Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Cadillac Allante, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 33 | 85% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THEN, DRIVER PUMPED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES TO STOP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, B
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESED THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, ALSO THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *JG
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN SHIFTING. *JG
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES, THEN THE ABS PUMP STARTED AND BRAKES RETURNED. THE BRAKE SYSTEMS HAS BECOME UNRELIABLE. REAR BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL (CALIPERS FROZEN), AND ACCUMULATOR REPLACEMENT RETURNED NORMAL
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING 70 AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCUMULATOR, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT ABOUT 25 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND.THEN, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD, GOT OUT, AND NOTICED BRAKE FLIUD ON THE GOUND. MECHANIC DETERM
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
UNDERSTAND YOU ARE REVIEWING ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILURE ON THIS CAR. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FAILURES ,18 INJURIES AND ONE DEATH FROM THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Cadillac Allante. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 CE
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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).
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 64 | average |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 33 of them (85%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.