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
1999 Cadillac Sls
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sls years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
5 reportsIT 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…
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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
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…
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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
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 …
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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
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 BRAK…
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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
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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