1985 Cadillac Cimarron problems
The Cadillac Cimarron is an entry-level luxury car manufactured and marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors for model years 1982–1988 over a single generation, with a mild facelift in 1985.
The first post-war compact car offered by the brand, the four-door was developed to compete with similarly-sized premium sedans marketed by European automakers in North America.
The flagship offering of the GM J platform, the Cimarron had joined the project just 11 months prior to the J-Cars' arrival in showrooms, and had very little involvement in the developing the program. Marketed with counterparts from Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick, the Cimarron was to become one of the most controversial examples of badge engineering in the American automotive industry, sharing much of its entire design, including its exterior, with the Chevrolet Cavalier and GM's other brand variants.
Through its entire production, the Cimarron was manufactured at South Gate Assembly (1981–1982) and Janesville Assembly (1982–1988); both facilities produced the model alongside the Chevrolet Cavalier and its J-platform badge-engineered variants. In North America, the Cimarron was not replaced directly.
The Cimarron is noted as a nadir of GM's product planning — for its low sales, poor performance and ill-conceived badge engineering.
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Common 1985 Cadillac Cimarron problems
The Cadillac Cimarron, produced between 1982 and 1988, was a compact luxury car that was criticized for its poor quality, lack of features, and high price point. The Cimarron was based on the Chevrolet Cavalier and shared many of its components, but was marketed as a premium luxury vehicle. This led to significant criticism from both consumers and the automotive press, who felt that the Cimarron did not live up to the Cadillac brand's reputation for quality and luxury.
One of the most common complaints about the Cimarron was its poor build quality. Many owners reported issues with rattling and squeaking noises, as well as problems with the car's electrical systems. The Cimarron's interior was also criticized for its cheap materials and lack of features. The car's dashboard and controls were often described as flimsy and unintuitive, and the seats were criticized for their lack of comfort and support.
Another major issue with the Cimarron was its lack of power and performance. The car was available with a range of engines, including a 1.8-liter four-cylinder and a 2.8-liter V6, but both were criticized for their lack of power and poor fuel efficiency. The Cimarron's handling and braking were also criticized, with many reviewers noting that the car felt unstable and difficult to control at high speeds.
Despite these issues, Cadillac continued to produce the Cimarron for several years, making only minor changes and updates to the car's design and features. In 1985, the company introduced a new digital instrument panel and revised suspension, but these changes did little to address the car's underlying issues.
In the end, the Cadillac Cimmaron was a failure for the brand, with low sales and a poor reputation. The car has since become known as one of the worst examples of badge engineering in automotive history, and is often cited as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying to market a cheap car as a luxury vehicle.
What was wrong with the Cadillac Cimarron?
The Cimarron is noted as a nadir of GM's product planning — for its low sales, poor performance and ill-conceived badge engineering.
What platform was the Cadillac Cimarron from?
General Motors' J platform
Based on General Motors' J platform, which also underpinned the lowly Chevy Cavalier, the Cadillac Cimarron was an attempt by the division to woo younger affluent buyers away from imports.
What kind of car is a Cimarron?
The Cimarron was, of course, a Cadillac and not some plebeian Chevy, but aside from badging, all that really meant was you could get the inside slathered in leather.
What was the Cadillac version of the Chevy Cavalier?
Cadillac Cimarron
Initially a divisional counterpart of the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Oldsmobile Firenza, and Pontiac J2000, the Cavalier was primarily marketed alongside the Pontiac Sunbird (renamed the Pontiac Sunfire for 1995).
What was wrong with the Cadillac Cimarron?
The Cimarron is noted as a nadir of GM's product planning — for its low sales, poor performance and ill-conceived badge engineering.
What kind of car is a Cimarron?
The Cimarron was, of course, a Cadillac and not some plebeian Chevy, but aside from badging, all that really meant was you could get the inside slathered in leather.
What platform was the Cadillac Cimarron from?
General Motors' J platform
Based on General Motors' J platform, which also underpinned the lowly Chevy Cavalier, the Cadillac Cimarron was an attempt by the division to woo younger affluent buyers away from imports.
Why is Cadillac so good?
Cadillac is part of the GM family of vehicles — an automaker that is well-known for making cars with reliable engines and good powertrains (which include the engine, transmission, driveshaft, axles and differential).
1985 Cadillac Cimarron car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Cadillac Cimarron problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Steering problems
- Power train problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Suspension problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1985 Cadillac Cimarron vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1985 Cadillac Cimarron complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1985 Cadillac Cimarron.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-10-14
- VIN: 1G6JG69P1FJ
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. AFTER 15 SECONDS, THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED ITSELF. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP BECAME NOISY AS THE FLUID LEAKED OUT.
POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G6JG69W5FJ
- Components: POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: 1. ENGINE STALLS WHEN ENGAGING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL. 2. WINDSHIELD WIPERS START WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL OR MAKING A TURN. 3. PAINT DELAMINATING (PEELING) ON ROOF AND HOOD.
SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-03-01
- VIN: 1G6JG69W5FJ
- Components: SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, ALTERNATOR FALFUNCTIONED THREE TIMES. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-12-27
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G6JG69P4FJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. TT
1985 Cadillac Cimarron recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1985 Cadillac Cimarron.
- 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).
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Summary: THE ENGINE AIR CLEANER PLASTIC TRIM COVER COULD FALL OFF THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY AND LAND ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE CAR IS BEING OPERATED AT THE TIME THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM COVER FALLS OFF, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy: REMOVE THE TRIM COVER AND DISCARD.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1985 Cadillac Cimarron problems:
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