TRANSMISSION FAILED. THERE WAS NO REVERSE. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL GO FROM FIRST GEAR AND LUNGE STRAIGHT INTO THE THIRD GEAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Deville years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
187 reportsYESTERDAY, NOV. 22, I HAD A FRONT END COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN MY CAR BEING TOTALLED. AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED AND INFLATED, BUT THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE CAR WAS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE SEDAN WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION A THUMPING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. DEALER STATED RACK AND PINION BOLT WAS MISSING . *AK NOT ONLY WAS A BOLT MISSING THE BOLT WAS SO LOOSE IT WAS HANGING OFF. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MISSING BOLT AND TIGHTENED THE LOOSE BOLT. *TC
VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PCV, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE STALLING WAS RELATED TO A FAILURE IN THE MAIN COMPUTER CHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWAITING PARTS TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE ALSO GOING …
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE STALLING WAS RELATED TO A FAILURE IN THE MAIN COMPUTER CHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWAITING PARTS TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO RE-CLEAN THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. *NM THE EGR VALVE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. I N JUNE, 2004 INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE RADIATOR. I N JULY, 2004 THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. IN AUGUST TECHNICIAN INDICATED TO CONSUMER THE NEED TO REPLACED THE ENGINE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $7.000. *AK
MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 5 PASS BUTTONWILLOW WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE CAME APART. SOME OF THE TREAD REMAINED ON WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TIRE DAMAGED THE QUARTER PANEL, REAR LOWER BUMPER AND THE REAR DOOR. THE RESULT WAS TIRE FAILURE, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. A CA…
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MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 5 PASS BUTTONWILLOW WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE CAME APART. SOME OF THE TREAD REMAINED ON WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TIRE DAMAGED THE QUARTER PANEL, REAR LOWER BUMPER AND THE REAR DOOR. THE RESULT WAS TIRE FAILURE, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOP TO GIVE ASSISTANCE BY CALLING AAA TO HAVE OUR CAR PIGGYBACKED TO A BIG-O DEALER TO REPLACE THE FAILED TIRE. I PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES TO BE MOUNTED IN REAR OF THE CAR. I'VE KEPT THE OLD TIRE SO THAT I MAY SUBMIT A CLAIM TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. GIVING PROOF OF PRODUCT FAILURE AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE PRODUCED BY THE FAULTY TIRE. *AK
WHILE STOPPING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE DRIVER SIDE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *AK *LA
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DRIVER SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY NOTICED THAT THE SIDE AIR WAS DISCONNECTED AND DUCK TAPED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR MODULE RECALL 0…
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VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DRIVER SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY NOTICED THAT THE SIDE AIR WAS DISCONNECTED AND DUCK TAPED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR MODULE RECALL 00V228000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. DEALERSHIP NEVER PERFORMED REPAIRS, BUT INDICATED HE DID SO. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL RAIL, CONSUMER SMELLED GAS EVERY TIME SHE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. *PH
Official recalls
100V217000 · 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
2EA00004 · 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.
Illustration