1987 Cadillac Cimarron problems

Common 1987 Cadillac Cimarron problems

The Cadillac Cimarron, produced from 1982 to 1988, was a compact luxury car based on the Chevrolet Cavalier. Despite its Cadillac branding, the Cimarron shared many components with its less expensive counterpart, leading to a range of issues and complaints from owners.

• Poor build quality: The Cimarron's build quality was often criticized, with many owners reporting issues related to its construction. For example, the door handles were described as "crappy" and "poor-feeling" parts-bin pieces that remained unchanged throughout the car's production.

• Fuel line problems: A specific issue with the fuel line in 1986 and 1987 models was a heat buildup that could cause a vapor lock-like issue. This problem was resolved in later models, but owners of 1986 Cimarrons often experienced difficulty starting their vehicles due to this issue.

• Ignition module and crank sensor failures: The 1987 and 1988 Cimarrons, equipped with 2.8/3.1L engines, were known to consume ignition modules and crank sensors. These failures could result in starting issues similar to those caused by the fuel line problem.

• Lack of performance and luxury: While the Cimarron was marketed as a luxury vehicle, it failed to deliver the performance and high-end features expected from a Cadillac. The car's luxury features were added to the base Cavalier model, but the result did not meet the standards of a true Cadillac, leaving many owners feeling disappointed.

• Perception as a failed experiment: The Cimarron is often remembered as a failure, which has negatively impacted its reputation. Despite its initial sales success, the car's poor performance and lack of luxury features led to declining sales and eventual discontinuation.

In conclusion, the Cadillac Cimarron suffered from a range of issues, including underpowered engines, poor build quality, fuel line problems, and a lack of performance and luxury features. These issues, combined with the car's reputation as a failed experiment, have contributed to its unfavorable perception among many car enthusiasts and owners.

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 is the Cadillac version of the Cavalier?

1982 Cadillac Cimarron

GM product planners had only a year to develop the Cimarron, which is one reason why it was so similar to the Chevy Cavalier and Pontiac J2000.

Where was the Cadillac Cimarron built?

Cimarron by Cadillac was built on GM's J platform at plants in South Gate, California, Lordstown, Ohio, and Janesville, Wisconsin between 1981 and 1988.

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 is the Cadillac version of the Cavalier?

1982 Cadillac Cimarron

GM product planners had only a year to develop the Cimarron, which is one reason why it was so similar to the Chevy Cavalier and Pontiac J2000.

What year did Cadillacs stay away from?

Most cars under the Cadillac SRX years shared the same problems to avoid; however, the model years 2010 and 2011 had the most issues. Hence, 2010 and 2011 can be considered some of the worst years for Cadillac SRX.

1987 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:

• Electrical system problems
• Engine and engine cooling problems
• Steering problems
• Power train problems
• Latches/locks/linkages problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Cadillac Cimarron vehicle components and the number of complaints received.