Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Cadillac Eldorado problems

Owners filed 23 complaints about the 1999 Cadillac Eldorado with NHTSA between Jun 1999 and Jun 2016. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (6).

Complaints
23
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  2. Engine and engine cooling6
  3. Engine2
  4. Electrical system2
  5. Tires2
  6. Visibility2
  7. Steering1
  8. Vehicle speed control1
  9. Suspension1
  10. Air bags1
  11. Seat belts1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19992
20005
20012
20022
20030
20045
20053
20060
20070
20080
20090
20100
20112
20120
20130
20141
20150
20161

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKES ENGAGED ON THEIR OWN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE STABILIZER CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING SENSOR MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SENSOR MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10427546

Engine and engine cooling

6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND THAT THE WATER PUMP AND THE OVER PIPE GASKET WERE LEAKING. THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, THE OVER PIPE GASKET AND THE THERMOSTAT BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM FOR THE FAILURE AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO GET A SECOND OPINION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,320.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10423021

Engine

2 reports
“MY WIFE PURCHASED A 1999 CADILLAC ELDORADO IN 2009 AND IT ONLY HAD 38K MILES ON IT. NOW IN 2016 IT ONLY HAS 103K MILES ON IT BUT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL FREQUENTLY GO FROM 'NORMAL' TO 'ENGINE HOT - A/C OFF'. AFTER SHUTING OFF THE ENGINE, LETTING IT COOL, AND TOPPING OFF THE COOLANT LEVEL, THE WILL OPERATE IN THE 'NORMAL' TEMPERATURE RANGE FOR SEVERAL MILES BUT THEN IT WILL SUDDENLY JUMP UP TO THE 'ENGINE HOT - A/C OFF' RANGE. THE CAR IS NOW AT A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED THAT THIS 1999 CADILLAC ELDORADO HAS FAILING CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. RECALL - CAMPAIGN #99086 (MARCH 19, 2002) ACKNOWLEDGES THIS DEFECT AND THE REASONS FOR IT. WILL CADILLAC PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM? A 103,000 MILE CADILLAC ELDORADO SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND, IF IT DOES, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2016EngineODI 10873587

Electrical system

2 reports1 fire
“VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOSPITAL AFTER DRIVING 2 MILES. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE OFF, NO KEYS IN IGNITION, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE TOTALED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2005Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10106304

Tires

2 reports1 crash
“CONSUMER EXPERIENCED VIBRATIONS IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 60-70 MPH, DEALER BALANCED WHEELS AND TIRES. *SLC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2001Suspension, TiresODI 559639

Visibility

2 reports
“OUTSIDE DRIVER'S MIRROR HASN'T WORKED SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. DEALER CONTACTED, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO COMPLETELY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK *ML”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2000VisibilityODI 859769
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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