1987 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.
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Common 1987 Cadillac Brougham problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 1987 Cadillac Brougham, common problems reported include issues with brakes, equipment, other components, wheels, seats, and transmission. Here is a detailed breakdown of each problem:
- Brakes: The Cadillac Brougham faced recurring problems with its brakes, with 29 complaints reported. Brake issues are critical for vehicle safety and can lead to reduced braking performance, noise, or brake failure if not addressed promptly.
- Equipment: Owners reported 12 complaints related to equipment problems. Equipment issues can encompass a wide range of components in the vehicle, such as electrical systems, air conditioning, or entertainment features, impacting the overall functionality and comfort of the car.
- Other Components: There were 2 complaints categorized under "Other" issues. These complaints could involve various non-specific components or systems in the car that were not explicitly detailed in the reports.
- Wheels: One complaint was related to wheel problems. Wheel issues can affect the handling, stability, and safety of the vehicle, highlighting the importance of maintaining the wheels and tires in good condition.
- Seats: A single complaint was reported regarding seat-related problems. Seat issues can impact comfort, safety, and ergonomics for both the driver and passengers, necessitating attention to ensure a pleasant driving experience.
- Transmission: One complaint was specifically related to transmission problems. Transmission issues can lead to gear shifting problems, unusual noises, or difficulty in acceleration, affecting the overall drivability and performance of the vehicle.
These reported problems with the 1987 Cadillac Brougham highlight the importance of regular maintenance, prompt repairs, and thorough inspections to address any issues promptly and ensure the vehicle's optimal performance and safety.
1987 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:
- Electrical system problems
- Steering problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Parking brake problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Cadillac Brougham vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Cadillac Brougham complaints
The NHTSA has received 7 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Cadillac Brougham.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-05-23
- VIN: 1G6DW51Y4H9
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 65 MPH,AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING, AND THE WENT UP TO 75 MPH. IT WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN , EVEN AFTER TRYING TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS STILL DRIVING TRYING TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THEN TRIED TO PUT THE INTO LOW. FINALLY, THE CONSUMER GOT IN THE MEDIUM AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND THE CAR DID STOP AT THAT POINT. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF THE CAR WAS STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT DRIVING VEHICLE BECAUSE BEING AFRAID TO BE IN THE CAR. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK WHILE THE CRUISE WAS WORKING. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-01-07
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G6DW51Y6H9
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: THE CAR WAS RUNNING VERY ODD RIGHT BEFORE I STOPPED AT A STORE. AFTER KILLING THE IGNITION THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AFTER ANY ABOUT A MIN OR LESS THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS FULLY INVOLVED WITH FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED AND CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. EVERYTHING FROM THE FIREWALL FORWARD WAS BURNT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-07-05
- VIN: 1G6DW51Y789
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: WHILE COMING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE STEERING CONTROL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-10-01
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Number Of Deaths: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G6DW51YXH9
- Components: PARKING BRAKE
- Summary: EMERGENCY BRAKE DESIGNED TO RELEASE WHENEVER SHIFTER MOVES, ALSO WHEN GEARS ARE DISENGAGED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY/FATALITY.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-08-23
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G6DW51Y7H9
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ENGINE, CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-12-29
- VIN: 1G6DW51YXH9
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: A BOLT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD BROKE OFF, DEALER REMOVED CYLINDER HEAD TO REPLACE BOLT. TT
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-11-22
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: STEERING COLUMN LOOSENED DUE TO LOOSE SCREWS. *AK
1987 Cadillac Brougham recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 5 recalls for different components of the 1987 Cadillac Brougham.
- Manufacturer: NATIONAL COACH ENGINEERIN
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
- Summary: THE INCREASED WEIGHT OF THE STRETCH CONVERSION LIMOUSINES REQUIRES LARGER DIAMETER REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDERS THAN THOSE INSTALLED IN THE FACTORY.
- Consequence: THE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE STOPPING DISTANCEREQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS".
- Remedy: REPLACE THE EXISTING REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDERS WITH LARGER DIAMETER BRAKE CYLINDERS.
- Manufacturer: ALLEN COACHWORKS
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
- Consequence: STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105 ARE NOT METWITH POWER BRAKING ASSIST UNIT INOPERATIVE.
- Remedy: REPLACE ORIGINAL 1" REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER WITH A 1 1/16" CYLINDER.
- Manufacturer: ULTRA LIMOUSINES
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
- Summary: REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDERS ARE TOO SMALL TO ALLOW FOR PROPER BRAKING.
- Consequence: STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105 ARE NOT METWITH POWER BRAKING ASSIST UNIT INOPERATIVE.
- Remedy: REPLACE ORIGINAL 1" REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER WITH A 1 1/16" CYLINDER.
- Manufacturer: MOLONEY COACH BUILDERS
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
- Summary: LIMOUSINE FAILED TO MEET STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 105.
- Consequence: INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT;VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
- Remedy: REPLACE ORIGINAL REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER WITH A LARGER CYLINDER.
- 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.
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