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1999 Cadillac Deville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Deville years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Cadillac Deville are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 118 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports4 fire reports23 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

47 reports
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28,000 miles · Oct 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. HAD RADIATOR REPLACED AND THERMOSTAT. THE CAR STILL OVERHEATS. TOOK THE CAR TO TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $7,000. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE CADILLAC DEVILLE 1999 NORTHSTAR MODEL/VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO O…

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. HAD RADIATOR REPLACED AND THERMOSTAT. THE CAR STILL OVERHEATS. TOOK THE CAR TO TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $7,000. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE CADILLAC DEVILLE 1999 NORTHSTAR MODEL/VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKETS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245213

130,000 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY DRASTICALLY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER 50 MPH. THE FRONT TIE ROD WAS REPLACED AND A SEMI-ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE AXLE HUB CARRIER REAR SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY AND THE COIL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY DRASTICALLY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER 50 MPH. THE FRONT TIE ROD WAS REPLACED AND A SEMI-ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE AXLE HUB CARRIER REAR SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY AND THE COIL SPRING WAS ALSO DAMAGED. LATER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE AND, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIPERS WERE WIRED INCORRECTLY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/24/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10242794

75,000 miles · Sep 1, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOME MY 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT TO A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR WAS PARKED, HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 48 HOURS. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 2:00PM. SATRUDAY AFTERNOON. TEMP ABOUT 82 DEGREES. SOMETHING IN THE CARS ENGINE ROOM ON THE LEF…

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WHILE SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOME MY 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT TO A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR WAS PARKED, HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 48 HOURS. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 2:00PM. SATRUDAY AFTERNOON. TEMP ABOUT 82 DEGREES. SOMETHING IN THE CARS ENGINE ROOM ON THE LEFT SIDE IGNITED. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT SELF IGNITED. JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRE, MY WIFE WHO WAS AT HOME AT THE TIME HEARD THE CAR ALARM GO OFF. SHE WENT TO THE WINDOW AND IT QUIT SOUNDING. SHE DID NOT SEE ANY FIRE AT THAT TIME. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER A NEIGHBOR POUNDED ON THE DOOR AND ALERTED HER TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS BURNING. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT TO THE SEEN, ONE OF THE HOOD GAS STRUTS BLEW THROUGH THE FRONT GRILL AND LANDED ABOUT 20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THIS CARS ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER SYSTEM STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. CADILLACS SHOULD NOT BURN AND SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITE. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 75,000 MILES. I OWN 11 OTHER CARS AND HAVE A SMALL CAR COLLECTION. I AM A CAR GUY AND THIS CAR LIKE ALL MY CARS (INCLUDING 2 FERRARI'S) HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WHEN I LAST DROVE ON THURSDAY EVENING AUGUST 28, IT RAN FINE AND DID NOT GIVE ME ANY INDICATION OF ANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE POLICE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT VANDALIZED OR CAUSED BY ANY OUTSIDERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240550

74,000 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MOST OF THOSE MODEL VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW DAYS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MOST OF THOSE MODEL VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE WATER PUMP, BUT RATHER A BLOWN OUT HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT A NEW ENGINE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT HIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKETS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED 07/08/08

NHTSA ODI #10230413

78,800 miles · Oct 26, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WATER PUMP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFEC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WATER PUMP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF OCTOBER 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 01/02/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HEATS UP DUE TO THE HEAD BOLTS LOOSENING AND THE ENGINE COOLANT EVAPORATES INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ODI #10206971

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE STALLED. A MANUFACTURER TSB #150201 WAS OBSERVED ONLINE, SIMILAR TO THE VEHICLE'S SYMPTOMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED AND SOLD TO AN INDEP…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE STALLED. A MANUFACTURER TSB #150201 WAS OBSERVED ONLINE, SIMILAR TO THE VEHICLE'S SYMPTOMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED AND SOLD TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALERS AS IS. UPDATED 8/16/06 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162312

84,000 miles · Apr 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MYSTERIOUS COOLANT LEAK, HAVE HAD A PRESSURE TEST ON SYSTEM, PASSED, HEAD TEST, PASSED, AND HAVE PUT IN OVER 9 GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE IN CAR, STILL NO IDEA WHERE LEAK IS. TALKED WITH CADILLAC SERVICE AT BOB MORE CADILLAC, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINES. THEY USE A ALMOND PILL TO CRUSH UP …

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MYSTERIOUS COOLANT LEAK, HAVE HAD A PRESSURE TEST ON SYSTEM, PASSED, HEAD TEST, PASSED, AND HAVE PUT IN OVER 9 GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE IN CAR, STILL NO IDEA WHERE LEAK IS. TALKED WITH CADILLAC SERVICE AT BOB MORE CADILLAC, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINES. THEY USE A ALMOND PILL TO CRUSH UP AND PUT IN ALL CADILLAC COOLING SYSTEMS. THIS IS REQUIRED BY GM TO PLUG LEAKS THAT THEY KNOW WILL HAPPEN AND IS A GM PART FIX, SOLD BY THEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156173

99,000 miles · Feb 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS STALLED OUT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. ALL 3 OF THE ENGINE STALLS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AS I HAVE REDUCED SPEED IN PREPARATION TO ENTER A LOWER SPEED LIMIT ZONE OR IN PREPARATION TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE LOSS OF POWER DURING THESE STALLS MAKES BREAKING AND TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICU…

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MY 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS STALLED OUT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. ALL 3 OF THE ENGINE STALLS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AS I HAVE REDUCED SPEED IN PREPARATION TO ENTER A LOWER SPEED LIMIT ZONE OR IN PREPARATION TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE LOSS OF POWER DURING THESE STALLS MAKES BREAKING AND TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, I'M FORCED TO COME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149696

143,453 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER'S ENGINE OVER HEATS AND CONSUMES OIL EXCESSIVELY. *TS *** NAR RECEIVED 9-29-05*** THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET OR HEAD BOLT FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138867

32,000 miles · Aug 4, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE HE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START BACK. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES TODAY 8-4-05. THE OIL WAS NOT LOW AT THE FIVE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT …

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DT: THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE HE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START BACK. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES TODAY 8-4-05. THE OIL WAS NOT LOW AT THE FIVE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT OCCURRED CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER HAS CURRENTLY MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE HAD A CADILLAC BEFORE THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10131583

Official recalls

1

00V217000 · Air Bags:side/window

Aug 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR MODULES HAVE QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. THESE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH LESS FORCE THAN A FRONTAL AIR BAG AND ARE DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: HOWEVER, AN OCCUPANT CAN RECEIVE SOME INJURY FROM A DEPLOYMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT SENSING MODULES. IF THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SIDE AIR BAGS TEMPORARILY DISCONECTED, THE TEMPORARY DISCONNECT WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE REPLACING THE SIDE IMPACT SENSING MODULES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA00004 · Inadvertent Of Side Impact Air Bag

Opened Feb 15, 2000 · Closed Sep 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

There is no summary currently available

PE99061 · Inadvertent Deployment Of Side Air Bag

Opened Sep 27, 1999 · Closed Feb 15, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THIS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG CAN INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY DUE TO A NUMBER OF ROOT CAUSED INCLUDING: ERRONEOUS ACCELERATION INPUTS OR FALSE ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ALGORITHM DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM); FALSE ACTIVATION RESULTING FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SDM WIRING HARNESS; AND FALSE ACCELERATION INPUTS RESULTING FROM IMPROPER SDM INSTALLATION.IN EACH CASE, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT TO OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.THE SCOPE OF THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY 1997 DEVILLE VEHICLES.ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 253 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG ON 1997-1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE VEHICLES.GM HAS MADE 8 MODIFICATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN OF THE SIDE IMPACT SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SOME OF WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG CAN RESULT IN UNWARRANTED INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS AND PRESENTS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTOL. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE IF A POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.