1999 Cadillac Deville Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11473700

Incident

May 13, 2021

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN WHICH THE REMEDY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID

10700598

Incident

Mar 16, 2015

Mileage

59,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MISFIRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. UPDATED 3/12/15*CN UPDATED 9/13/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10670449

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10569310

Incident

Jul 11, 2001

Mileage

60,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10411633

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10407155

Incident

May 15, 2011

Mileage

169,400 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10407148

Incident

May 28, 2011

Mileage

94,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10375888

Incident

Dec 15, 2005

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.

NHTSA ID

10314379

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

148,987 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10285240

Incident

Sep 21, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED A COOLANT AND WATER PUMP LEAK, AS WELL AS ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS PRESSURE BUILD-UP AND HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $3,000. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN, THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONTACT'S CLAIM DUE TO THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 86,629. UPDATED 04/29/30. *JB

NHTSA ID

10263045

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

Mileage

86,629 mi

1999 CADILLAC, REPEATEDLY STALLS WHEN DECELERATING. DANGEROUS ON EXIT RAMPS!. FOUND THREE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. ODI ID'S 10149696, 10119213 AND 10094677. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER(S) AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS AND NO PROBLEMS CAN BE FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261830

Incident

Mar 14, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

IM DISABLE I DRIVE WITH HAND CONTROL. AS I WAS DRIVEN I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL . AND THEN MY FRONT WINDOW FROG UP WITH STEAM. AND THEN I HEARD THIS LOAD BUM. MY FOOT JUST START JUMPING AROUND AND I LOOK DOWN THERE WERE A PILE OF WATER HOT . I PULL OVER AND NOTICE THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD BURST WHICH LEFT ME WITH A SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT FOOT. I HAVE NOT REPAIR THE CAR YET . *TR

NHTSA ID

10257799

Incident

Jan 18, 2009

Mileage

181,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. HAD RADIATOR REPLACED AND THERMOSTAT. THE CAR STILL OVERHEATS. TOOK THE CAR TO TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $7,000. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE CADILLAC DEVILLE 1999 NORTHSTAR MODEL/VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKETS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248410

Incident

Sep 12, 2008

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES. HAD RADIATOR REPLACED AND THERMOSTAT. THE CAR STILL OVERHEATS. TOOK THE CAR TO TECHNICIAN WHO SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $7,000. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE CADILLAC DEVILLE 1999 NORTHSTAR MODEL/VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKETS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245213

Incident

Sep 7, 2008

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY DRASTICALLY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER 50 MPH. THE FRONT TIE ROD WAS REPLACED AND A SEMI-ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE AXLE HUB CARRIER REAR SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY AND THE COIL SPRING WAS ALSO DAMAGED. LATER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE AND, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIPERS WERE WIRED INCORRECTLY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/24/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10242794

Incident

Aug 17, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

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 2:00PM. 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. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THIS CARS ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER SYSTEM STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. CADILLACS SHOULD NOT BURN AND SHOULD NOT SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITE. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 75,000 MILES. I OWN 11 OTHER CARS AND HAVE A SMALL CAR COLLECTION. I AM A CAR GUY AND THIS CAR LIKE ALL MY CARS (INCLUDING 2 FERRARI'S) HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WHEN I LAST DROVE ON THURSDAY EVENING AUGUST 28, IT RAN FINE AND DID NOT GIVE ME ANY INDICATION OF ANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE POLICE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT VANDALIZED OR CAUSED BY ANY OUTSIDERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240550

Incident

Aug 30, 1999

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MOST OF THOSE MODEL VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE WATER PUMP, BUT RATHER A BLOWN OUT HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT A NEW ENGINE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT HIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKETS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED 07/08/08

NHTSA ID

10230413

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WATER PUMP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF OCTOBER 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 01/02/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HEATS UP DUE TO THE HEAD BOLTS LOOSENING AND THE ENGINE COOLANT EVAPORATES INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10206971

Incident

Oct 4, 2007

Mileage

78,800 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE STALLED. A MANUFACTURER TSB #150201 WAS OBSERVED ONLINE, SIMILAR TO THE VEHICLE'S SYMPTOMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED AND SOLD TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALERS AS IS. UPDATED 8/16/06 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10162312

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

MYSTERIOUS COOLANT LEAK, HAVE HAD A PRESSURE TEST ON SYSTEM, PASSED, HEAD TEST, PASSED, AND HAVE PUT IN OVER 9 GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE IN CAR, STILL NO IDEA WHERE LEAK IS. TALKED WITH CADILLAC SERVICE AT BOB MORE CADILLAC, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINES. THEY USE A ALMOND PILL TO CRUSH UP AND PUT IN ALL CADILLAC COOLING SYSTEMS. THIS IS REQUIRED BY GM TO PLUG LEAKS THAT THEY KNOW WILL HAPPEN AND IS A GM PART FIX, SOLD BY THEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156173

Incident

Apr 7, 2006

Mileage

84,000 mi

MY 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS STALLED OUT 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. ALL 3 OF THE ENGINE STALLS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AS I HAVE REDUCED SPEED IN PREPARATION TO ENTER A LOWER SPEED LIMIT ZONE OR IN PREPARATION TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE LOSS OF POWER DURING THESE STALLS MAKES BREAKING AND TURNING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, I'M FORCED TO COME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10149696

Incident

Feb 5, 2006

Mileage

99,000 mi

CONSUMER'S ENGINE OVER HEATS AND CONSUMES OIL EXCESSIVELY. *TS *** NAR RECEIVED 9-29-05*** THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET OR HEAD BOLT FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138867

Incident

Aug 29, 2005

Mileage

143,453 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE HE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START BACK. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES TODAY 8-4-05. THE OIL WAS NOT LOW AT THE FIVE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT OCCURRED CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER HAS CURRENTLY MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE HAD A CADILLAC BEFORE THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131583

Incident

Aug 4, 2005

Mileage

32,000 mi

DT: CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. JUST SHUTS OFF. CONSUMER LOSES ALL POWER BRAKES, AND STEERING, ETC,. *AK CONSUMER SAID THAT THERE AREN'T ANY WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. ONCE THE CONSUMER STOPS THE VEHICLE, IT HAS TO BE RESTARTED AND IS OK UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. *SB

NHTSA ID

10121675

Incident

Feb 1, 2004