED SINCE IT WAS GOING TO COST …
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ABOUT 2 AM WHILE MY CAR WAS IN MY LOCKED GARAGE THE HORN WENT OFF. I INVESTIGATED AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE HORN PAD IT STOPPED. WENT BACK TO BED. AN HOUR OR SO LATER IT WENT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I OPENED THE CAR DOOR IT STOPPED. SOMETIME LATER I WENT TO A DEALER AND HAD THE HORN DISCONNECTED SINCE IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $800 TO INSTALL A NEW HORN PAD. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THE HORN PAD AREA IS TOO CONGESTED AND ANYTHING, SUCH AS TEMPERATURE CHANGE OR AFFECT OF HUMIDITY CAN SET OFF THE HORN. THIS I CONSIDER A MANUFACTURE DEFECT , A SAFETY CONCERN, AND A NUISANCE, SINCE THE HORN CAN GO OFF AT ANYTIME OR ANYPLACE. A HORN IS NOT OFTEN USED AND I DON'T RECALL IF I EVER USED THIS HORN, BUT IT IS A MAJOR PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND IN AN EMERGENCY CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. BECAUSE THE HORN IS USED SO SELDEM, UNLESS YOU DRIVE A TAXI IN CHICAGO, MOST OPERATORS, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE DECIDED NOT TO SPEND OVER $800 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT THEY MOST LIKELY WILL NEVER NEED. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE DEFECT WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORSEEABLE AND WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A TSB SHOULD BE BORNE BY THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA ODI #728427
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Structure
WHILE DRIVING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FLEW OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, STRIKING THE DRIVER,AND MAY HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS/INJURIES. ALSO, HAPPENED TO CONSUMER OF 1991 ALLANTE. COMMON PROBLEM, EVEN HAVE A WEB SITE FOR THESE CONVERTIBLE TOP PROBLEMS AT ALLANTE. DEALER REPLACED THE TOP, BUT THE PROBLEM REOING A NEW LONGER PIN INSTALLED BUT AT…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FLEW OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, STRIKING THE DRIVER,AND MAY HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS/INJURIES. ALSO, HAPPENED TO CONSUMER OF 1991 ALLANTE. COMMON PROBLEM, EVEN HAVE A WEB SITE FOR THESE CONVERTIBLE TOP PROBLEMS AT ALLANTE. DEALER REPLACED THE TOP, BUT THE PROBLEM REOING A NEW LONGER PIN INSTALLED BUT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834975
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 1995
Electrical SystemFireInjury
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL WIRE DANGLING OVER EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN AN INJURY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *AK
IF THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY CONTACTS THE AUXILIARY ENGINE OIL COOLER OUT HOSE, THE HOSE MAY WEAR THROUGH ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OIL LEAK THAT CONTACTS THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TIE STRAP TO RETAIN THE AUXILIARY ENGINE OIL COOLER OUTLET HOSE TO THE AUXILIARY ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RADIATOR ASSURING ADEQUATE CLEARANCE OF THE AFFECTED HOSE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE99012 · Braking System
Opened Feb 5, 1999 · Closed Jun 30, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMERS ALLEGE A PARTIAL OR TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY
1993 Cadillac Allante Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year