1989 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 1989 Cadillac Allante problems
The Cadillac Allante, produced from 1987 to 1993, was a unique collaboration between General Motors and Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina. However, the car also faced several issues, which led to its eventual discontinuation.
One of the most significant problems with the Cadillac Allante was the convertible tops, which were known to leak substantially. Despite identifying the issue, GM pushed the car out to production, tarnishing the Allante name from the start. This issue was particularly problematic as the Allante was marketed as a luxury convertible, and the leaking tops would have been a significant inconvenience for owners.
Another issue that plagued the Cadillac Allante was electrical issues, which were common in GM cars during that period.
The Northstar engine, introduced in 1993, also had a few issues. One of the most significant problems was replacing the starter motor in the "V" underneath the intake manifold. This task required disconnection of the fuel injection, but it was possible for an average mechanic to accomplish in a reasonable time, with several "how-to" videos available to assist.
The high initial cost and careful use by older owners have led to a high survival rate of Allantes, but the car's complexity is surely the reason for modest prices.
In summary, the Cadillac Allante faced several issues, including leaking convertible tops, electrical issues, and problems with the Northstar engine. Despite these issues, the car has a dedicated following, and good survivors will surely never be cheaper. The car's unique blend of Italian design and American engineering makes it an attractive option for collectors and enthusiasts, despite its flaws.
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 1989 Cadillac Allanté?
1989. In 1989, the base price rose to $57,183. Allanté's engine, the new 273ci (4.5L) V8, produced 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS), and with 270 lb⋅ft (366 N⋅m) of torque. Unlocking the trunk also unlocked the side doors if the key was rotated twice – similar to Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Why was the Cadillac Allanté discontinued?
No other car from GM was similar, and that may have contributed to Allante's demise. Cadillac could not sell enough Allantes to keep the car in production. Had there been a less expensive Oldsmobile or Buick model, perhaps GM would have not killed the Allante after just 20,000 were built.
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 1989 Cadillac Allanté?
1989. In 1989, the base price rose to $57,183. Allanté's engine, the new 273ci (4.5L) V8, produced 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS), and with 270 lb⋅ft (366 N⋅m) of torque. Unlocking the trunk also unlocked the side doors if the key was rotated twice – similar to Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Why was the Cadillac Allanté discontinued?
No other car from GM was similar, and that may have contributed to Allante's demise. Cadillac could not sell enough Allantes to keep the car in production. Had there been a less expensive Oldsmobile or Buick model, perhaps GM would have not killed the Allante after just 20,000 were built.
1989 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
- Electrical system problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1989 Cadillac Allante vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1989 Cadillac Allante
The NHTSA has received 39 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1989 Cadillac Allante. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1989 Cadillac Allante vehicles.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-02-16
- VIN: 1G6VR3180KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, DRIVER PUMPED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES TO STOP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT A SOLUTION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-07-08
- VIN: 1G6VR3183KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: EVERY ALLANTE OWNER SEEMS TO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. DT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3181KU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: THE HORN IS INOPERATIVE. *JG
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3181KU
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN SHIFTING. *JG
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3181KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, ALSO THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *JG
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-07-22
- VIN: PLEASE PROV
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-02-12
- VIN: 1G6VR3187KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: 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.*AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-02-19
- VIN: 1G6VR3189KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING 70 AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCUMULATOR, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-11-20
- VIN: 1G6VR3188KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: 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.*AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-06-01
- VIN: 1G6VR3182KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: 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.*AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-03-15
- VIN: 1G6VR3180KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: EBCM FAILED, ANTILOCK SYSTEM INACTIVE, POOR BRAKING ABILITY AS ANTILOCK SYSTEM GOES NUTS FOR THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING,WENT TO DEALER TO REPLACE EBCM, PART NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE FROM GMC. MY CAR IS NOW A SAFETY HAZARD. GM SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUCH A VITAL PART RELATED TO THE SAFTEY OF THE CAR.*AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3189KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: OUR 1989 & 1990 HAVE THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM OUTLINED WITHIN 70% OF THE COMPLAINTS ON YOUR DEFECTS INVESTIGATION DATABASE. WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF YOUR INVESTIGATIONS THERIEN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-20
- VIN: 1G6VR3188KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM LEAD TO COMPLETE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THESE BOSCH III ABS BRAKE SYTEMS. ODI ACTION NUMBER EA99-017. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-12-23
- VIN: 1G6VR3187KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 55 MPH ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. UPON APPLYING BRAKES, DRIVER HAD TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL REALLY HARD, AND PULL UP STEERING BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERHIP, WHERE THE ABS PUMP AND RELAY WERE REPLACED. *AK *ML
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6VR3183KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: ABS ARNING LIGHT AND COMPUTER FEEDBACK CONTINUOUS TO FAIL. VERY POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN AND GMC SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-01-12
- VIN: 1G6VR3180KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, NO PRESSURE, REQUIRED TOTAL REPLACEMENT. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-11-16
- VIN: 1G6VR3183KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THIS IS A INTERMITTENT ABS FAILURE. BRAKES STILL STOP CAR, BUT, NO ABS. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-10-24
- VIN: 1G6VR318XKU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH WITH MY DAUGHTER ON OCTOBER 24, 1999 TRAVELLING ABOUT 35 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE ABOUT 70 F. AS I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN AS USUAL, BUT SUDDENLY PUSHED MY FOOT UP AND BRAKING EFFECT BECAME NOTICEABLE LESS. FORTUNATELY, ON SUNDAY THERE IS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AT THIS INTERSECTION, BUT WITH MORE A USUAL TRAFFIC PATTERN I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. THE BRAKES APPEARED TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. AT THE TIME OF THE BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT LIT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALONG WITH THE LIGHT BEHIND THE CHECK INFORMATION CENTER AREA ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER PANEL DISPLAYED "ANTI-LOCK DISABLED" FOLLOWED IN A FEW SECONDS BY "ANTI-LOCK OK". A SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF EVENTS RECURRED AS I DROVE THE CAR HOME SLOWLY. I CONTACTED GARY AT 1-800-ALLANTE WHO INFORMED ME THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF ANTI-LOCK FAILURES ON ALLANTES BUT HAS NOT "OPENED A CAMPAIGN". HE TOLD ME HE WAS "NOT ALLOWED" TO SAY ANYTHING FURTHER OTHER THAN TO CONTACT MY DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM BEING ISOLATED TO THE ANTI-LOCK PUMP AND ACCUMULATOR. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHEN THE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WHILE TRAVELING SLOW THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE EVENTUALY CRUISED ITSELF TO A STOP. NO DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-08-15
- VIN: 1G6VR3186KV
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: NO SUMMARY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-08-28
- VIN: 1G6VR3180KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES THEY DID NOT FUNCTION. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION WHEN I WENT THROUGH IT.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-01-01
- VIN: 1G6VR3188KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THERE IS A SYSTEM DESIGN PROBLEM ON ALL CADILLAC ALLANTE ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-06-19
- VIN: 1G6VR3183KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-08-20
- VIN: 1G6VR3189KU
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED, WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, BRAKE "THUMPS" (SKIPS), ABS IS DISABLED AND BRAKES WORK. I AM CAUTIOUSLY DRIVING CAR. LET NO ONE ELSE DRIVE. DEALER (FITZGERALD, ANNAPOLIS, MD) SAYS CAR IS SAFE, BRAKES WILL WORK. *AK
1989 Cadillac Allante recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1989 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).
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1989 Cadillac Allante problems:
1989 Cadillac Allante Reviews - Carsurvey.org
Feb 26, 2007 ... Faults: I have had to replace the muffler. I had to replace the thermostat last summer. Drivers window is sticking, but it's an easy ...
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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 ...
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May 31, 2019 ... My 89 Allante computer issues. The DIC reads "system Fault ". So does the center engine control window. With the disc - Answered by a ...
1989 Issues | Cadillac Owners Forum
Aug 2, 2007 ... My dad has an 89 Allante at our lake house that gets driven very rarely. Well in the last couple years he has had alot of problems with it.
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Aug 30, 2018 ... ... problems. 1987 ... 1989 Cadillac Allante red converitble 1989 Cadillac Allante GM ... 1987 Cadillac Allante engine 1987 Cadillac Allante Mecum.
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