Most common 1999 Cadillac Deville problems
Share of the 187 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Cadillac Deville complaints by model year
Best Deville years: 2005, 2003, 2004. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998, 1996, 2000. Compare all years →
1999 Cadillac Deville recalls (1)
Air bags › Side/window
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.
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1999 Cadillac Deville:
Inadvertent deployment of side air bag
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,…
Inadvertent of side impact air bag
There is no summary currently available
What 1999 Cadillac Deville owners say
Engine & cooling all 51 →
The contact owns a 1999 Cadillac DeVille. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started overheating. The contact was able to pull over and had the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed of an oil leak. The contact stated that the water pump, thermostat, reserve tank, and the stretch were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was transferred to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 69,000.
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 2:00 pm. 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. …
Air bags all 49 →
Yesterday, 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.
We were leaving my son's apartment when we hit the speed bump at about 5 miles an hour the air bags deployed and busted out our wind shield and filled the car with smoke. My fianc was driving the car and had his thumb hurt. Several of the electrical things in the car do not work now.
Electrical system all 20 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Cadillac Deville. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted; however, the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be determined. The contact retrieved codes from the on board computer: pass key open/shorter pellet, pass key wrong and fuel sensor feedback shorted high. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V355000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that while at a mechanic for a routine service, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and an auto repair center. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.
1999 Cadillac Deville engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Cadillac Deville a good car?
Based on 187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Deville rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Deville at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Cadillac Deville?
The engine & cooling — 51 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the air bags (49) and electrical system (20).
How many recalls does the 1999 Cadillac Deville have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 Cadillac Deville, the most recent from August 11, 2000 (side/window). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Cadillac Deville?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2003 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1998, 1996 and 2000. See the full Cadillac Deville years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Cadillac Deville problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.