1991 CADILLAC ALLANTE Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING, DRIVING 45 MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN NO BRAKING AT ALL,I WENT INTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND SOME HOW MANAGE TO STOP BY DRIVING THE CAR THROUGH TALL WEEDS. FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. *NM

Mileage: 105,336

WHILE REVERSING AT 10 MPH BRAKES FAILED , CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN DEPRESSED. *AK CONSUMER READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DUAL BRAKES. MEANING, IF ONE PART FAILS THE OTHER PART WOULD WORK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY A PRIVATE DEALER AND CONSUMER LEARNED HE HAD BRAKES GOING FORWARD BUT NOT BACKWARDS. *PH

Mileage: 160,000

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT 2MPH IN TRAFFIC DURING A 400 MILE TRIP FROM PA TO MA. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS BRAKING ABILITY WAS NOT COMPROMISED. AFTER 200 MILES (NEXT DAY) BRAKING ABILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED, I PROCEEDED TO CADILLAC DEALER IN BROCKTON,MA. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HYDRAULIC MODULATOR ASSEMBLY PART# 3636719. ACCORDING TO DEALER THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS CAR. THE SYSTEM IS NOT WELL ENGINEERED (SEE NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION# EA99017).*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE DRIVER WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THIS VEHICLE FAILS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS EXTREMELY DAMGEROUS. *YH

REPAIRED 6/99, USED PARTS, FAILED AGAIN 9/99 (A LITTLE DIFFERENT), $4000 REPAIR, ALL ALLANTE'S EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS. VERY DANGEROUS, VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, BRAKES FAIL WITH NO WARNING. COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENT AND INJURE, KILL ALLANTE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. GM DISCONTINUED USING THIS SYSTEM INSTEAD OF DOING RECALL. IF YOU SENT QUESTIONAIRES OUT TO ALL ALLANTE' OWNERS, I'M SURE AT LEAST 70% WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND COUGH UP THE $4000 TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT IT'S CRIMMINAL FOR GM TO ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE ME TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM FIRST-HAND AS I'M TRYING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATISTICS ON ALLANTE' WRECKS AND HOW THEY HAPPENED. I'M SURE MANY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF THIS. THESE CARS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THE ROADWAYS UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN RETROFITTED WITH NEW SYSTEM. *AK

BRAKES FAILED IN THE PROCESS IN COMING TO A STOP. THEN VEHICLE WAS FREE WHEELING UNTIL THEY WERE PRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND COASTED TO A STOP (FORTUNATE TIMING OF INCIDENT). I HAVE SINCE HEARD THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURENCE WITH THIS BOSCH BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO REFRENCE ODI ACTION NUMBER EA-99-017. THIS SITUATION IS REALLY FRIGHTENING. CAN YOU FORWARD TO ME ANY ADVICE? *AK

THE BOSCH SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. LOST ALL HYDRALLIC PRESSURE AND HAD NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY ALL OWNERS AFTER 100K MILEAGE OR 7 YEARS OF AGE.*AK

NEED HELP FAST. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: NA TIRE SIZE: NA )

I ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THIS REPORT WHEN IT HAPPENED. WHEN I SAW A LIST OF ALL THE ALLANTES WITH THE FAILURE, I NOTICED MU127092 WASN'T ON IT. I WAS TOLD TO RESUBMIT. ANYWAY, I RUN THE LOCAL ALLANTE CAR CLUB HERE IN ST. LOUIS AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW NERVOUS OUR 87-92 MEMBERS/OWNERS ARE. THEY ARE SCARED TO DRIVE THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEY COULD LOSE THEIR ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM WITH OUT ANY WARNING. ALMOST ALL OF THEM WON'T LET THEIR WIVES DRIVE OR LET THE KIDS RIDE ALONG BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED ON MY OTHER ALLANTE AS WELL (NU126027) THE CAR WAS LOW MILEAGE, IN PERFECT SHAPE, AND INSPECTED CONSTANTLY. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THAT CAR HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE HYDRO SYSTEM REPLACED ALONG WITH $6,000 IN OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS BEFORE THE COMPUTER SAID THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS SAFE (A TOTAL OF $8,500.IN PARTS/SERVICE). IT TOOK 7 WEEKS BECAUSE CADILLAC WOULDN'T RESPOND TO SERVICE QUERIES BY MY DEALER. CADILLAC IS TERRIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BRAKING SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT A PROBLEM THEY HAVE ON THERE HANDS. THE CAR I'M REPORTING NOW, MU127092 WAS ROUGHLY $2,300 IN SERVICE AND 2 WEEKS TO REPAIR. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HAD A BRAKE FAILURE ON HIS 88 AND HAD TO STORE HIS ALLANTE BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLCE THE SYSTEM. I CURRENTLY OWN TWO 93 ALLANTE AS WELL; BOTH WITH THE TRADITIONAL BOSCH II VACUUM POWERED SYSTEM USED ON ALL OTHER CADILLACS. I CAN DRIVE THOSE CARS WITHOUT WORRY. IT WOULD BE A BLESSING TO HAVE CADILLAC REPLACE OUR BOSCH III HYDRO SYSTEMS WITH THE BOSCH II VACUUM BOOST SYSTEM. THEN WE ALL COULD DRIVE OUR WONDERFUL CARS WITH CONFIDENCE RATHER THAN WHITE KNUCKLE FEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. J. HESLOP, FOUNDER, GATEWAY REGION - ALLANTE APPRECIATION GROUP. *AK

ABS INDICATION LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON/OFF. DEALER STATED THAT ABS DOES NOT WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

CADDILAC WILL NOT REPLACE OR WARRANTY BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER UNABLE TO . *AK

BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON - I WAS IN A PARKING LOT SO I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNDER BRAKING AND I DRIVE IT ONLY OCCASIONALLY NOW. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT ONCE AND REPLACED A SWITCH BUT THIS DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME THEY SAID THAT IT NEEDS A PART THAT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $2600.00, I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND SHOULD NOT FAIL TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS THIS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON - I WAS IN A PARKING LOT SO I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNDER BRAKING AND I DRIVE IT ONLY OCCASIONALLY NOW. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT ONCE AND REPLACED A SWITCH BUT THIS DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT TIME THEY SAID THAT IT NEEDS A PART THAT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $2600.00, I HAVE NOT YET FIXED THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND SHOULD NOT FAIL TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS THIS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.

WHILE DRIVING ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT. DRIVER HAD TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ABS AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. NLM

O-RING LEAKING AT PUMP CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. NLM

2 MASTER CYLINDERS INSTALLED BY PREVIOUS OWNER. FOUND OUT AFTER PURCHASE ABOUT ALLANTE BRAKE PROBLEMS. WILL NOT LET WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE CAR. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED. HELP!

TOOK TO DEALER AND NO TROUBLE FOUND. NOT CHARGED. ABS FAILED AGAIN ON 5/7. WAITING REPAIRS.*AK

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WHILE IN PARKING LOT 3 TIMES. WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT SHIFTING INTO NETRUAL. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN SYSTEM FAILED. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE BRAKES WORKED FINE. CALLED DEALER, THEY WANTED CAR WHEN BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY DEALERSHIP SINCE NEW. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. TOOK DEALER THREE WEEKS AND THREE DIFFERENT PARTS TO GET VEHICLE TO WORK. FIRST PART, ABS PUMP, THEN BRAKE SWITCH, THEN MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 20,000 MILES AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE BRAKE PADS.

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WHILE IN PARKING LOT 3 TIMES. WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT SHIFTING INTO NETRUAL. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN SYSTEM FAILED. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE BRAKES WORKED FINE. CALLED DEALER, THEY WANTED CAR WHEN BRAKES DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY DEALERSHIP SINCE NEW. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. TOOK DEALER THREE WEEKS AND THREE DIFFERENT PARTS TO GET VEHICLE TO WORK. FIRST PART, ABS PUMP, THEN BRAKE SWITCH, THEN MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 20,000 MILES AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE BRAKE PADS.

WHILE TRAVELING AND MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVELING. BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AGAIN VEHICLE STOPPED. PLEASE PRIVE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. THERE IS ALSO A RESISTANCE IN THE PEDAL APPLICATION. DEALER SAYS THE ABS IS BAD. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURERS RECALL REGARDING THE ABS PISTON/PUMP MIR ASSEMBLY. *SLC

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY UPON FAILURE OF UNIT. DIAGNOSTIC CODE 63 ON VEHICLE COMPUTER-BAYVIEW CADILLAC DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY ABS HYRDRAULIC UNIT. CADILLAC CONTACTED BY DEALER FOR REPAIR ASSISTANCE-NON OFFERED. SUSPECT SECOND FAILURE OF UNIT DUE TO LABEL ON FAILED UNITS STATING REMANUFACTURED FOR GM, HOWEVER BAYVIEW CADILLAC WOULD NOT DISCLOSE PRIOR SERVICE RECORD ON VEHICLE PRIOR TO PURCHASE. OWNER ORDERED REPLACEMENT, CONDUCTED INSTALLATION, AND SENT FAILED UNIT CORE BACK TO LAMBERT BUICK-PONTIAC-GMC UNDER INVOICE #44508. TOTAL REPAIR COST PARTS: P/N 3636719 1889.75, BRAKE FLUID $15.00, AND 3.5 HOURS LABOR.

ABS SYSTEM COMPLETE FAILS. NO BRAKES AT ALL! VERY DANGEROUS! I OWN A 1990 AND 1991 AND HAVE HAD SIMULAR SITUATIONS WITH EACH. DEALERHSIP HAS REPLACED BRAKE SYSTEM 5 TIMES ON THE 1991 SINCE THE VEHICAL WAS NEW.

THE ABS PUMP FAILED ON MY CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, BACKING OUT OF A SPACE, AND BARELY MOVING. I DID MANAGE TO STOP BEFORE ROLLING INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. THE SYMPTOMS: ROCK HARD PEDAL, BUT VIRTUALLY NO STOPPING ABILITY. AFTER SOME EXPERIMENTATION WITH LOW GEAR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN THE PARKING LOT, I DECIDED TO TRY TO LIMP HOME, ABOUT 4 MILES, WHICH I DID SUCCESSFULLY. THE NEXT MORNING, A SUNDAY, VERY EARLY, WITH AN ESCORT I DROVE THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST CADILLAC DEALER. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ON MONDAY, UNDER WARRANTY, AND I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS SINCE. MY CONCERN IS THAT UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAD VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I STILL HAVE THIS CAR, WANT TO KEEP IN FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS, BUT AM UNEASY ABOUT THE PROBLEM RECURRING. YEARS AGO I HAD ENCOUNTERED CARS WITH A DUAL MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM THAT POPPED A BRAKE LINE. THE PEDAL WOULD BE A LOT LOWER AFTER A BRAKE LINE POPPED, BUT YOU COULD STILL STOP THE CAR IN REASONABLE DISTANCE. THE CONDITION THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU LOSE THE ABS PUMP ON AN ALLANTI IS MUCH WORSE THAN THAT, AND SCARY EVEN AT SLOW SPEED. ONCE YOU ARE PREPARED AND KNOW ABOUT THE CONDITION, YOU CAN COPE FOR SHORT DISTANCES AT LOW SPEED WITHOUT HEAVY TRAFFIC BY ANTICIPATING STOPS AND DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION. BUT WHEN IT HITS YOU OUT OF THE BLUE UNEXPECTEDLY, IT'S ANOTHER MATTER.