Problems · by component

1999 Cadillac Deville engine and engine cooling problems

48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Cadillac Deville cite engine and engine cooling, 25% of all 192 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
48
25% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING. I HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR AND IT CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT I MY CROSS OVER PIPES WERE LEAKING AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. I FOUND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN I HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF THE MY CARE WITH SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES AND THE WORKS. I LOVE MY CAR AND I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT, PLEASE HELP ME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10411633
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS STEAM ACCUMULATED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS HAD BECOME LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 10/21/11*LJ UPDATED 3/16/12 *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10407148
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGE TEMPERATURE READING WAS EXTREMELY HIGH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, HEATER FAN SWITCH, THERMOSTAT AND SERPENTINE BELT. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,400. UPDATED 10/21/11*LJ UPDATED 3/20/12 *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10407155
“1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PERSISTENTLY OVERHEATS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE THERMOSTAT, UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AND RESERVOIR WERE REPLACED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED EXHAUST WAS ENTERING THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLE WOULD EMIT SMOKE OF ANY COLOR. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10375888
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE WITH A V8, 4.6 LITER NORTH STAR ALUMINUM ENGINE. HE STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. THIS WAS A FREQUENT FAILURE OCCURRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HIS INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT THE FLY-WHEEL FAILED AND THE RIGHT CYLINDER WAS MISSING THE SOFT PLUG BEHIND THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDERS AND THROUGH THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DROPPED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE FLY-WHEEL AND THE FREEZE PLUG WAS ALSO REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION STATION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,987 AND THE CURRENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10314379
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MISFIRED, WHICH CAUSED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $4500.00. ONE YEAR AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN, BUT WAS ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. HE THEN ADDED THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT NORTH STAR ENGINES ARE PRONE TO BACK-FIRING. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000, THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/20/09 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AS WELL. UPDATED 10/22/09”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2009Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10285240

Showing 6 of 48 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 1999 Deville problem areas