Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Cadillac DeVille, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 48 | 24% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 37 | 18% |
| Steering | 12 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 5% |
| Tires | 9 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 4% |
| Suspension | 5 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 2% |
| Structure | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
HI.MY CAR CADILLAC DE VILLE DE ELEGANсе1999 42000 MILES 1 TIME CHANGED THE WHEEL. TELL US WHAT THE INITIAL RATING OF THIS CAR WAS .CORRESPONDING TO THE EURO 4 CLASS ,TO INTRODUCE IT TO EUROPE?WHO CAN GIVE YO
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
CAR OVERHEATED WHILE ON FREEWAY ENGINE TURNED OFF LEFT ME WITH NO STEERING OR BRAKES.WHEN CAR WAS BULIT TOO SHORT. OF HEADER BOLTS WERE USER.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE MAKING A TURN, ANTI-FREEZE SPILLED ONTO THE CONTACT'S FOOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER CORE BURST DUE TO AN IMPROPE
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
MY CLEAR COAT PAINT IS PEALLING ON THE HOOD AND ROOF REALLY BAD.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A COSCO MINI-HOUSE (NA) SAFETY SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: IC210CKB, MODEL TYPE: DISNEY LIGHT AND COMFY (NA). THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON APRIL 20, 2015. THE SAFETY SEAT WAS BEING UTILIZED IN A 1999 CADILLA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
UP TO THIS DAY IT HAS BEEN FINE, BUT NOW MY COSTCO SCENERA CAR SEAT WON'T UNLATCH THE BOTTOM BUCKLE. IT ACTS LIKE IT IS STUCK AND I CANNOT GET MY SON OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO PRY. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT IT AS I
NHTSA complaint: Child seat
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1999 Cadillac DeVille. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 O
Risk: HOWEVER, AN OCCUPANT CAN RECEIVE SOME INJURY FROM A DEPLOYMENT.
Fix: 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 T
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 64 | average |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 48 of them (24%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 62/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.