1999 Cadillac Sls Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Cadillac Sls, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical228.6%
- Engine228.6%
- Brakes114.3%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Fuel system114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 38 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR JUST DIED OR CUT OUT ( THE IGNITION SYSTEM QUIT ), ON HER. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HER AND ONCE FOR MYSELF. *TR
IT WAS DETERMINED BY MY LOCAL CADILLAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY, DRAWING EXCESSIVE CURRENT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND THEY SAID IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED SO IT IS NOT COVERED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THIS PROGRAM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT AUTO 2003,AFTER 3MO AUTO ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED,HIGHWAY OR IN DRIVEWAY. TOOK AUTO TO DEALER AND AUTO KEPT FOR 3 DAYS AND DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TOOK AUTO BACK 5 OTHER TIMES AND SAME RESULTS EACH TIME. COMPLETE TUNEUP WAS DONE THAT COST OVER $500.00 DOLLARS ,VACUUM HOSES REPLACED,IGNITION INSPECTED ,COMPLETE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ELECTRICAL COMPONENT CHECKS. AUTO STILL DIES WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIME WITHIN 2WKS AND SOMETIMES WITHIN 2MOS. *TR
WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD AND MANY OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. I REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING A "CHECK GAS CAP" WARNING AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO I HEAR A RATTLING NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT ANY SIZE OF BUMP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD AND MANY OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. I REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING A "CHECK GAS CAP" WARNING AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO I HEAR A RATTLING NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT ANY SIZE OF BUMP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD AND MANY OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. I REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING A "CHECK GAS CAP" WARNING AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO I HEAR A RATTLING NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT ANY SIZE OF BUMP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON STARTING MY CAR THEIR WAS A BACK-FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. I AGAIN STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT TWO MILES TO MY HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I THEN ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND STARTED LOOKING FOR RECEIPTS FOR CHARGES I MADE AT THE GROCERY STORE AND CHARGES I MADE REFUELING THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CHARGES MADE AT THE GAS STATION. I THEN RETURNED TO THE GARAGE TO LOOK IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECEIPT. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE INSULATION SMOLDERING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOOD OF THE AUTOMOBILE. I THEN GRABBED A SPONGE AND SOAKED IT IN A PAIL OF WATER THAT WAS IN THE SET-TUB LOCATED IN THE GARAGE. I PUT OUT THE FIRE THAT WAS NOW STARTING TO BURN UNDER THE HOOD. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I DIDN'T LOOK FOR THE RECEIPT AT THAT TIME SEEING AS HOW THE GARAGE IS UNDER THE ROOF OF MY HOME. NOTE: I HAD NOTICED ONCE BEFORE THAT PART OF THE INSULATION HAD BURNED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS WAS A BURN ABOUT 12 INCHES SQUARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD. I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. AT PRESENT THE AREA THAT HAS BURNED IS NOW ABOUT 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .