IllustrationAFTER GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND REACHING TO INSERT THE IGNITION KEY, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS INJURED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED/REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML
1999 Cadillac Deville
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Deville years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Cadillac Deville are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Deville years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
1625–50K
1850–75K
1675–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
69 reports with mileage · 118 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports4 fire reports23 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
49 reportsFIRST PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY SHORT ON 5-26-99, THEN ON 6-15-99 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, STATING TO SERVICE AIR BAG. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. ON 7-7-99, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AND AGAIN ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG,L JUST A FAULTY…
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FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY SHORT ON 5-26-99, THEN ON 6-15-99 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, STATING TO SERVICE AIR BAG. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. ON 7-7-99, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AND AGAIN ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG,L JUST A FAULTY LIGHT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NEVER DELOY UNLESSS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. ON 7-29-00 WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, AND AIR BAGSDELOYED IMMEDIATELY ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AND LEFT FOR 27 DAYS. GMC STATED THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS I CAN SEE THEY LIED TO ME, IT HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE A LAWSUIT PENDING WITH THEM SINCE 11-29-99 REQUESTING THEY BUY BACK MY VEHICLE. NOTHING HAS BEEN HEARD FROM SINCE. ON 11-1-99 FUEL GAUGE SENSOR WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALL THESE PROBLEMS STARTED WITH A BATTERY SHORT ON 5-26-99 AND THE COMPUTER HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. PLEASE NOTE: THE AIR BAG HAS ONLY DEPLOYED ONCE. HOWEVER, I HAD TWO PREVIOUS WARNINGS. *AK
WHILE PARKING DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATION. *AK *ML
AIRBAGS DAMAGED PASSENGERS UNNECESSARILY. *AK
PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HIT BY ONCOMING VEHICLE AT 50-60 MPH. IMPACT PRIMARILY AT 90 DEGREE MIDDLE SECTION OF PASSENGER FRONT DOOR. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PICTURES AVAILABLE. PROBLEM: PAID EXTRA FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE THAT APPARENTLY DID NOT WORK IN IT'S FIRST APPLICATION. EITHER A MATTER OF PRODUCT FAILURE OR FRAUD UPON THE …
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PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HIT BY ONCOMING VEHICLE AT 50-60 MPH. IMPACT PRIMARILY AT 90 DEGREE MIDDLE SECTION OF PASSENGER FRONT DOOR. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PICTURES AVAILABLE. PROBLEM: PAID EXTRA FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE THAT APPARENTLY DID NOT WORK IN IT'S FIRST APPLICATION. EITHER A MATTER OF PRODUCT FAILURE OR FRAUD UPON THE CONSUMER IN THAT THEY ARE PURCHASING A SAFETY FEATURE THAT DOES NOT WORK IN ALL INSTANCES. MAINLY CONCERNED WITH THIS OCCURRING WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THIS POSITION AS THIS PASSENGER, IF INDEED HAD BEEN PRESENT, WOULD HAVE MOST CERTAINLY BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR FATAL.*AK
SUSPENSION FEELS LOOSE-FOUND:LEFT FRONT STRUT LEAKING,STRUT MOUNT LOOSE ,LINK LOOSE AND NOISY.REPLACED LEFT FRONT STRUT,STRUT MOUNT AND STABILIZER LINK.REALINED FRONT WHEELS.ALSO,BECAUSE AIR BAG LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT SENSOR MODULE DUE TO A SHORT. DEALER SUPPORT WAS EXCELLENT AND APPRECIATED. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING 35 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END IS OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, STRIKING THE PASSENGER IN THE ARM WITHOUT WARNING. CADILLAC HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CAR WAS STOPPED AND AT IDLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON HITTING MY WIFE IN THE SIDE AND GIVING HER A LARGE BRUISE ABOUT 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT TUTWILER CADILLAC ON JULY 29, 1999, 10101 N. MERIDIAN ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IN, PHONE NO. 317 846-7888. I CONTACTED TH…
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CAR WAS STOPPED AND AT IDLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON HITTING MY WIFE IN THE SIDE AND GIVING HER A LARGE BRUISE ABOUT 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT TUTWILER CADILLAC ON JULY 29, 1999, 10101 N. MERIDIAN ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IN, PHONE NO. 317 846-7888. I CONTACTED THE CADILLAC ASSISTANCE CENTER, AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTORY ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. THEY WOULD NOT LET ME TALK TO ANYONE WHO COULD EXPLAIN. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO ED MARTIN CADILLAC IN ANDERSON, IN AND TRADED THE CAR FOR ANOTHER ONE (7/30/99) AT MY LOSS, AS CADILLAC WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CAR. AS FAR A I KNOW, THE CAR IS STILL AT ED MARTIN'S.
Official recalls
100V217000 · Air Bags:side/window
Aug 11, 2000
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HOWEVER, AN OCCUPANT CAN RECEIVE SOME INJURY FROM A DEPLOYMENT.
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 SENSING MODULES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA00004 · Inadvertent Of Side Impact Air Bag
Opened Feb 15, 2000 · Closed Sep 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
There is no summary currently available
PE99061 · Inadvertent Deployment Of Side Air Bag
Opened Sep 27, 1999 · Closed Feb 15, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
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, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT TO OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.THE SCOPE OF THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY 1997 DEVILLE VEHICLES.ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 253 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG ON 1997-1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE VEHICLES.GM HAS MADE 8 MODIFICATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN OF THE SIDE IMPACT SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SOME OF WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG CAN RESULT IN UNWARRANTED INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS AND PRESENTS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTOL. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE IF A POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.