Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Fleetwood.
The 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood is specified with an engine requiring 4.5 quarts of oil in 20W-20, 10W-30, or 10W-40 viscosity. This model year is associated with two recalls and six total owner complaints, primarily within the engine and engine cooling category. When positioned against the model's 1990-1998 complaint history, which fluctuated between a high of 46 in 1993 and a low of 4 in 1998, the 1983 model year represents a period of relatively low owner dissatisfaction.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 220.9 in |
| Overall width | 75.2 in |
| Overall height | 54.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 121.7 in |
| Curb weight | 3962 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 |
| 1989 | 60 Special Sedan 4.5L V8 | 9.10 sec | 17.00 sec | 155 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 |
| 1993 | Brougham Sedan 5.7L V8 | 9.70 sec | 17.00 sec | 185 hp | RWD |
| 1993 | Brougham Sedan 5.7L V8 | 10.50 sec | 17.80 sec | 185 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.5 qt of 20W-20 / 10W-30 / 10W-40 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 4.3 qt |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | ABOVE 40 degrees F |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt |
| Engine Oil | ABOVE 40 degrees F |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood is not represented in the provided federal record, which begins in 1990—seven model years later. The earliest data point (1990) shows 22 complaints, 2 recalls, 1 investigation, and 1 TSB, with the complaint volume fluctuating between 4 and 46 across the period, peaking in 1993. Recall activity ranges from 0 to 5 per year, while TSBs increase substantially from 1 in 1990 to 23 by 1996. Since the target year falls outside the dataset entirely, the trend cannot be reliably extrapolated backward to 1983. The 1983 model predates all recorded federal data, so there is no concrete evidence to assess its relative reliability. **Do not draw a buying conclusion without 1983-specific data.**
All 6 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIMOUSINES BUILT BY EMPIRE COACH. VEHICLE ALTERERS LABEL MAY BE MISSING OR INCOMPLETE. Remedy: ADD COMPLIANCE LABEL.
THE FUEL FILTERS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INCORRECT THREADED FITTING. THE INCORRECT FITTING IS SIMILIAR ENOUGH IN SIZE THAT THE FUEL FILTER MAY APPEAR TO BE CORRECTLY THREADED ONTO THE FUEL LINE. Remedy: THE IMPROPER THREADING COULD CAUSE A GASOLINE LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
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.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.5 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, BELOW 20 degrees F: 5W-20 OR 5W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.