1988 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 1988 Cadillac Brougham problems
The 1988 Cadillac Brougham is known for several common problems that owners have reported. One of the most frequent issues is related to the engine's idle, which can either be excessively high or too low, causing the vehicle to stall at lights or while driving without throttle input.
The engine's performance is also affected, with the vehicle sputtering and producing a chuffing noise from the tailpipe during idle. Additionally, it can bog down under load, shaking and not accelerating despite throttle input.
Another common issue reported by 1988 Cadillac Brougham owners is related to the fuel system. The vehicle can experience bogging down during acceleration, which can be caused by a clogged fuel filter, a weak mechanical fuel pump, or a foam float in the carburetor if it has a Quadrajet carburetor.
The 1988 Cadillac Brougham also has a history of safety issues, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, the specific details of these safety issues are not provided in the search result.
In summary, the 1988 Cadillac Brougham has several common problems, including issues with the engine's idle, performance, and fuel system. Despite numerous attempts to address these issues, the cost of repairs can be significant, with one owner reporting over $7000 in labor and parts. It is important for owners of this vehicle to be aware of these common problems and to seek professional help if they experience any issues with their vehicle.
1988 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:
- Structure problems
- Seat belts problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Cadillac Brougham vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1988 Cadillac Brougham complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Cadillac Brougham.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6DW51YXJ9
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: MAIN FRAME HAD DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO BREAK OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G60W51Y1JR
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, CAUSING PASSENGER TO BECOME TRAPPED IN SEAT, RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
1988 Cadillac Brougham recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 9 recalls for different components of the 1988 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: DABRYAN COACH BUILDERS
- 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: LIMOUSINE WERKS, INC.
- 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 WERE NOT METWITH POWER BRAKING ASSIST UNIT INOPERATIVE.
- Remedy: REPLACE ORIGINAL 1" REAR WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER WITH A 1 1/16" CYLINDER.
- Manufacturer: ROYALE LIMOUSINE MFRS.
- 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 ASSIST BRAKING UNITS 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.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
- Summary: REAR SEAT BELT SHOULDER RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY NOT LOCK WHEN SUBJECTED TO THE ACCELERATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 209.
- Consequence: THIS INCREASES LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANT.VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209.
- Remedy: REPLACE REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY, AS NECESSARY.
Other years of Cadillac Brougham
Are you having problems with your 1988 Cadillac Brougham?
Leave your review of 1988 Cadillac Brougham