1985 Cadillac Brougham problems
The Cadillac Brougham is a line of full-size luxury cars manufactured by the Cadillac Motor Car Division of General Motors from the 1987 through 1992 model years and was marketed from 1977 to 1986 as the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. The optional "d'Elegance" trim package that was introduced during the Fleetwood era remained available. The model received a facelift in 1990 and was replaced by the 1993 rear wheel drive D-body Cadillac Fleetwood.
History
Originally used for a single horse drawn enclosed carriage for 2-4 people, the “Brougham” owes its name to British statesman, Henry Brougham. Cadillac first used the name in 1916 to designate an enclosed 5-7 passenger sedan body style. In the thirties, the name was given to a formal body style with an open chauffeur compartment and enclosed rear quarters, metal roof and often "razor-edged" styling. When Cadillac started offering Fleetwood bodies on some of its cars in 1925, the Brougham body style was Fleetwood bodied every year with the exception of 1926. After 1937, the Brougham name was not applied to any Cadillac for the remainder of the pre-World War II period.
The Brougham name would eventually reappear on the 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham show car which preceded the 4-door Eldorado Brougham hardtops of the 1957 to 1960 model years. The 1957 Cadillac Series 70 Eldorado Brougham joined the Sixty Special and the Series 75 as the only Cadillac models with Fleetwood bodies although Fleetwood script or crests did not appear anywhere on the exterior of the car, and so this would also mark the first time in 20 years that a Fleetwood bodied car was paired with the Brougham name.
After a five-year absence, the Brougham name reappeared as an option package on the 1965 Cadillac Sixty Special. The following year the Brougham moved up to becoming a subseries of the Fleetwood Sixty Special. This continued through 1970. Starting in 1971 the Sixty Special was only available as the well equipped Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham. When the Sixty Special Series was retired in 1977, the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham took its place as Cadillac's largest owner-driven sedan model through 1986.
The single name "Brougham" began to be used as specific Cadillac model in 1987, when the term "Fleetwood" was dropped from the former Fleetwood Brougham. It was otherwise the same as the 1986 model. The reason for the change was that Cadillac had introduced a new front-wheel drive model in 1985 and named it simply the Fleetwood. Compounding the confusion, the optional "d'Elegance" package (introduced in the upscale Fleetwood trim line in the 1970s, offering even more luxurious appointments, including button-tufted seating and rear-seat reading lamps), was available on and appended to the names of both models, resulting in a traditional body-on-frame/rear-wheel drive "Fleetwood Brougham d' Elegance" and a unibody/transverse engined "Fleetwood d' Elegance". The solution was dropping the term "Fleetwood" from the rear-wheel drive model, leaving just the "Brougham". Since it was body-on-frame, it was popular among coachbuilders who manufactured stretched limousines, along with the similar but somewhat smaller Lincoln Town Car, as well as traditional Cadillac buyers who preferred the familiar combination of exterior size, heft, and rear-wheel drive. This was the last Cadillac to be produced without airbags.
Social links
Common 1985 Cadillac Brougham problems
The 1985 Cadillac Brougham, like many cars of its era, had its fair share of common problems that owners frequently reported. These issues spanned various components, including the brakes, equipment, wheels, seats, and transmission.
One of the most prevalent problems with the 1985 Cadillac Brougham was related to the brakes. There were a total of 29 recalls for brakes, indicating that brake-related issues were a significant concern for this model. These issues could range from faulty brake components to inadequate brake performance, which could compromise the safety of the vehicle.
Another common problem area for the 1985 Cadillac Brougham was the equipment. There were 12 recalls related to equipment, which could include various features such as electrical systems, climate control, and audio systems. These issues could lead to inconvenience, discomfort, or even safety concerns for the vehicle's occupants.
The wheels of the 1985 Cadillac Brougham also had their share of problems, with one recall specifically addressing wheel-related issues. This could indicate problems with wheel bearings, suspension components, or other wheel-related systems that could affect the vehicle's handling and safety.
The seats of the 1985 Cadillac Brougham were another area of concern, with one recall specifically addressing seat-related issues. This could indicate problems with seat adjustment mechanisms, seat belts, or other seat-related components that could affect the safety and comfort of the vehicle's occupants.
Finally, the transmission of the 1985 Cadillac Brougham was another area where problems were reported. With one recall specifically addressing transmission-related issues, this could indicate problems with the transmission's shifting, engagement, or other components that could affect the vehicle's performance and drivability.
In addition to these specific issues, the 1985 Cadillac Brougham was also known for reliability and driveability problems, particularly in the early years of its production. These issues could range from engine performance problems to issues with the vehicle's electrical systems, climate control, or other components.
In summary, the 1985 Cadillac Brougham had a range of common problems that owners frequently reported. These issues spanned various components, including the brakes, equipment, wheels, seats, and transmission, and could affect the safety, performance, and comfort of the vehicle. While some of these issues were addressed through recalls, others may have required more extensive repairs or maintenance to resolve.
1985 Cadillac Brougham car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Cadillac Brougham problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1985 Cadillac Brougham vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1985 Cadillac Brougham complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1985 Cadillac Brougham.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6CB6986F4
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: AT 44,000 MILES THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND AT 8,000 MILES THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
1985 Cadillac Brougham recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1985 Cadillac Brougham.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
- Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: OMISSION OF THE CERTIFICATION LABELS AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 110 "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS".
- Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL REQUIRED CERTIFICATION LABELS.
Other years of Cadillac Brougham
Are you having problems with your 1985 Cadillac Brougham?
Leave your review of 1985 Cadillac Brougham