IllustrationSTEERING LOCKS UP AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR SPEED, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING HARD LEFT AT A SLOW SPEED. 1987 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD WITH RACK AND PINION. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 4 YEARS BUT IS MUCH WORSE LATELY. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT WOULD COST A LOT TO FIX SO HE'S BEEN KIND OF IGNORING IT. *JB
1987 Cadillac Fleetwood
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Fleetwood years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsTHE METAL IN THE SEAT SHELL AND/OR MOUNTING SYSTEM TO WHICH IT ATTACHES BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 55 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE SPEEDS ACCELERATE (5) MORE MILES KEPT APPLYING AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAI.*AK
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AW
WATER PUMP FAILURE. *AW
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING OIL TO MIX WITH COOLANT, ERRODING BEARING SURFACES, RESULTING IN ENGINE BEARING KNOCK. *AW
ONE OF FOUR STEEL BRACKETS THAT HOLD SEAT TO FLOOR BROKE. *DSH
Official recalls
390V093000 · Equipment:other:labels
May 9, 1990
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH PART 567.
Remedy: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
90V050000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Mar 6, 1990
SAFETY BELTS (TYPE 1 LAP BELTS) FOR REAR FACING SEATS WERE NOT INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LACK OF RESTRAINTS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE INJURY AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 209 AND 210.
Remedy: INSTALL SAFETY BELTS FOR REAR FACING SEATS.
87V168000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
Oct 26, 1987
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRECTION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes
Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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EA88031 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Apr 22, 1988 · Closed Oct 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===