Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Fleetwood.
The 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood is recorded with just 1 owner complaint and 2 recalls, a remarkably slim reliability footprint that positions it well below the documented volume of the later 1990–1998 range. With Structure standing as its only notable complaint area, this model year presents an outlier profile against the subsequent span that peaked at 46 complaints in 1993 and tapered to 4 by 1998. That near-silent record situates the 1978 edition outside the main arc of Fleetwood reliability history, giving researchers a baseline year largely unburdened by the grievance patterns that define the nameplate’s later documented years.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 222 in |
| Overall width | 76 in |
| Overall height | 57.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 122 in |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1985 | Sedan 4.1L V8 | 11.70 sec | 18.20 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
For the 1978 model year, the available data indicates only one complaint regarding structure, with zero reported crash or fire complaints. In contrast, the provided year-by-year federal record covers model years 1990 through 1998, meaning the target year falls outside the documented generational trend. While the 1990-1998 arc shows complaint volumes ranging from 4 to 46 annually, these figures cannot be applied to assess the 1978 vehicle's reliability trajectory. There are no data points for the years immediately before or after 1978 in this record, preventing a comparison of complaint or recall trends across the actual generation. Ultimately, because the federal record lacks contemporaneous data for the 1978 model, this information alone is insufficient to validate the 1978 Fleetwood as a good year to buy.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS". THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY CRACK AND ALLOW WASHER… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE WASHER BOTTLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
IF PAPER OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE PLACED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASHTRAY RECEPTACLE, THEY COULD BECOME IGNITED AND FLAMES FROM THE FIRE MAY REACH THE INTERIOR OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. Remedy: OWNER WILL BE SENT A METAL HEAT SHIELD TO BE INSTALLED ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, EITHER BY THE OWNER OR BY THE DEALER.
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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.