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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.

About this comparison →

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

Equipment complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentInjury

ENGINE OVERHEATED-LOOSE HEAD BOLTS (NHTSA ITEM # SB6089931). ANTIFREEZE VAPORS CAME IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH A/C VENTS FOR OVER 20 MINUTES AND THEN A LARGE STEAM EXPLOSION INSIDE CAR WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED. A FINE MIST OF VAPORS ENTERED THE CAR WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE AS WE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIO…

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ENGINE OVERHEATED-LOOSE HEAD BOLTS (NHTSA ITEM # SB6089931). ANTIFREEZE VAPORS CAME IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH A/C VENTS FOR OVER 20 MINUTES AND THEN A LARGE STEAM EXPLOSION INSIDE CAR WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED. A FINE MIST OF VAPORS ENTERED THE CAR WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE AS WE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AS THE INSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE KEPT SLOWING RISING UNTIL STEAM EXPLOSION OCCURED. ( HOT ANTIFREEZE VAPORS WERE FORCED THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS BY THE DEFORMING OF THE REAR HOOD GASKET BY INCOMING 65MPH AIR FLOW AND A DEFECTIVE FRONT HOOD GASKET). IF THIS CAR HAD A FULL TIME COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE THIS INCIDENT AND INJURIES MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED. CADILLAC DOES NOT PROVIDE AN ACTIVE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THIS CAR AS OTHER MANUFACTURERS DO. ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE COOLANT TEMPERATURES IS TO PUSH THE INFORMATION BUTTON ON DASH WHICH SEPARATELY INFORMS YOU OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS. NO WARNINGS IN OPERATION MANUAL, NO WARNING LABELS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS TO POTENTIAL DANGERS OF DEX-COOL EXPOSURE NOR INFORMATION ON THE DAY OF ENGINE FAILURE FROM CADILLAC ROAD ASSISTANCE PERSONNEL AT THEIR 800 NUMBER). ONLY WARNINGS OF ENGINE OVERHEATING ARE EMITTED -AFTER THE CAR HAS OVERHEATED! INJURIES TO MYSELF WERE: SEVERE, VERY PAINFUL EYE INFLAMATION IN BOTH EYES( EYE DOCTOR EXAMINATION IN OCTOBER 1999) INSTANT CATARACTS WITH LARGE BLACK SPOTS IN BOTH EYES 30 DAYS AFTER ACCIDENT. RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF FACE PRESENTLY HAVE CHEMICAL BURNS ON CHEEKS AND THROAT. IN APRIL, 2000 I HAD VERY DIFFICULT BREATHING PROBLEMS. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ON 2 DIFFERENT DAYS WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS. BREATHING PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AS CHEMICAL INDUCED ASTHMA FROM DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE WITH 2-ETHYLHEXANOIC ACID INHALATION. AT PRESENT I LIVE IN HELL EACH DAY WITH ASTHMA FROM THIS CADILLAC VEHICLE. ENGINE WAS REBUILT IN SEPTEMBER, 99 AND A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED ON JAN. 28, 2000. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED UP IN FEBRUARY, 2000 AFTER 16 DAYS OF SITTING IDLE.*

NHTSA ODI #730451

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2000
EquipmentInjury

CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE , PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND JACKED VEHICLE UP WITH FACTORY EQUIPPED JACK . CONSUMER REACHED FOR WHEEL AND JACK BROKE INTO 2 PIECES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FALL STRAIGHT DOWN, TRAPPING CONSUMER'S ARM BETWEEN FENDER AND FLAT TIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864569

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.