Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Fleetwood.
The 1981 Cadillac Fleetwood is recorded as having just a single owner complaint, with tires noted as the top area of concern and no recalls issued. This minimal complaint count stands in stark contrast to the model’s later complaint history from 1990 through 1998, where the highest yearly total reached 46 problems in 1993 before declining to only four by 1998. Positioned before that span of rising issues, the 1981 example reflects a period of comparatively strong reliability for the Fleetwood line. Consequently, researchers can view this model year as an early benchmark of low‑incident ownership within the vehicle’s broader reliability trajectory.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 220.9 in |
| Overall width | 75.2 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 121.3 in |
| Curb weight | 4255 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Fleetwood of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Sedan 4.1L V8 | 11.70 sec | 18.20 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
| 1974 | 60 Special Brougham d'Elegance Sedan 7.7L V8 | 12.00 sec | 17.98 sec | 205 hp | RWD |
| 1973 | 60 Special Brougham d'Elegance Sedan 7.7L V8 | 10.20 sec | 17.60 sec | 220 hp | RWD |
| 1989 | 60 Special Sedan 4.5L V8 | 9.10 sec | 17.00 sec | 155 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record available spans 1990–1998, so the 1981 Fleetwood is not represented directly in the dataset. Among the years that are documented, complaints fluctuate, peaking at 46 in 1993 and falling to 4 in 1998, while recalls hover between one and five per year. Investigations are generally low, with only two in 1991 and none in 1993 and 1994. The trend suggests a mild rise in complaints in the early 1990s, followed by a sharp decline toward the end of the decade. Because the 1981 model is absent from this record, the data does not specify its complaint, recall, or safety profile. Consequently, without comparable federal statistics, one cannot conclude that 1981 is a particularly safe or problematic year based solely on this dataset.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.