1981 Cadillac FLEETWOOD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1981 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
2000: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 526980ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LEAKS DUE TO THE CAST ALUMINUM PUMP HOUSING BEING POROUS OR DEFECTIVE, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. | 426.7%ODI 524852ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKE CONTROL. | 1047.6% | 214.3%ODI 554146REAR BRAKES WENT OUT DUE TO FLUID NOT GETTING TO BRAKES, CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PREVIOUS BRAKE FAILURE, DEALER CAN NOT REPAIR BRAKES DUE TO THEM BEING DISCONTINUED, CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GET HER BRAKES REPAIRED SINCE THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 618.8% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.6%ODI 734070WHILE TRAVELLING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AT 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TURNED INTO A GAS STATION AND HAD THE ENGINE CUTOFF TO HALT THE VEHICLE AS IT HIT A CURB 40 YARDS FROM THE STREET. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MC WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC.*AK | 15.9%ODI 987337WHEN BRAKING IN LOW SPEEDS IN DAMP/WET GROUND, VEHICLE SKIDS WITH ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND TRACTION CONTROL TURNING ON WHEN MAKING TURNS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10209653 · 90,000 miMY VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I CHANGE IT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND WHEN I PRESS ON MY BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT FEELS LIKE IS STILL ACCELERATING AND WANTS TO GO FASTER. I HAD TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT CHANGING GEAR ANYMORE AND THIS VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC FOR THIS REASON. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM BUT IT WAS FIXED BY MY MECHANIC. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SEAT BELTS DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 706664THROTTLE PLATE STUCK AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. PIECES OF A.I.R. PUMP VANES FOUND STUCK IN THROTTLE PLATE. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY A DEADLY SITUATION HAD THERE BEEN MORE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE CAR. THIS OF COURSE KILLED ALL POWER TO STEERING AND BRAKING. THE A.I.R. PUMP AND A.I.R. SWITCHING VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED DEBRI CLEANED OUT OF ALL HOSES. *AK | 16.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 853231WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AT 55 MPH, SPEED STARTS INCREASING AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE OFF THE SWITCH. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AVOIDING A CRASH. A MECHANIC UNHOOKED THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE DEALER WAS CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 112.5%ODI 962464WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. BRAKES WOULD NOT OVERRIDE AND STOP VEHICLE. *AK | 13.1%ODI 703729THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE BANK. UPON PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR THE THROTTLE IMMEDIATELY DEPRESSED WITHOUT EVER BEING TOUCHED. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN LOCKED IN A TURNING POSITION. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND, AND YOU COULD NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE OR CHANGE GEAR. THE CAR HIT THE SIDE OF THE BANK AND A TREE AT ABOUT 34-40 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. | 16.3%ODI 844547WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. ALSO, BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK | 15.6%ODI 812709WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS RECALL 95V082000. VEHICLE ALSO HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK | 211.8%ODI 10319251 · 109,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3% | 114.3%ODI 703894WHEN THE CAR IS OVER 60MHR IT TURNES OFF, ALSO MOST OF THE TIME IT TURNES OFF WHEN IT IS VEARY HOT OUT SIDE AND WHEN I WANT TO TERN IT ON AGAIN IT GO LIKE ABOUT 30SEC ON THEN IT TURNES OFF AGAIN. SOMETIMES WHEN I LET IT OFF FOR LIKE ABOUT AN HOUR IT TURNS ON AGAIN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN OFF AGIAN. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 16.7%ODI 835340WHILE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE 55 MPH THE ENGINE IDLES WITHOUT INDICATIONS TO 85 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF TO GAIN CONTROL. *AK | 14.8% | 17.1%ODI 970377THE VEHICLE HAS BURNED COMPLETELY UP DUE TO AN ENGINE FIRE. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE RECALL CAME OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.1%ODI 563781CUSTOMER STATES CAR DIES WHEN TURNING OR COMING TO A STOP, CAR ALSOVERY HARD TO RESTART, MUST WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. *TT | 16.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 845796WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. DEALER SAID IT MAY BE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAD TO GET A CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT 50,000, AND A MASTER CYLINDER AND NEW MOTER AT 46,000. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 26.3% | 16.3%ODI 844547WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. ALSO, BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK | 211.1%ODI 481884DASHBOARD REFLECTS INTO WINDSHIELD, CAUSING DISTORTIONS OF VIEW. *SKD | 211.8%ODI 11084953 · 140,000 miCAR HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY - LEFT REAR. HAD JACKED IT UP, AND CHANGED TIRE. WAS LETTING JACK DOWN WHEN IT COLLAPSED. SCISSORS TYPE JACK. ONE OF THE CAPTIVE NUTS THAT THE MAIN BOLT RUNS THROUGH TO RAISE THE JACK ASSEMBLY FAILED, DROPPING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. LUCKILY, THE TIRE HAD BEEN CHANGED, AND NO ONE WAS HURT WHEN THE CAR DROPPED. I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE ON MY 1993 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD, AND WONDER IF THIS IS NOT COMMON TO ALL OF THE GM CARS USING THIS JACK. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 961786IN ACCIDENT 12:00 POSITION AT UNKNOWN SPEED DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 39.4%ODI 857538CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION HITTING A BRICK WALL IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S/ OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK | 212.5%ODI 10163256 · 136,970 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH., THE VEHICLE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE LEFT FRONT FENDER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. | 15.6%ODI 548443DURING VEHICLE COLLISION VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHICH SPLIT FROM FORCE CAUSED INJURY TO CONSUMERS (ARMS). MJS | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 985594WHILE 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 14.8%ODI 981043WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH, LOST CONTROL AN BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK | 214.3% | 112.5%ODI 962464WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. BRAKES WOULD NOT OVERRIDE AND STOP VEHICLE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.6%ODI 812709WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS RECALL 95V082000. VEHICLE ALSO HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK | 15.9%ODI 812349WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM. DEALER MAINTAINS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 968508BAFFLE COMES A LOOSE IN THE GAS TANK AND STOPS THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 212.5%ODI 539751FUEL PUMP FAILED, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE WIRES MELTED AND FUSED INTO OTHER PART. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 211.8%ODI 10014587THE FUEL PUMP CONTAINED A SHORTAGE, WHICH CAUSED A SPARK. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 618.8%ODI 551077A DESIGN FLAW CAUSED SHOULDER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR TO FAIL. YH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1996: 9 complaints · 1998: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 5 | 8 | 9 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Tires:Tread/Belt |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.