1988 Cadillac Allante problems
The Cadillac Allanté is a two-door, two-seater luxury roadster marketed by Cadillac from 1987 until 1993. It used a Cadillac chassis and running gear with a body built in Italy by coachbuilder Pininfarina. It was expensive to produce with the complete bodies flown to Detroit for final assembly. Over 21,000 were built during its seven-year production run.
Conception and design
To maintain luxury market position in the 1980s, Cadillac sought an aspirational model that would combine the prestige of a European design with the renown of a European coachbuilder — to help Cadillac compete with Mercedes and Jaguar. It would become the first modern-era two-passenger Cadillac roadster, and the first to wear the Cadillac name since the Cadillac Series 355 roadster of the 1930s.
Cadillac General Manager Bob Burger sent engineers in 1982 to Italy to meet with designers and coachbuilders, to explore a partnership with Cadillac. According to program manager Ed Anderson, the team identified Pininfarina as their top choice, and Cadillac chose them to design the Allanté, under the direction of Sergio Pininfarina, working with a team of designers including Mario Vernacchia.
At GM, Chuck Jordan was torn because delegating the design to Pininfarina implied that GM's 3,000 internal designers were unable to pen the design. GM stylist Wayne Kady along with Vice President of Design, Irv Rybicki, fought to have the design crafted in house, Kady later saying GM leadership had decided to go with an Italian design even before Cadillac’s designers began work.
The in-house designers were hurt and angry. Kady said to management, “we’ve done all your bread and butter cars through the years, but when it’s time to do a historic and fun project, you give it to someone else.” Cadillac General Manager Bob Burger later told the in-house designers the company was "looking for a car with a designer name to it. It’s like Levi's, it’s that tag on the back of the jeans."
Ostensibly, Chuck Jordan (at the time assigned in Europe with Opel) was not to examine Pininfarina's work, though because he was friends with Sergio Pininfarina he was able to see the design before it was frozen for development. As later told by Maria Vernacchia, Jordan referred to the Allanté as ‘The New Spirit of Cadillac,’ only suggesting a front grille similar to the typical Ferrari's with a classic rectangular grid design. Pininfarina opened a new facility specifically for Allanté manufacture outside Turin in rural San Giorgio Canavese, as a dedicated vehicle assembly plant, part of what would become a very long assembly process.
The car was built on a unique platform, known as the V-body, which was a shortened version of the E platform that underpinned the Cadillac Eldorado and other contemporary personal luxury coupes.
The nameplate Allanté was selected by General Motors from 1,700 computer generated potential names. Originally designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz SL and Jaguar XJS, the Allanté initially featured a slightly modified variant of the 4.1 L V8 used across Cadillac's model line. This was expanded to 4.5 L in 1989, and upgraded to the 4.6 L L37 Northstar in its final year, 1993.
All Allanté models featured a fully electronic instrument and control panel, which was angled towards the driver, without knobs or manual controls. GM also implemented electronic controls in select premium mid-to-late 1980s luxury vehicles such as the Buick Reatta, Buick Riviera, and Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo, although these vehicles included a touchscreen control panel called the Graphic Control Center (GCC), which the Allanté did not.
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Common 1988 Cadillac Allante problems
The Cadillac Allante, produced from 1987 to 1993, was an ambitious attempt by General Motors to position its luxury brand against European competitors such as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar. However, the car faced several common problems that affected its reputation and sales.
- Convertible Top Issues: One of the most significant problems with the Allante was the convertible top. The tops, built by Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina, were known to leak substantially, which tarnished the car's image from the start. This issue was not resolved until later models, and even then, it remained a concern for potential buyers.
- Electrical Problems: Early Allante models suffered from various electrical issues, including a notoriously unreliable digital dash and problems with the seat positioning switches. These issues often required extensive work to resolve and could be daunting for mechanics unfamiliar with the car's complex systems.
- Fuel Gauge and Fluid Level Indicators: Some Allante owners reported that their cars consistently indicated low fluid levels, even when the levels were fine. This problem was often attributed to loose or damaged wires near the battery or fuel tank sending unit, but finding and fixing the issue could be challenging.
- Cowl Shake: Despite improvements in suspension and steering systems, the Allante remained prone to cowl shake, particularly in high-speed turns or when carrying heavy loads. This issue affected the car's handling and overall driving experience, making it less competitive with its European counterparts.
- Low Initial Sales and High Initial Cost: The Allante's high initial cost and low sales figures led to a high survival rate for the cars, but also contributed to their modest prices in the used car market. This, in turn, made it difficult for dealers to invest in training mechanics to repair the cars, further affecting their long-term viability.
In summary, the Cadillac Allante faced several common problems, including issues with the convertible top, electrical systems, fuel gauge and fluid level indicators, cowl shake, and low initial sales. These issues, combined with the car's high initial cost and complex systems, contributed to its reputation as a problem-plagued vehicle, although it has since gained some interest from dedicated contrarians and collectors.
Are Cadillac Allantes reliable?
The 1993 Cadillac Allante receives an average consumer rating of 4.4 overall and a 4.5 for reliability, which means owners consider its reliability to be above average.
Why did the Cadillac Allanté fail?
This configuration, combined with its exorbitant price, made the Allanté less appealing to those seeking high performance, especially given its intent to rival Europe's top GT cars. Despite Cadillac's initial sales projection of 6,000 units per year, actual sales averaged about half that number annually.
What engine is in a 1988 Cadillac Allanté?
Engine power was initially provided by a 4.1-liter aluminum V-8 engine with multi-port fuel injection at 170 hp, mated to a front wheel drive automatic transmission.
How rare is a Cadillac Allanté?
Considering there were only 21,000 made, they are very rare. The Allanté is certainly a unique car, given its interesting chassis and assembly background.
Are Cadillac Allantes reliable?
The 1993 Cadillac Allante receives an average consumer rating of 4.4 overall and a 4.5 for reliability, which means owners consider its reliability to be above average.
Why did the Cadillac Allanté fail?
This configuration, combined with its exorbitant price, made the Allanté less appealing to those seeking high performance, especially given its intent to rival Europe's top GT cars. Despite Cadillac's initial sales projection of 6,000 units per year, actual sales averaged about half that number annually.
What engine is in a 1988 Cadillac Allanté?
Engine power was initially provided by a 4.1-liter aluminum V-8 engine with multi-port fuel injection at 170 hp, mated to a front wheel drive automatic transmission.
How rare is a Cadillac Allanté?
Considering there were only 21,000 made, they are very rare. The Allanté is certainly a unique car, given its interesting chassis and assembly background.
1988 Cadillac Allante car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Cadillac Allante problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Air problems
- Seat belts problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Cadillac Allante vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1988 Cadillac Allante complaints
The NHTSA has received 21 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Cadillac Allante.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-11-01
- VIN: 1G6VR3174JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES WITH NO POWER ASSIST. BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD. ABS WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED. VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO STOP. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. HAD VEHICLE WORKED ON, BUT BRAKING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR BLOCK AND RELAY NEEDED REPLACED. *JB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3170JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: NO SUMMARY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-05-30
- VIN: IG6VR3178JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3177JU
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: DUE TO SUN LIGHT PLASTIC HOUSING OF SEATBELTS THEY HAVE CRACKED . INTERNAL PARTS WITHIN SEATBELTS ASSEMLBY HAVE FAILED DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING, CAUSING A LOSS OF PROTECTION.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-02-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3170JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE BRAKES PEDAL AND IT FELT HARD. THEN, TOOK IT FOR REPAIRS ,AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. , RECENTLY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING ON TIME. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-12-30
- VIN: 1G6VR3171JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: MY 1988 CADILLAC ALLANTE HAS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD MUCH DIFFICULTY WITH THE ABS SYSTEM ON THIS CAR AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE BOSCH ABS III SYSTEM HAS MANY COMPONENTS THAT APPEAR PRONE TO FAILURE AND I HOPE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED BY CADILLAC BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. LUCKILY, MY BRAKE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED CLOSE TO HOME AND THERE HAS BEEN NO LOSS OF LIFE OR PROPERTY DUE TO MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION SERIOUSLY. I PRAY THAT NOBODY DIES FROM THE DEFECTS IN THIS SYSTEM. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-06-06
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED A MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR ON THE MESSAGE CENTER(ANIT LOCK BRAKES DISABLED). ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, DRIVER PUSHED ON THE PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED DURING A HARD BRAKING STOP. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC RECENTLY. MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-11-25
- VIN: 1G6VR3171JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM HAS BEEN NON-FUNCTIONAL FOR TWO YEARS, BUT THE NORMAL BRAKING WAS FINE. THEN LAST WEEK AS I PULLED INTO MY PARKING LOT I COULD ONLY BARELY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP WITH THE MIGHTIEST LEG. PRESS I COULD MUSTER. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ABS PUMP WAS RUNNING AND BILLOWING BLACK SMOKE. NOW THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY NO BRAKES AT ALL SO THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. THE ABS PROBLEM WITH THE CADILLAC ALLANTE HAS BECOME ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH ITS OWNERS WHO HAVE SPENT MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN EFFORTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT TO PROMOTE A RECALL OF THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION SO THAT THE OWNERS OF THESE AMERICAN PRODUCTS CAN CONTINUE TO BE SAFE ON THE ROADS. THANK YOU, JAMES A. PETTERCHAK, M.D. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-08-10
- VIN: 1G6VR3175JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: ALLANTE HAD ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS WHEN PURCHASED. PROBLEM NEVER REPORTED TIL PRESENT.AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR317XJU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THE "ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED " MESSAGE IS DISPLATED FREQUENTLY WHEN BRAKING.WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS FUNNY AND ACTS WEIRD .I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER ALLENTE OWNERS AND UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER ALLENTES AND THAT CADILLAC WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP OR CORRECT. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: ABS BRAKE FAILURE, OWNER DISABLED THE SYSTEM, HOWEVER WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON. MJS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-06-04
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G6VR3176JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVE THAT THE BRAKES JUST TOTALLY STOP WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY PATTERN. A TELEPHONE POLE WAS HIT ONCE CAUSING THE DAMAGE LISTED THE LAST INSTANCE WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT OF INJURY OR DAMAGE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-07-21
- VIN: 1G6VR3170JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-05-15
- VIN: 1G6VR3179JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON AND MESSAGE ANTI-LOCK DISABLED APPEARS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO CADILLAC DEALER THEY TOLD ME COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE $4,500 PLUS. HOWEVER, I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER ALLANTE OWNERS THAT AFTER REPLACING WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM THE PROBLEM IS LIKELY TO REOCCUR. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-06-01
- VIN: 1G6VR3178JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: ANTI LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCE FAILURE. MJS
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3174JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: ABS LIGHT STAYS ON 85% OF THE TIME REAR BRAKES RATTLE NUEISENCE BUT BRAKES ALWAYS SEEM TO WORK. FOUND YOUR NOTICE ON THE ALLANTE.WEB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-04-14
- VIN: 1G6VR3172JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH TO COME ON WHENEVER I TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ANTILOCK IS DISABLED BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE PRESSURE IN THE SYSTEM WILL BUILD TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL, AND THE ANTILOCK WILL PERFORM A SELF CHECK AND START WORKING. THE SELF CHECK CAUSES THE PEDAL TO CHATTER, AND ALL THE BRAKES TO MOMENTARILY RELEASE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN YOU EXPECT IT TO BE SLOWING DOWN... -- THE PARTS ASSOCIATED ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE - $350 FOR THE ACCUMULATOR, AND $1600 FOR THE SENSOR BLOCK.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-11-01
- VIN: 1G6VR3170JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-02-01
- VIN: 1G6VR3172JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: NO SUMMARY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3174JU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: RECENTLY PURCHASED USED ALLANTE. THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED KEEPS OCCURRING ON THE DIC. ALTHOUGH THE MANUAL BRAKES ARE WORKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ABS ON THESE CARS. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED & REPAIRED BY THE DEALER.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: CONSUMER STS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN HIS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PUMP FAILED CAUSING HIM TO HAVE NO BRAKES. TT
1988 Cadillac Allante recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1988 Cadillac Allante.
- Manufacturer: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
- Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
- Summary: PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE IN FUEL CAP MAY STICK DURING THE TURN TO VENT FUNCTION, CAUSING THE VALVE TO REMAIN OPEN.
- Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN FUEL SPILLAGE DURING AND AFTER ACOLLISION AND POSSIBLY A FIRE. VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS301.
- Remedy: INSTALL NEW FUEL CAP.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1988 Cadillac Allante problems:
1988 Allante Electronics Problems | Cadillac Owners Forum
Feb 8, 2006 ... We recently purchaced a 1988 Allante that had 115k miles and ran great though I have noticed the information center keeps telling us things ...
1988 Cadillac Allante Reviews - Carsurvey.org
Jun 12, 2017 ... Faults: Normal maintenance items have been replaced on this vehicle. One radio speaker doesn't work any more, but I had it replaced, ...
Considering buying an Allante | Cadillac Owners Forum
Oct 19, 2018 ... Aftermarket replacements and rebuilt originals are common and available. The head units for the CD and Tape Player are regular issues. Rebuilt ...
Cadillac Allante Problems: Q&A for 1987, 1988, 1992 Models ...
Mar 4, 2017 ... 1987 Cadillac allante was it inherently a problem car, I am about to buy one today, Just need to know if that 1987 - Answered by a verified ...
Forums - The Cadillac Allante XLR Club
As this seems to be a common problem on older Allante's ... Kit has found a former Cadillac mechanic who was trained on all years of Allante. ... hello, we have ...
Other years of Cadillac Allante
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