1995 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 1995 Cadillac Allante problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 1993 Cadillac Allante, several common problems have been reported:
- Lack of Manual Transmission Option: Another common complaint among owners of the Cadillac Allante is the absence of a manual transmission option. All Allante models were equipped with the same 4-speed automatic transmission used in the Buick Riviera, which limited the driving experience and choice for buyers who preferred manual transmissions.
- High Cost of Maintenance and Repairs: The Cadillac Allante was known for its expensive maintenance and repair costs. Owners often found that fixing issues with the Allante, especially related to the engine or transmission, could be significantly costly, leading to financial burdens for owners of this luxury vehicle.
- Limited Availability of Parts: Due to the rarity of the Cadillac Allante and its unique design, owners faced challenges in finding specific parts for repairs and maintenance. This scarcity of parts could prolong repair times and increase costs for owners seeking to keep their Allante in good condition.
- Electrical Problems: Some owners reported electrical issues with the Cadillac Allante, including problems with the convertible top mechanism, power windows, or dashboard electronics. These electrical malfunctions could be frustrating for owners and require specialized expertise to diagnose and repair.
- Body and Paint Quality: Complaints about the body and paint quality of the Cadillac Allante were also noted by some owners. Issues such as paint peeling, rust, or body panel alignment problems were reported, affecting the aesthetic appeal and overall condition of the vehicle.
These common problems reported by owners of the 1993 Cadillac Allante highlight various aspects of the vehicle that could impact its performance, reliability, and overall ownership experience. Addressing these issues promptly and with the help of experienced professionals is essential to maintain the Cadillac Allante in optimal condition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1995 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
The graph below shows statistics for all 1995 Cadillac Allante vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1995 Cadillac Allante complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1995 Cadillac Allante.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-09-14
- VIN: NOT AVAILAB
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: CONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WEAR EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE WHEN TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1995 Cadillac Allante problems:
4.5 Reliability | Cadillac Owners Forum
Sep 6, 2009 ... I want to make a general inquiry about the 4.5 engine. I found an absolutely beautiful 1990 coupe deville with 81k. What kind of issues or ...
Common Cadillac Allante Problems: Northstar Engine Repair ...
Jul 24, 2023 ... I have a Cadillac Allante with a Northstar engine. When I turn the key to the ACC position I get a rapid clicking - Answered by a verified ...
What is the best year Allante to purchase and why? | Cadillac ...
Jul 14, 2013 ... ... Allante in 1993 the best one cadillac ... common the rest of the Cadillac line. I've owned both an 88 and a 91 and never had any engine problems.
Q&A: 1995 Cadillac Sedan DeVille - Common Problems & Solutions
Oct 2, 2011 ... 1989-1992 Cadillac Allante 1991-1993 Cadillac Eldorado, Seville 1991-1995 Cadillac DeVille. This bulletin is being revised to clarify when ...
Concerns to watch for in the 1993 GM Cadillac Allante - Cadillac ...
Jan 1, 2008 ... Any issues common to all year models, including the '93, please post elsewhere. ISSUE: Engine misfire, most probable causes: coils, primary ...
Other years of Cadillac Allante
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