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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Cadillac Fleetwood1992–1996

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚗 SEDAN
Cadillac Fleetwood
1992–1996
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 1.3
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
12
Recalls
89
Complaints
—
Best Yr
24
Injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
5
Years Analyzed
12
Total Recalls
89
Total Complaints
24
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Fleetwood became recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 15, 2026.

Cadillac Fleetwood — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
19961337—
57
39
51
Avoid
19953122—
57
39
51
Caution
19944112—
57
39
51
Caution
199322913—
57
39
51
Avoid
199224——
57
39
51
Good

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Cadillac Fleetwood Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Fleetwood compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Fleetwood models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1992 · 511993 · 511994 · 511995 · 511996 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Fleetwood to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Fleetwood model year.

Which Fleetwood years have the most problems?+

See the year-by-year problem table for a complete breakdown.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Fleetwood problems?+

The most frequently reported Cadillac Fleetwood issues involve: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Cadillac Fleetwood.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sedan vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Fleetwood year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →