NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Recalls & Complaints

The 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 17 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Cadillac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1996 Cadillac Fleetwood owner complaints

Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood, describing incidents dated December 11, 1995 to December 26, 2017.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Steering 2 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints

Of the 17 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 17 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11084953 · Filed April 13, 2018
CAR 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…
ODI #10319251 · Filed March 12, 2010
TL*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…
ODI #10057156 · Filed January 30, 2004
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

Read all 17 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA96-007: REAR WHEEL SEPARATION
Closed December 24, 1996

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

GENERAL MOTORS/WHEEL LUG NUTS

NHTSA #96V245000 · Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs · NHTSA notice

Reported December 10, 1996 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 21,582 vehicles

Owners notified December 2, 1996 · Vehicles built August 1, 1995 – August 31, 1995 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 1996.NOTE:OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

GM/LOWER CONTROL ARM

NHTSA #96V018000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Ball Joint · NHTSA notice

Reported January 30, 1996 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 102,403 vehicles

Owners notified February 22, 1996 · Vehicles built April 1, 1994 – September 1, 1995 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.

Safety consequence

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.

Notes

SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM; LOWER; BALL JOINT. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: POLICE VEHICLES, TAXI CABS, HEARSE AND LIMOUSINE. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020; BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300; OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

17 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11084953

Incident: December 26, 2017 · Filed: April 13, 2018

CAR 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.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10319251

Incident: June 11, 2009 · Filed: March 12, 2010

TL*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.

Steering

ODI #10057156

Incident: January 25, 2004 · Filed: January 30, 2004

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10014587

Filed: March 27, 2003

THE FUEL PUMP CONTAINED A SHORTAGE, WHICH CAUSED A SPARK. *JB

Steering

ODI #10012010

Incident: March 16, 2003 · Filed: March 18, 2003

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE IT WAS BEING TURNED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #987337

Filed: July 25, 1996

WHEN BRAKING IN LOW SPEEDS IN DAMP/WET GROUND, VEHICLE SKIDS WITH ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND TRACTION CONTROL TURNS ON WHEN MAKING TURNS. *AK

Suspension; Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Engine and Engine Cooling; Visibility; Structure; Seats

ODI #899980

Incident: November 1, 1996 · Filed: December 7, 2001

POWER STEERING GOES OUT TEMPORARILY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THEN IT RELEASES BY ITSELF, DEALERSHIPOP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, MECHANIC REPLACED STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE REMOTE WAS INOPERABLE, KEYLESS ENTRY PAD WILLNOT OPEN DOOR UNLESS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO IT, R/R DOOR IS HARD TO CLOSE WHEN ALL OTHER DOORS ARE CLOSED, BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DRAGGING, DEALER ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HESITATES AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, ALSO PASSENGER SIDE HAED REST WILL NOT STAY UP.*SLC

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #865279

Incident: January 1, 2000 · Filed: July 12, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE JUST STALLED. WHEN PRESSING DOWN A LITTLE HARDER VEHICLE TOOK OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM YET. *AK *ML

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #812349

Incident: May 1, 1997 · Filed: May 19, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THIS IS A ONGOING PROBLEM. DEALER MAINTAINS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *AK

Electrical System

ODI #603093

Incident: December 11, 1995 · Filed: April 10, 1997

STARTER FAILED.

Other Cadillac Fleetwood model years

Check your 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Cadillac Fleetwood at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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